Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1916-03-09
.ADoIl's S House
By ELlNCR MARSH

Train robberies, which had quieted
down during the early part OF 10,
broke out with renewed vigor in the
autumn Of that year. One of these
attacks was not only well planned, so
far as getting treasure was concerned,
but In getting away with it.
Jim Charney was the leader of the
band that made the attack and chose
the field Of enterprise by personally in.
vestisating different points on the rail.
road he proposed to operate on He
discovered cave concealed by thick
underground where party of men
might hide. So far as he could learn.
no one knew Of It He proposed to rob
a train us 1t passed within a few hun
dred yards Of this cave. part of the
force would make off on horseback
while another part with the plumber
hid In the cave. A posse would follow
those who had ridden away while the
men In the cave waited till the excite.
ment had died out and then make off.
The robbery was eminently success
full The train was stopped and the
/ plunder taken from the express car
| The robbers made off through wood.
| dropping the treasure into the hands
of -four men who made their way to
the cave unseen. Those who had rid.
den away were followed but not cap
tured.
A surprise awaited those who had
gone to the cave, among whom was
Jim Charnley, the leader of the gang.
He had not been to the cave since he
had discovered it several weeks before.
On entering it he saw doll in little
bed and several articles of doll furni.
ture beside it,
The presence of this inanimate com.
binatiOn Of china and suwduSt caused
cOmmOtiOn on the part of the rob.
bers. Some Of them, fearing that their
presence there might be discovered.
were for moving at once But Charm
ley argued that the region of the rob.
berry would be filed with persons NOV.
ed by curiosity. If nothing more. and
that any move for the present would
be dangerous. If the child came to
play in the cave she could be taken in
and held from giving information of
their presence.
Little Marry Blckford. who lived on
the Other side of the rise from the
n'). Of the cave, was the child who
had made the place a playhouse. On
the afternoon of the robbery she start.
ed TO go there to get her doll and bring
it home. Coming to the rise. she pass
ed over the roof of the cave, where
there was a break in the rock that
formed it, not sufficient to let in light.
but through which sound might pass
The robbers had closed up the mouth
Of the cave and supposed that they
might talk with freedom At the time
Marcy was passing over the break in
the roof they were discussing whether
they should get out or remain where
they were. The question was a mat
ter of life or death with them, and
their arguments were by no means
subdued. Marcy, hearing voices in the
bowels of the earth beneath her, turned
and ran back home as fast as her lit
tie legs would carry her Her mother,
seeing that the child had been fright
ened. questioned her and was told
that some men were in her playhouse
and would take her dolly away with
them.
Mrs. Bickford had heard of the train
robbery, and it was not long before
she began to suspect the truth concern
Ing the voices her daughter had heard |
in the cave. She went at once TO
neighbor and reported the case. Tn |
most of the men there
about had gone off after the robbers
who had ridden away, and not enough
men could be got together to warrant
attacking an unknown number Of des
peradoes ensconced in a cave, so moth
ng was done except to station boy
Jf sixteen to watch the hiding place
Charnley decided to remain where
he robbers were only till midnight,
.hen to walk to the nearest station two
miles distant and board train that
would stop there ut II few minutes aft
n o'clock.
Billy Simpson, who was on watch
saw them leave the cave. He followed
hem to the station, near which they
waited till they heard the train coming,
md then went up on to the platform.
Billy went to the rear ear unseen by
hem and got aboard at the same time
hey did. There were four men In the
,ang, but they took separate seats
they paid the conductor their fare,
nd he passed on to the rear car, where
Billy Informed him as to the nature OF
he passengers who had just got on the
rain. n
The conductor wrote telegram,
which he gave to Billy instructlng him
D get off at the next station, five miles
istant. and send 1t, believing that his
wn motions would be watched by the
Obbers. On reaching the station Billy
topped off on the dark side Of the car
nseen, and the train went on. The
gent was in bed, but Billy routed him
ut, and the telegram was sent to Il
Fable town ten miles distant.
Meanwhile the conductor directed the
lgineer to slack speed that sufficient