The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-02-23

nat WOulu you 90 IL any JHiDB suouiu
happen, like train robbersf" his mother
lad asked him in finger language.
"Just what papa tells me to do Harry
had answered promptly.
1t was all very interesting to the little
fellow. whose life was ordinarily 30 quiet
and shut in. The train was spinning up
through the mountains, that he never
tired of looking at from his home. Then
the throwing off the mail at the stations
and the greeting from the men. which
he could see, not hear, greatly pleased
him.
At Pueblo they came upon an enor-
nous lot OF eastern mail, delayed by
washouts, and some very valuable regis
tered matter.
"Well!' said Harry's father ruefully.
as he surveyed all this extra work. "They
propose shall earn my salary this trip,
sure. This thing happens too often. Ill
have to get an assistant if it keeps up.
Harry" he added rapidly on one hand,
while with the other he threw lot of tie
empty tie sacks under one of the tables.
you'd better go to bunk down here. old
fellow, and Ill cover you up close and
warm. Daddy can't talk much from
now on
So Harry. who was getting very sleepy
promptly curled down and was soon
asleep, As the clerk worked he looked
at the registers with sort OF qualm.
II wish we had end doors, he thought.
"Here we are, shut entirely off from the
rest OF the train while we are moving ="
just then the engine, which was in
front of the mail car, sent out it's ear
splitting whistle. and the train slowed up
at a little station in the woods. There
was no one in attendance at night. and
the lean, almost empty pouch was sus-
pended on hook. or sort Of swinging
crane. Harry's father swung himself
out. holding on to the side Of the car
with one hand, and deftly caught it off,
and hung bis own pouch on.
train had not stopped entirely, but only
elowed up. and when it shot out again
into the night, Harry's father swung
himself into the car. He was much sur
prised to find himself confronted by a
masked man holding pistol at full
cock right in his face. The man had
evidently swung himself on when the
clerks back was turned.
IN take the registers, please" said
the robber politely.
Harry's father nodded gloomily toward
the table. where the registered matter
was lying. and he was then escorted
back to the table under which Harry was
lying asleep. covered over with his ia
theirs coat. which had the pistol in its
pocket.
The next stop was for water at tank
in the woods, and the robber could slip
off easily enough without detection. es-
pecially il he took the precaution, which
he Immediately did. of tying the clerks
hands behind him, and one leg to the
tables leg. Harry was sleeping so quiet
~ that he did not apparently attract the
attention of the robber, who was some
what hampered by being obliged to pay
strict attention to his pistol, cooked full
in the clerks face. Then be tied band
age tightly around his victims mouth,
and. evidently thinking everything safe,
walked over to the table where the reg
listers were and began eagerly throwing
them together into an empty pouch.
This is a green hand" thought
Harry's father Il know by the way he's
tied me up. and then he's forgotten to
keep an eye on me. I'll circumvent him
yet if can. Ny hands are tied so that
can move my fingers, fortunately. and
now let's see il can wake up the little
chap, who is going to do what | tell him
bless himw and with his free leg he
gently pushed the bundle under the
table. which was quite high. fortunately.
Harry was so sound asleep it was diff
cult to wake him up, but by and by the
clerk knew by gentle rustic that he was
awade. so he quickly spelled out with one
hand, Harry, boy, Unite fathers hands
and foot, carefully. now"
The little fingers went promptly to
work on the clumsy knots. and in few
seconds the clerk with thrill of joy
felt that he was free. and STOPPING quiet
ly down. he possessed himself of his
pistol.
Just as the robber had secured pack.
age of diamonds for jewelry firm at
Leadville. and with grunt of satistac.
ton slipped them into his vest pocket.
he became aware of cooked pistol I'M
der his owp nose. and realized that the.
9 tuation had been decidedly changed
by this man. with his face still bound
up. as il for toothache. and small boy,
looking on with shining eyes.
"Wal, reckon the games yours" the