The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-08-18

Welcome.
put the lamp in the window, though, 80
you'll know I'm 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. Our
road is what's called the old line, and
travel on it is light, mostly freight. At
night the station is deserted, there be-
ing no business for either telegraph
operator or ticket agent. This leaves
the station practically deserted after
shutdown. 1t is only few rods from
our home, however, and l feel that it's
under my eye all the time. thought
of this as walked back to the station
and didn't half like the idea Of all
that money being about.
found Jim with his heels on the
desk, putting away at good cigar.
'Not an alarm" he said, in his jok-
ing way, mot even mouse"
We chatted away for an hour or
more, when Jim suddenly put down his
feet and yawned heavily.
"Joe," he said, "if you don't mind
| I'll 90 out and take little stroll"
"Go ahead," said, "but mind you
are not gone long"
After he had stepped out was sorry
l let him 60. The thought of being
alone with all that money was disquiet-
ing. l followed him to the door and
looked out. 1t was bright night and
l saw Jim slip around the corner.
knew he was after drink. That was
Jim's failing. That and gambling.
l went back and sat down. The
more l thought about that money the
more l didn't like the idea. What
business had Jim to go away and leave
all the responsibility with me? OF
course, he didn't leave it all with me,
but he left altogether too big share.
AS sat there grumbling low tap on
the window overlooking the platform
attracted my attention. l looked up.
The side of the building was in the
shadow, but l could see 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 it?" called.
"Open the window, Joe," said the
voice.
l pushed it up little.
Is that you, Jerry?' called.
There was no response. put my
head through the opening and looked
up and down the line. Nobody was il
sight. Just then heard slight noise
behind me. drew in my head. Some
thing seemed to crash into my brain
A fash Of binding light blinded me
Then all was dark.
When l came to l was tied in my
chair, my head was sore and wet, ant
two men with strips of black clotl
across their faces were looking dowl
at me.
"He'a all right" said the shorte
man. The tall man nodded.
sect the keys" he said in queer
hoarse voice.
"The shorter man felt in my pockets
mot here!" he cried.
"They must be-" said the tall man
in his hoarse voice.
81 tell you they are not. Bring tn
lamp"
The tall man took the lamp from tn
window ledge and came closer to mt
, But their search was in vain. The ia
man placed the lamp on the table
/, while the other man put a revolver
g my ear.
. - Comel" he said, where are thos
: keys?"
My head was beginning to clear
D little. saw it all. My wife had take
e the keys from my pocket because it WI
her way, and because she thought ha
no further use for them until mornin!
4 "He must have left the keys
home," said the tall man hurriedl
"Here, give him a sheet of paper an
let him write note to his wife, askir
!. for them. The short man looked l
i sharply.
t "I'll get Them" said the tall man.
), They pulled the table up to me al
4 spread out scrap of paper. The sho
d man loosened the rope and let my rig
$ hand free. reached to my vest pock
t half blindly and drew out my penc
!, Still in daze, tried to put my wife
. name on the sheet. The pencil I
d fused to make mark. l looked at
y 1t was dull and horribly haggled abo
C the point. pride myself on the fl
e point put to my pencils. Again
!, comprehended that my wife had bC
IS rowed that very pencil to write the nc
e to the operators wife. tried to scr
{, BILE with the blunt thing.
u course you, hurry!" growled t
lie short ruffian.
~ showed the pencil point. With
n exclamation of anger the short m
a drew out a heavy-handled knife a
e, swiftly sharpened the pencil. AS
| nasaad IL hank nv mandarinn uiai