Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-08-13
tossed the canvass bag inside.

| tOoNtu OuV NhuN ass N"S '""'S
There 1 SAID, as thrust ny
bunch of keys IN my sack coat
pocket, 'that makes tia little safer
] thought Jim looked a bi
dubious over this precautlon, 0u'
he laughed and SAID: 'All right
my boy. I'll make myself comfort
able unul you come back
Minnie didn't want me to go out
one blr, bat | told her jim count
ed on me-. l didIJ say a word
about the money, however: | knew
Il would worry her, and, to tell the
truth, it worried me a little. l was
sorry Jim brought 1t there, and l
didn't like his talk about precau
tons.
Well, alter supper went out to
see if the dog was all ,right-Vve
got the finest mastiff in the State
and when l came back Minnie
c,lled to me from the sitting
roOm,-
Just a minute, Joe; Pm writing
a note for Htttie.'
Hattie is the wife of the tele'
graph operator, and L knew that
Minnie wanted me to leave it at
the station, where he could get 1t
in the morning. 1t was quite a
number of minutes, however, before
she came out with the note, and
nv vest and coat. 1t was so warm
| had left them off before supper.
Hadn't you better let the dog
90 with you, JoeV she asked, as
she helped me with my coat.
NO, no. said, laughing, hell
stay home aud take care OF you.
I'll put the lamp in the window,
though, so you'll know pm all
right That was great Joke of
ours, but Minnie didn't laugh as
she usually did.
Mind she said. I'll watch for
it, and if it isn't there, I'll come
down after you
Pm station master at Y.
Oar road is what's called the old
line, aud travel on 1t Is light, most
ly freight. At night the station Is
deserted, there beng no business
for either telegraph operator Or
ticket agent. This leaves the
station practically deserted after
sundown. IL is only few rods
from our home, however, and l feel
that It's under my eyes all the
time. | thought of this as walked
back to the station and | didn't
halt like the idea of all that money
beng about.
found Jim with his heels on
the desk, putting away at good
cigar.
Not an alarm; he said, in his
Joking way. 'Not even mouse
We chatted away for an hour or
more when jim suddenly pat down
his feet and va Sned heavily.
'SOe. he said, 1T you don't mind
III 90 out and tske little STROLL
'Go ahead, said, 'Dut mind
you are not gone long,
After he had stepped out l was
sorry | let him 90. The thought
OF being alone With all that money
was dlsquieliug. | followed bin
to the door and looked out. 1t
was bright night aud saw jim
slip around the corner. knew be
was after a drink. That was Jim's
failing. That and gambling.
| went back aud sat down. The
more | thought about that money
the more | dldD't like the Idea.
What business had Jim to go away
and leave all the responsibility
with mef OF course, he didn't leave
it all with me, but he left alto
gether to- big a share. AS | sat
there grumbling low tap on the
window overlooking the platform
attacked my attention. l looked
up. The side oil the building was
IN the shadow, but c0dld see IA
mans face against the pane.
'Joe,' said somebody outside.
supposed it might be one Of The
section hands and stepped across
the room.
'What is itY' called.
Open the window, Joe,' said th'
voice
L pushed it uD little.
lis that you, JerryP | called.
There was no response. | pu
my head through the opening ant
} looked up aud down the line
. Nobody was in sight. Just then
heard a slight noise behind me
drew in my head. Something
seemed to crash into my brain
A flash of binding light blinde'
me. Then all was dark.
. Z