The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1922-09-16
True
Detective Stories
MATTER OF MINUTES

7 7 WAS evident that the robbery
Of the Rock Island Express had
been effected In less than . quar-.
ter Of an hour. The express car had
been hitched on Immediately behind
the engine. and one OF the dremen
recalled having seen Kellogg the mes
senger, checking up his accounts about
fifteen minutes before the train pulled
into Norris. Ill. The next time he
glanced up . shade had been pulled
across the window Of the express car.
and the first he knew Of the robbery
was after the train stopped At Morris.
and Pitney, the brakeman. shouted
ont that kellogg had been killed and
that thousands Of dollars was missing
from the safe.
Jameson. who was In charge Of the
baggage car, directly behind the ex.
press car. provided what appeared to
be the only clue to the crime. BY stat.
ing that shortly after the train left
Joliet. q man In q red mask had en-.
tered his car. held him up at the
point Of q revolver. and had then
passed through to the car beyond. leav.
ing Jameson in charge Of another
masked man whs had disappeared a.
the train slowed down at Morris.
II was scared stiH," admitted the
bagsageman. land didn't dare bulge.
Tho express authorities At Morris
promptly sidetracked the express car,
and wired the details Of the case to
William A. Pinkerton. who arrived
only q few hours later. Meanwhile
however. the contents Of the safe had
been checked up. and II was dis
covered that mere than 10000 was
missing. Ksiioes. the messenger. was
dead. hut before dying, he had evi
IDENTITY given good account OF himself
BEFORE he did anything else. Pinker.
ten walked hack over the track %
which the train had come into Morris
Less than half 4 mile cat be die
covered 4 red mask. lying close to the
track. and he also noted most sig
nihcant fact-although there was mors
than foot Of snow upon the ground
there were no footprints within .
quarter-mile Of the mask!
Returning to Morris, the detective
commenced his examination Of the e1
press car. but failed to End anything
Of value.
Close inspection Of the body Of the
dead messenger. however. brought ts
light another point which Pinkertor
felt certain ought to prove valuable
Under Kellogg's Angsr nails was .
considerable quantity Of what at hrsi
g. ~ ass1A -
some kind. but which the detective
recognized a. the outer layers d
human skin. torn on during the
struggle when the messsnger's finger
were fighting to secure Q hold upoS
his assailant!
Upon returning to Chicago. Pinker
ton at once requested the ofncials d
the road to have all the men employed
on the train come to his once, one
by one. to be interviewed. Jameson. b.
directed. was to be the last man sent
When Pitney. the brakeman, ea
tered. Pinkerton did not overlook the
fact that he was dressed in new
OUTFIT which was distinctly above his
sphere In life. From the points o.
his glossy shoes to the top It his new
derby, the brakeman had evidently
treated himself to 4 branA-new ward
robe In honor Of his interview WITH
the famous detective. In spite Of the
fact that he had very little to tell
II was he who had discovered the
robbery. but he had seen. nothing Of
tire man in the red mask. though
Jamesnn's excited recital Of the hold
up had caused him Immediately t.
Investigate the express car.
'sTLat was just ~ We were pullins
into Norris" coacluded the brakeman
"and ! aavs yell the minute I saw
whit they had done to Kellogg"
That's what wanted to talk t.
you about" said Pinkefton. "Sit
down. woat your And take Of you,
coat. It's warm In here /. Your
gloves. too. he added. noting that Pit
ney kept his hands covered.
After q moments hesitation thu
brakeman peeled Of his new gloves
and Pinkerton had diAsculty In conceal
ing start Of satisfa ction. Tie backs
Of the mars han'ls were seamed and
Acored with q network Of scratchesl
"Been playing with the catF -
aulred Pinkerteu casually.
mo. no." Pitney replied. II got thoss
handling q busted trunk few night
ago" and then he launched into .
description Of his experiences on the
night Of the robbery. When he haze
nnished. Pinkerton thanked him amt
bowed him out q the once. but tn
mufyied buxx Of hell In the antereom
Informed the men stationed there thai
Pitney was to ~ followed night and
day.
$50 far 40 I was ceacsrned." Ptnksr
ton said later, 'the csss saAeA rigAA
there. The backs II Pltnsv's hands
coupled with ~ ahssees Of fsot.prssts
IN ths victltty II the red nask-
which eroved that the - hed bees
haAdlsd BY seOooos - the train