The diamond drill., 1908-12-12
HE GOT THE sATcHEL


The worst case Of fright asa about
the best case OF nerve ever came
across said the drummer was
chap who was travelling through the
middle west for arm one spring I
met him on fne train and found he
played a good game OF whist. so with
two other men we made up ll,tle
game he was my partner and was =
very silent fellow He didn't even
mention what his line was, which IL
unusual whb bin, he bad a sstcbel
OF very superior make. and the way be
kept his eye on that all the time
sneaking little nervous peeks ~ Il
every two minutes. led me 10 suspect
that he was = lewelry man and had
big lot OF valuable stones IN the grip.
though | couldn't Imagine why man
should take such chances carrying
such things IN n satche.
well, the railroad smash came lit
was my latest one. by the way-Just a.
my partner was on his way back 20
the game from having gone 10 get
some water. In all the excitement |
distinctly noted the yell he let out IL
was the finest piece OF vocal work OF
that kind | had ever heard AS the
car sort OF crumpled up he made a
dive toward US. and | figured that he
was thinking OF his satchel
my luck was with me, and found
way out with nothing worse than
scalp wound and collection OF
bumps. Pretty soon he came crawling
out after me. He wasn't hurt, so far
as could see. but he was whittier than
a sheet. gave him swlg OF whisky
from my flask and told him to brace
up. He took an awful hooker and
then began 10 twist his fingers and
kind OF moan:
"'My satchel! Ny satchell My
satchelr
"Well, what's the matter with your
satchelr ! said
Its In there he said aud
thought by his tone he was going to
cry. It's in there where can't get at
IT.
"'Say, you make me tired said
You ought 10 be mighty thankful 10
be out yourself without worrying
about any satchel.'
"'Ill have TO 20 IN after f. said he,
looking around kind Of Wild and pranc-
Ing like horse with sore feet
Not on your life,' said |. Every
things loose IN there, and the whole
thing may collapse at any minute and
then whercd You be? Resides. the
cars afire down at the other end
"My God" he said 'Afire? That
settles Il. I've got TO get that satchel
then, if die for It, And he actually
tore his hair, I'd never seen Il done
before, except on the stage. but he
did II.
"'Oh. take brace | said, getting
disgusted with the man. 4 guess the
fire won't do much damage II it's
diamonds
'Dlamondsp he said. Man, it's dy-
Mantle. enough Of II TO blow MS all
into the skyr
Dynamlter yelled. What are
you-an anarchisti'
"'No. I'm a dynamite agent be
said Don't keep me here talking.
I've got 10 go I'm. I've got TO do H.
There's no other way There may be
people IN the wreckage. and II that
stun goes or
"'Neyer mind explaining IT, | said.
Go In. and the Lord help you9
That's the sort OF thing that takes
nerve don't believe | could have
done Il. He Topped down and crawled
In there, and | watched and waited for
week or So ms II seemed, and pretty
soon he came out looking like dead
man and bringing that satchel be.
tween his teeth like dog, because he
needed both hands to crawl with.
Well. we escorted that satchel across
two lots and buried IL In furrow and
put stone over II before we went
back 10 work at the train.
1T happened that the fire was put
out before Il reached the place where
the satchel had been. Why on earth
the stun didn't explode and blow ms all
10 flinders when the crash came Is
more than | know or the agent either.
He said dynamite was always doing
things and falling to do things In the
most inexplicable way aud that was
what made the life OF dynamite
agent one long round OF excitement.
lie never dared tell what II was he
had in the satchel, he said. because the
railroads wouldn't carry him II they
knew.
"He went back and dug up his trav-
cling internal machine and walked
with Il 10 the nearest town. and that's
! the last saw OF him OF want TO see.
though he certainly did have good
nerve. Ever since then when I've seen
a man with satchel that he seemed
10 think heap OF I've quietly moved
I... aha naxt - AlIl IA n galall-