The Meeker herald., 1916-09-23
ADoll's House
By ELINoR 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. 80
far a. getting treasure was concerned.
but in getting away with 1t.
Jim Charnley was the leader Of the
band that made the attack and chose
the field Of enterprise by personally In
vestigating different points on the rail-
road be proposed to operate on. He
discovered a cave concealed by thick
underground where a party of men
might hide. So far as he could learn.
no one knew Of It He proposed to rob
q train AZ 1t passed within few hun
dred yards Of this cave A part Of the
force would make OF 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 Oh.
The robbery was eminently success
full. The train was stopped and the
plumber taken from the express car.
The robbers made OF 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 1t he saw . doll In a little
bed and several articles Of doll furni-
ture beside II.
The presence Of this tnanimate COM
bination Of china and sawdust 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 nlled with persons NOV
ed by curiosity. II nothing more. and
that any move for the present would
be dangerous. II the child came to
play in the cave she could be taken in
and held from giving information of
their presence.
Little Marcy Bickford, WHO lived on
the other side Of the rise from the
mouth Of the cave, was the child who
had made the place q playhouse. On
tho afternoon OF the robbery she start
ed to 60 there to get her doll and bring
a. 10 At,~ III h.
ed over the roof of the cave. where
there was q break in the rock that
formed It, not sufncient to let in light,
but through which sound might pass.
Tho robbers had closed up the mouth
Of the cave and supposed that they
might talk with freedom. At the time
Marty 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
Mr.. Bickford had heard Of the train
robbery. and 1t was not long before
she began to suspect the truth concern
ing the voices her daughter had heard
Id the cave. She went at once to a
neighbor and reported the case. I'm
fortunately most Of the men there
about had gone OF 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
ing was done except to station q boy
Of sixteen to watch the hiding place.
Charnley decided to remain where
the robbers were only till midnight.
then to walk to the nearest station two
miles distant and board 4 train that
would stop there at few minutes aft
er 1 O'Clock.
Billy Simpson, who was on watch.
saw them leave the cave. He followed
them to the station. near which they
waited till they heard the train coming
and then went up on to the platform.
Billy went to the rear car unseen BY
them and got aboard at the same time
they did. There were four men in the
gang. but they took separate seats.
They paid the conductor their fare.
and he passed on to the rear car. where
Billy informed him as to the nature of
the passengers who had just got on the
train.
The conductor wrote a telegram,
which be gave to Billy. instructing him
to get Oh at the next station. i've miles
distant, and send 1t, believing that his
own motions would be watched by the
robbers. On reaching the station Billy
stepped Oh on the dark side of the car
unseen, and the train went on. The
agent was in bed. but Billy routed him