Year: 1878

AoOut oigut years ago, Wueu udu
not railroaded It as long as / have
now, was employed as a messenger
on Western railway. I don't know
as il is necessary for me to say what
line 1t was, but I will call 1t the B. T.
& @. r. r.. to save myself the trouble
OF pronouncing the whole name.


I had not been on the run more
than month previous to the date OF
the occurrence Of which I am going
to tell you. had been running on q
branch route for more than q year,
and 1 might have staid there q good
deal longer, il I had not been chosen
to take Paxton's place when he went
on You see, two or three attempts
had been made to rob the express
car, and at last, at the end Of q long
run, Paxton was found dead In the
car with bullet hole In his head.
But the safe was closed tight and Sc
cure. though an attempt had been
made to blow 1t open. which proved
Intellectual. Bet the strangest part
Of all was that the key was missing
from Paxton's pocket, and 1t was not
found till a good six weeks after
ward. Then it was discovered at the
side Of the track, with a card tied on
it, on which 1t was written that rob-
bsrs were In the car, and he expected
they would murder him IL he refused
to give up the key. He vas true to
the last. Well, you may suppose that
/ felt just the least bit squeamish
about accepting such an uninviting
berth; but the Superintendent gave
me orders, and I meant to do my
duty, however disagreeable il might
be. Then the pay was larger than !
had ever received before; and I was
acquainted with good girl who was
ready to help me inhabit a house
whenever / should be able to own
one, and that was quite an object to
me. / can assure you.


Well, everything passed off smooth
ly enough for several weeks, and ]
had become accustomed to the route
and made dozen or so Of very pleas.
ant acquaintances, and ] was grow.
ing to be pretty well contented with
my life. had almost begun to think
the robbers, whoever they might be
had given up all thoughts OF evel
making anything out Of my car, ant
had sought another field of operation


One day was informed by the
agent at R that come time within
a week would have to take chargs
OF about $S0, 1000 In specie In its tran
sit over our road. The officers Of th'
express company had been advised o
this intended important shipment u
order that they might exercise re
doubled vigilance in view OF the grea
risk incurred In the transportation o
such q valuable consignment.


The evening after my conversation
with the agent, he called me into tn
Office, and tod me the specie was Il
60 over the road the next day bu
one. He produced an envelope AM
handed 1t to me, saying as he did so
@There, Bill, are your orders. direc
from the superintendent, with hi
own signature attached. Read then
carefully and obey them to the letter
for a little mismove might cause


great loss to the company and COS


you your positiop,a


i shall do my duty to the very let


ter" replied.


. Il am sure you mean to do so,
/. /. said the agent, "but you cannot b


too careful. Some of the member
OF the light-fingered profession ar


smart as lightning. The plans the
) can't devise amt worth thinking o.


and they are as fertile In expedient


as the evil one himself. 7 though


I'd just put you on your guard In


friendly way, and"


There was a slight sound at th


door. If the depot hadn't been de
serted by every one except as tive


and the switch engine hadn't been u


at the end Of the yard, where "
= loo.,ld hoaH ifa iaooaaanf na1ffinn