Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-11-18

man ran breathlessly along the platform.
q" Is zis ze Continental mail?' he gasped.
'' 'Yes-iump in. replied the guard sharp
", taking the nearly too late passenger
by the arm. and thrusting him into the
already limited space in the luggage van'
for there was no time TO open carriage
door
He was a tall and apparently powerful
man about p years of age. Though IN
civilian attire he had a military air. on
his right cheek he had a deep scar in
ficted in a student duel and he ran with
the. peculiar step that jerks and springs
from Teuton drill.
AS we were passing the dark woodland
country between Gnarled Oaks and Chain
bridge. and the Indicator recorded speed
OF so miles an hour, congratulated my
self that we should gain the lost minute.
But my self-congratuldtion was prema-
ture
Il was peering into the darkness through
the right hand disc when 1 heard the hinge
of the communication bar creaking. 1
turned quickly and saw the cord was at its
greatest tension. I applied the brake
sharply. pulling the train up almost in its
/ own length.
B.. There's something up behind, George
/ I said i'm q grave tone. See to the level
and TN ind out what's the matter.
/ ..I took a swift glance along the train.
| There were many heads out of the carriage
I windows. but the guard, who should have
been first on the alert. was not in sight.
The train had promptly answered the
break. and stood still. 1 ran, with a pre-
sentiment of evil and flying feet to the
Guards van. The door was wide open.
: Across a big sea chest. Fred Clayton, the
guard was lying unconscious. with an ug-
/ Is wound in his forehead The passengers
. he had befriended in emergency had gone.
The guards right hand was on his re-
volver; but the weapon was only half
drawn from his belt. Attacked suddenly,
he had not time to aim and fire.
II dashed back toward the bullion van.
The door of that vehicle was unfastened,
but had swung to. I put my shoulder
against il. and almost tumbled into the
travelling bank.
I'm an easy chair in the curtained ante
room the tallest Of the bank clerks was
sitting with his head upon his chest and a
novel open on his knees. He looked as IL
he were indulging in comfortable after
dinner nap. but this was an illusion. He
was dead, and there was the odor Of chic
reform about him.
Beyond the curtain there was the sound
mp and an steam on. he made the express
The window in the far corner of the van
was open. Beneath il. in the deep shadow,
were two struggling figures.
zone was the passenger who had arriv-
ed nearly too late for the train. He was
lying on his back on the van floor. writh-
ing. his teeth set and murder in his eyes
He strained like a wild beast. and cursed
like n flend but he was in a vice.
Charley Napier. the Clerk-the fairhair-
ed one-had got his sinewy arms around
the foreign thief and was pressing the
life out Of him.
" It's rather warm work, driver? he
said, turning his head and looking at me
whimslcally.
" Yes I replied. with a thrill of JOY,
noting that the gold was untouched. You
seem busy. Shall give you a little help?'
" Thank YOU. perhaps you don't mind
holding this panther till I get up
" With pleasure said. bending down.
Selling the man by the collar and vest and
hauling him TO HIS feet.
The foreigner shook himself. but held
his tongue.
MANY OF the passengers had quilted the
/ carriages and were crowding about the
bullion van. One. n dry. methodical. mid
dle-aged gentleman, declared himself to be
medical man.
"Stu grasping my prisoner. I asked the
doctor TO hurry into the luggage van and
do what he could for the guard. Clayton
was still somewhat dazed by the blow; but
he looked viudictively at his assailant. and
I thought it polite to relieve him of his
revolver lest he might rob the hangman Of
q lucrative appointment.
Though gratided that the foreigners
crime had been futile that he had failed
TO get away with the specie, was sharply
reminded of my duty. I was an engine
driver-not detective. I asked the medi-
cal man to urge the passengers to take
their seats at once. and sent a message to
George. the fireman. TO give the engine her
head. and make up all the time we could.
"As the train re-started I locked the
train Of the bullion van, and covering my
prisoner with the guards revolver order
c3 him 20 lie ON the floor. telling him that
If he moved 7 would shoot him dead.
George did his best With fire banked
I'M and all STAN on. he made the express
fv through the night, and we pulled up
only 10 minutes late at the terminus.
.T said nothing because everything 1
had done had only been performed i'm ac-
cordance with my duty and promise; but
Napier after formally handing over the
bullion 20 the ships captain, for transit
across the channel made a little speech,
I'm which ne said he was no hero, but he
found the hug he had learned in Rugby
foot ball very useful.
wilhelm FISCHER for that turned out
to- De the prisoners name. was placed on
trial for the bank clerks murder. He had
come to- London from Strasburg to seek
his fortune and had sought it too quickly.
He did not attempt to deny his guilt and
maid the penalty Of his crime at the ropes
end.
'I received handsome gift from the
company for the part I took in guarding
the gold i'm the night mail. Napier was
made n bank manager. But. best of all.
the gold safely reached its destination. and
the financial crisis in the east was avert
cd."-Tit-Bits
s.r.r,..r,z-