The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-01-30

rocket-like trolley cars bound for In
dependence, ten miles away, or the
green vineyards beyond ancient West
port, a place of fame before Kansas
City had even being. They liked
to hold hands in moonlitten parks on
quiet Sunday nights, and once Brand
had been seduced to kiss her in the
shadows whereunder he had padded
q toy boat they sat In, whereat Mol
lie had blushed bewitchingly 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
gild, 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 young/ husband and
employe as you might ftd in any three
states-and that Molle was as true
woman as she was dear 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 thinkP
On the Saturday night during which
the $4,000 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 big 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 COM
pany paid him his wages for. A load
ed Winchester and double barreled
shotgun, sawed off to half its 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.
Sunday morning at three o'clock.
Flying express rushing westward,
souri,. Brand Mccullough doing in
his armchair, lightly, his nights work
practically 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 his 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 its onset.
hundred swift sensations invade his
brain-hidden robbers, death grap-
pies, surrender, fight, duty, Mollie-
they troop across his fancy, but even
as his thought flashed, he threw up his
arms to sieze 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
elfsh-faced monkey consigned to the
Troost park zoo in Kansas City, which
had left it's crockery crate cage
through some secret door Of its 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.
He dragged the Grated cage into the
middle of his car, still holding his
little prisoner with one arm. It's 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 bit of wrapping twine, the beast
dipped sharply into the hay-strewn
corner where he had made his bed and
chattering wildly in Volapuk held aloft
prize, which made Brand start. 1t
was red-sealed with many dabs of wax
and tied securely with many wrap
pings of twine. In its left hand upper
corner gittered the magic figures:
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