The Savannah morning news., 1901-08-12
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Our Daily Short Stories
MATTER OF CONSCIENCE.
BY WILLIAM BLOSS.
copyright. 1901, by Authors syndicate)

toy boat they sat in, whereat Mol
lie had blushed bewilderingly and cried
out softly that he must stop.
They hoped, anon. to own their own
bird cage, and went frequently abroad
to look for one they should buy and
gid, when Brand had saved half of
three years salary. Already the lit
tie savings account in the Armour
Bank rose in fair proportions, looking
back with pride down the aisle of its
seven entries. The fact is that Brand
was as sturdy. upright, conscientious
and honorable a young husband and
employe as you might find in any three
states-and that Mollie was as true a
woman as she was dear a wife, as pure
in mind and morals as she was fair in
all the sweet coming of maternity.
Now, when cruel temptation falls up
on such pair and besets them sore,
and through no fault of theirs, the
devil is in it, don't you think?
On the Saturday night during which
the 900 package of the Law Valley
Farmers Bank took wings out of some
unknown window, Mccullough had the
Kansas City run. AS for actual phys
ical duties, they were few enough,
after the fast train had gotten. out of
Chicago. Now and then. at bigs towns,
he had package to receive or deliver.
The through safe he could not open
had he wished. His duty was to guard
it. To guard it was really what the
company paid him his wages for. A
loaded Winchester and a double bar
relied shotgun, sawed off to half it's
original length and charged with about
a pint of buckshot, were part of the
tools of his trade. His motto was: No
train robbers need apply.
OF oioInaE
Flying express rushing westward, half
way across the big state of Missouri.
Brand Mccullough doing in his arm
chair, lightly, his nights work practi-
cally done. He is day-dreaming of
Mollie and the new bird cage, of the
time when he may be a proud father.
of the later time when he may be the
superintendent of the division, and go
home every night in the week.
A queer creaking sound behind him
in the car rouses him sharply, and as
he starts upon his feet what seems a
heavy hand falls weightily on his
shoulder, staggering him by it's onset.
A hundred swift sensations invade his
brain-hidden robbers, death grapples,
surrender. fight duty, Mollie-they
troop across his fancy, but even as his
thought flashed, he threw up his arms
to seize his assailant. and whirled
about to meet what might come, red,
painting, but desperately determined.
Then, whether to laugh or swear,
Mccullough was undetermined. His
hands had fastened upon the COVER
ing, and now chattering body of the
elfish-faced monkey consigned to the
Troost park zoo in Kansas City, which
had left it's crockery crate cage through
some secret door of it's own and now
sought society, For an instant Brand
stood at gaze, shocked. that he was
truly alive and wholly safe, and then
he laughed wildly. The reaction from
his strenuous fancies was too strong
to be controlled.
Poor little monk" he said, stroking
the friendly. simian with a kindly
touch. Il thought you were still
asleep, as you were when we crossed
( the river. Well, back you go. The in
structions are to handle you with
care"
He dragged the Grated cage into the
middle of his car, still holding his
little prisoner with one arm. Its door
swung open, but not upon its leather
hinges. These had been gnawed
through and the door dangled from
the paddock securing it upon the other
side. He pushed the unwilling captive
again within. AS he looked about him
for a bit of wrapping tYine, the beast
dipped sharply into the hay-strewn
corner where he had made his bed and
chattering wildly in Volapuk held aloft
a prize. which made Brand start. 1t
was red-sealed with many dabs of
wax and tied securely with many
wrappings of Irvine. In it's left hand
upper corner glittered the magic fig
ures: