Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-12-21
RUNNING THE
GANTLET
BY WARREN MILLER

didn't like the job, for we were in
the far west, where d~esperadoes
~abounded, and if one of them suspect
ed | had SO large IN amount with me
murder would not stand in his way to
possess it. But if | wished promotion
in the bank it would never do for me
to finch at such an offer, which was
really an order. So | accepted the
charge.
l left the bank with thirty $1,000
bills in a large pocketbook in the breast
pocket of my coat. OF course from the
start 1 had my eye on everybody In
sight, wondering if some one of them
was not intending to rob me. One per-
son arrested my attention from the pc
culiarity of his appearance. He was
standing on the bank steps when |
went out, looking carelessly up the
street. He wore green spectacles, q
very shabby suit and a high plug hat.
The most remarkable feature of his
apparel was a waistcoat with stripes
resembling those of a zebra. He was
evidently down on his luck and had
picked up his clothes piecemeal, where
he could find them cast off from theiI
original owners. He paid no attention
to me. Indeed, | had no evidence that
he was aware of my existence.
Going to my ROOM, l took a suit case
full of clothes and on emerging noticed
the man with the zebra waistcoat on
the opposite side of the street looking
in at a shop window. His back was
to me, and l kept my y on him till
had turned a corner. In this way ]
made sure he had not seen me come
out of the house nor during my going
away from it. Proceeding to the sta.
ton, l boarded the train, and as ii
rolled out the car door opened, and
WHO should step In but the man with
the zebra waistcoat.
He gave me a glance as he took his
seat. and l knew he had spotted me
for a victim. But why this fantastic
attire? Then it all rushed Upon me
suddenly. 1t was to attract my atten
ton from some confederate who was
keeping me in sight and who doubt
less had Informed him of my proceed
ing. They could only have received
the information of my bearing the
money from some one In the bank who
had let 1t out for gain or unintention
ally.
are all natural gamblers, and / at oncs
laid out a game for my money and ms
life. l picked up my suit case, which !
had deposited on the floor, and held II
on my lap. Then l went to the water
cooler for a drink, carrying the suit
case with me. Next | changed my
seat, never for a moment letting the
suit case out of my hand. Finally !
opened it, pretending to make sure as
/ did so that no eye was upon me, and
thrusting my hand in between the
clothing, gave evidence by my expires
sion that what l sought was there.
Meanwhile an ugly looking man in &
wooden shirt and sombrerO went n
sat down by the man with the zebra
waistcoat, and the latter gave him
some piece of information which !
was sure referred to the money being
in the suit case. Not feeling that my
effort to throw the men off the scent
would avail-for when they robbed me
not finding the money where they eX.
pected it, they would force me to pro
duce it, concluded to get off the train
at the first stop. / did so and saw the
two men standing on the platform AZ
well. AS the train moved on 1 stepped
aboard, and my followers re-entered al
the other end of the car.
| looked about me to see if there
was any one on whom | could rely for
help. There were not half a dozen
persons, and they would all be fright
ened out of their wits the moment the
attack was made. | saw my enemies
consulting earnestly and felt sure the
blow was about to fall. The train was
running through a sparsely settled
country. While looking out of the win
. dow l saw a short distance ahead a
man standing in a field holding three
horses. Suddenly the man with the
zebra waistcoat sprang up, seized the
bell cord and pulled it vigorously. 1t
happened that at the same time the
conductor came into the car for tick
let's. The brakes were put on, and the
train slowed up. The conductor, see
ing no reason for stopping, angrily
gave a signal to proceed.
Like a whirlwind the two men dash
ed past me and as they did so seized
my suit case. Carrying it with them,
they jumped off the train just as it
was moving on with accelerated speed.
I saw them run for the horses. All
mounted, and as they dashed away
the man with the zebra waistcoat held
the suit case aloft triumphantly and
waved his plug hat.
1 explained the matter to no one.
keeping my secret till l had delivered
the money and returned, when I told
the president of the bank. The Incl
dent led to the discovery that our por-