The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-09-21

mas inst been held up and the safe
robbed Of over three hundred thou
sand dollars Wei. these things
have to happen 80 long rs the
present style of burglar-procf safes is
in fashion. Any robbcr that has been
properly educated To the business can
open a safe inside Of half an hour and
can do il without any dynamite or
such violent ways. Now. safe can
be made that nobody can open except
with the proper combination. for I've
seen such safe myself. Saw it on
this very road. too. and il was buried
only about fifty miles from here"
What in the world was the reason
for buryng the safe?" l asked
because you can't have funeral
without burying the corpse" replied
the station master. I've just about
time enough 10 tell You the story be-
fore the Athensville express comes in.
20 lit down and YOU shall hear all
about il.
Ahont ten years ago. ov mebbe
cieyen-l amt any sort Of hand for
dates-th.re was "A baggage master on
this road by the name Of Hopkins. He
and were on the same train. which
was on the regular day express. and
carried the gold dust that had to toe
sent down once "A week to tusterville.
where the mines were panning out
at that time pretty middling well.
This hyer Iiopkins-JiIn was his name
besides being baggage master. also
acted a. agent for the express COM
pany and took charge of the safe. As
a rue the train wax held up once "A
month. and the safe was either
opened by Jim. with a pistol to his
ear. or else. II the robbers had plenty
Of time before them and took pride in
their profession. they would open il
themselves.
Jim got tired of this sort of thing.
and. being an ingenious sort of chap
who had invented quite lot Of things.
ie undertook 10 invent safe that no.
body could open except with the com
bination. Moreover. he cai'lated to
make Il 30 strong that dynamite
wouldn't have no effect upon H. 50 that
j, would really be a ourglar-proof safe
in good earnest. Well. Jim he worked
al the safe good part Of the winter
until he had got il planned out in a
way 20 suit him. and .hen he took
some Of his savings. for he had good
10, Of money in the bank. and he built
his new patent burglar-proof safe and
put il in his baggage-car-
The new safe was about twice the
size Of an ordinary express company's
safe Outside i. looked like any other
safe. but. besides being twice a. strong
a. anything of the kind ever built be-
fore. II had good many special fca-
lures which don't pretend To- remcm-
her. not being a mechanical sharp my
self. do recall. however. that il had
spring lock. which Jim explained
was for convenience in case the train
should be held up very suddenly and
there should not BE- time To close the
safe and lock il in the usual way.
Seems 10 me. said the conductor.
whose name was sampson. though we
always called him Gates. after that
friend ~ Sampson that he carried
away some where on his back. don't
exactly remember the name Of the
town. Seems to me- saws he. that
when you get pistol To your ear that
sate will come open a. easy ms any
other safe.
$50 it will. said Jim. PROVIDED
ever find that pistol alongside my ear.
liut cal'ate that I've got through
With that style Of amusement The
next time this hye~ train is held up
the robbers won't find me. unless they
can open that safe. which is just what
! mean they shan't be able Ia do
Why. where are you going 10 be?''
asked Gates Are you cal'lating tn