The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-04-11
Ole
EXPRESS MESSENGERS STORY.
BY MARC o. RoLFE.

About eight years ago, when had
not railroaded as long as have now
was employed as messenger on a
western railway. don't think 1t is
necessary for me to say just what
line it was, but will call 1t the r. T
& G. r. R., just to save myself the
trouble Of pronouncing the whole
name.
had not beer on the run more
than a month previous to the date of
the occurrence Of which I am going to
tell you. had been running on a
branch route for more than year,
and / might have stayed there a
good deal longer, IL I had not been
chosen to take Parsons place when
he went off,
Two or three attempts had been
made to rob the express car, and at
last, at the end of long night run,
Paxson was found dead in the car
with bullet hole in his head. But
the safe was closed tight and secure,
though an attempt had been made
to blow it open, which had proved in
effectual But the strangest part of
It all was that the key was missing
from Parsons pockets, and it was not
found till good six weeks afterward.
Then it was discovered at the side of
the track. with card tied to it, on
which was written that robbers were
in the car. and he expected they
would murder him if he refused to
give up the key. He was true to the
last!
Well, you may suppose that l felt
Just the least bit squeamish about &C.
cepting such an uninciting berth; but
the superintendent gave me my Or
ders, and I always meant to do my
duty, however disagreeable it might
be. Then the pay was larger than l
had ever received before; and as
was acquainted with a good girl who
was ready to help me inhabit a house
whenever I should be able to own one,
that was quite an object to me.
can assure you.
Well, everything passed off smooth
" enough for several weeks, and
had become accustomed to the route,
and made dozen or so of very pleas
ant acquaintance, and was growing
to be pretty well contented with my
life. had almost begun to think the
robbers, whoever they might be, had
given up all thought Of ever making
anything out Of my car, and had
hi Ga1I of
One day was informed by the
agent at R that some time with
In a week I would have to take
charge Of about $4,000 in specie in
its transit over our road. on it's way
from Washington to San Francisco.
The officers of the express company
had been advised Of this intended
shipment, in order that they might
exercise redoubled vigilance In view
Of the great risk incurred in the
transportation of such a. valuable
consignment.
The evening after my conversation
with the agent he called me into the
Office, and told me that the specie
was to go over the road the next day
but one. He produced an envelope
and handed it to me, saying as he
did so:
There. Bill. are your orders, direct
from the superintendent, with his own
signature attached. Read them care
fully, and obey them to the letter;
for a little mismove might cause a
great loss to the company, and cost
you your position"
81 shall do my duty to the very
letter." I replied.
'T am sure you mean to do So" re-
turned the agent. "but you can't be
too careful. Some desperadoes are
as smart as lightning. The plans
they can't devise amt worth thinking
of, and they are as fertile in expedi-
ents as the evil one himself. / thought
I'd just put you on your guard in a
friendly way, and"
There was a slight sound at the
door. If the depot hadn't been de-
serted by every one except us two,
and the switch engine hadn't been up
ut the head of the yard, where we
couldn't hear It's incessant putting,
don't believe we would have heard
the sound at all. But we both no
ticed it at once. and as looked out
of the office into the large room be-
yond, / saw man standing just in
side the outer door. with his head
inclined toward us as If he were try
ing to overhear our conversation. He
saw me about the moment / first no
ticed him. I knew 1t from the little
start Of surprise he gave as his eyes
met mine.
He was all over his awkwardness
IN a minute. Or he drew his race
down into an expression OF the ut
most unconcern. and came boldly for
ward to the window Of the ONCE
through which the agent always tran
sacted any business he might have
with persons outside.
He was very fair appearing man
apparently about 40. though ne might
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