The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-09-01


remains instead of the baggage mas
ter"
Billy, only half awakened, merely
nodded in response to the grumbling
of his companion. With heavy eyes
he noted the lantern suspended from
the swaying ceiling, the hunched up
figure of Merrihew as he sat before
the open safe checking his slips, and
the sombre outline of the casket on
its trestles extending lengthwise In
front of him. And then drowsiness
again overcame him.
1t seemed that some one called.
Still in doubt, he lay listening. Surely
somebody was speaking, and it was
not the messengers voice, either. He
lifted himself on his elbow, now full
ly alert. The smoking lantern cast
ftful light about the car, and at
first Billy thought he was dreaming,
for Merrihew, his usually ruddy face
wearing a horrid palior, was standing
under it, his hands raised rigidly
above his head, while at his breast
was levelled a pistol held by mask
ed and bearded individual who sat
cody upright in the bewreathed cas-
ket. The corpse had come to life.
Evidently the bandit supposed the
clerk to be the sole occupant Of the
car. Only half the cover of the box
was raised. This being hinged had
enabled the intruder to make his ap-
ct1 uif
necessary TO take the unsuspecting
messenger unawares.
Turn out your pockets" command
ed the outlaw; puick now!
Not daring to resist, the unhappy
Merrihew did so, his belongings
dropping to the floor with successive
thuds, his revolver among them.
Bily's pulse beat fast. The mans
back was toward him, but he had no
weapon. In rack directly above,
however, reposed three blue glass
fire eXtinguishers, long-necked bot
ties to be thrown in case of a con.
fagration. Noiselessly he rose to
his feet Softly he extracted two OF
them, his eyes fastened in dreadful
fascination on the figure in the coffin.
Perhaps Merrihew's face gave the
bandit clew, for just as Billy hurled
the bottle in his left hand the fellow
turned with yell and fired. AL
though unhurt, the noise Of the ex-
plosion startled the bey, and his mis-
sile did no damage, but the other
bottle, following instantly, reached
its mark.
Half blinded by the shower of bro
ken glass and sting of the gush-
ing fluid the rufTian swayed drunk
emily, and in that moment the lad
was upon him like a wildcat. BY
this time, too, Merrihew had recov-
cred his wits and his weapon, and
when the robber had regained his
sight he found himself a prisoner.
Grimly the messenger ordered him
to climb out of the box and empty
pockets, Billy meanwhile pinching
the bellrope the proper number of
times to bring assistance from the
train ere wand ten minutes later the
disgusted lawbreaker sat in the
smoker tightly bound, with an arm
ed brakeman sharing his seat. His
confederate, waiting with a team at
the lonely spct where 1t had been
planned he should leave the train
with his booty, whipped up his hor-
ses and fled when he saw the express
rush by.
The next morning Billy stood on
the platform Of the terminal station
as the railroad police passed with
the bandit on their way to the
street. The hard-visaged fellow
paused.
Hold on a minute" said he to the
officer grasping his arm. Then he
stepped UP to Billy. 81 don't know
your name" he said, "and 1 don't
want to know it, but you're all right.
Yes, sir; you're the boy for your
job"
you bet he is" said Merrihew,
clapping Billy affectionately on the
back; "and he'll hold it, too, whether
the other fellows like it or not"