The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-06-18
How the Tram
Was Held Up
By BEVERLY woRTHINCToN
Copyright 1910. ~ American Press
Association


alhsave about dozen passengers had
dropped on The country becoming
arid. nothing 70 look az outside and
nothing 70 do inside. some OF as got
together 70 talk There was Metho
dist minister ID white cravat and d
woman dressed 10 calico. 80 freshman
with . red head and colored man.
Others there were. but these four are
especially Impressed on my memory
We had exhausted every topic we
could think Of and were pining Tor
something 70 break the moaotony Of
the journey when the conductor came
IN and said 70 as:
We're coming 70 a place. q cat and
3 curve IL the road where there fl a
possibility Of the train being held up
II you people have any valuables that
you don't care q lose you had better
dispose Of them III some way BY which
they wOn't show up
"How do you know The train IS like.
" 10 be held upg" asked the Ifishman
"A man got on at the last station
who said that bis little daughter. only
twelve years old. bad heard some men
laying a plan. They had agreed that
they would 80 through this very train
and az the cut two miles beyond Rac.
coon. There's only one cut about there,
and there's a curve IN t."
why don't you 80 back p asked the
woman. trembling.
Because there's 40 certainty about
the matter | don't know how well /
ran depend on The information. # I
backed az every such report throwing
the roads schedule out. I'd soon get
my walking papers
Where's ths man who told about
thisT
In the baggage car"
One or two Of the passengers went
forward 10 interview the informer.
while the others began 70 take meas
ures 10 put their valuabies In places
where they would not likely be found
We had left Raecoon and would be- 10
the cut 10 a few minutes, The woman
unlocked her dress ia front and cram
med In a pocketbook. The freshman
thinking that she would net be likely
70 be forced to disrobe. asked her IL
size would kindly take charge Of a roll
Of bills for him She consented No
one OF the other passengers they were
All men -seemed to be satisfied 70 keep
bis valuables on bis person. 90 one BY
one they went to the woman aud ask
ed her TO be their temporary safe de
posit. She WAS very obliging. but, NOT
having room where she had put her
own pocketbook. she suggested that
they tie Up their goods in their haud-
kerchiefs and she would pin them
on TO the waistband Of her petticoat
This seemed so admirable a plan
that every man In the car came to this
lone woman and begged the protection
OF her skirts for bis money. watch and
jewelry OF every kind She was III
orally loaded down with them. having
circle Of suspended articles around
her waist.
The news that the train was likely
TO be held up was carried into the
uext car back-there were but two
passenger cars-and half dozen per
sous came into our car to learn about
the natter There was no more room
for valuables under the woman's skirt.
but the minister stepped forward with
a plan. much to the relief Of these
newcomers. Taking of his silk hat,
he said
u am carrying funds for the church.
and. knowing OF the danger Of being
robbed IN this Wild country, had
false top put Ia my hat have room
for what money any Of you may wish
to secrete."
He took out the false top and put It
back again on all the money there was
left unpfovided for
But there was no room 10 the clergy
mans hat except for money. The col
cred man opened worn suit case thar
Locked as il it would scarcely bold to-
gether to complete the journey aud
among the contents, some soiled under
clothes. hid City cent piece and two
nickels. all the money be had This
seemed to those passengers whose
watches and jewelry had not been tax
en- care OF the acme OF 6ne hiding
places. No robber would expect TO
and anything IN that suit case among
4 negro's soiled underclothes conse
quently the goods that bad not yet
been hidden wore dumped into the tat
tered receptacle
BY the time the last article had been
stored away the train reached the cut.
The passengers held their breath
while passing through It and breathed
again on reaching the other end When
they were congratulating themselves
on getting through safely there was
Jerk on the bell rope. and the train
suddenly came TO a stop
The passengers turned pale and kept
their seats except the clergyman, the
woman and the negro. They went to
the door. apparently 20 see what had
happened. But they did not stop there.
Four horses stood saddled beside the
track. The three passengers mention
"a. the negro holding on to his suit
case. Jumped from the car and on 70
the horses. The fourth horse was
mounted by the informer. Waving an
affectionate adieu. they put spurs TO
their horses and were soon lost to
view In i wood.
Spy thunder" exclaimed the CON
ductor that's the neatest job / ever
dreamed Off
Among all the passengers on the
train there was not enough money LEFT
TO buy a breakfast.