Year: 1867

other New ears eve had arrived.


still ran on the same train but this


night my assistant was with me. A


feeling for which could not accoun


made me refuse his request that


should allow him leave of absence fol


this night; and on leaving my house ]
put my revolver into my pocket. The


baggage had been all pitched into the
car, and we were busily at work sort
ing it, when the station baggage mas.
ter, who had taken Evans place, came
running up to the car shouting "More
baggage! Make room in the car for g
coffin! 7" You might have knocked me
down with feather! Mechanically ]
took the extra way-bill which he thrust
into my hand, and stood gazing at the
four men who were carrying the coffin
Yes they were the same four men
whom had seen on this very night just
a year ago watched them into pass
enger car where they took their seats,
and turned to examine the check. NV
assistant was before me, and called out


"92,327."


He must have thought I was mad
First l lifted one end of the coffin, ahd
then the other. Then I made him lift
it, and asked him if it was heavy. Very
heavy indeed he seemed to find it; and
it was plain that there was no sham this
time. looked at the check, then at
the caps On my pistol, and then walked
back into the irst-class cars. Here
met the conductor.


"Where is that coffin going?"
asked.


"Well," lie replied, 'sthe men who
brought it gave me this order from Mr.
Nesbit, the superintendent SO I sup
pose We must do as he says; but the
engineer don't like it at ALL"


I took the order and read. as fol-
lows:


surERINTENDENT's OFFICE, n. & E; R. R. Co.
NEW YORK. December 81, 1S5-.


"Mr. Tesdell, Con. II P. NJ. Tightening Express:


please take ON board one coffin and four bear


50. L. NEsBIT, Superintendent


Things were evidently coming to a
climax. It was not Harley and Wat
kins, then, but the superintendent =
No; felt ashamed of my suspicious.
But what could it mean? New-Year's
eve: another coffin to be put off at
Edgaston! (! I pinched myself Was I
awake or dreaming? I went back to
my car, and told NY assistant that
fancied something was wrong with that
coffin, and that should follow it. IF
they missed me at the end Of my re-
turn trip he was to report me sick, but
not to say where I was.


With my coat off I awaited impa-
tiently and silently-my assistant said,
every gruffiy''-our arrival at Edgas
ton. it soon came. We opened the
door, and the four men stood there -
One of them handed up check


"92, 1921" called out my assistant
Cali rightr'


I grasped it nervously and looked at
it. It's mate was unstrapped from the
coffin, and my assistant was about to
string them with the other checks, but
/ hastily snatched them from him, and
put both in my breeches- pocket. "No
losing these checks this time,' said I
to myself. The men received the cof-
fin. AS soon as it was out I swung my
lantern as the signal to go ahead, shut
the door in the faces of the men, opened
the one on the opposite side, grabbed
my coat, and jumped out. The train
was in motion, but / lit in snow-bank
and I did not hurt myself. Crouch
ing down in the snow I watched the
men carry their burden down the plat
form, and then take the road leading to
the little village. Had there been no
snow on the ground the night would
have been very dark; as it was, the
wind and the drifting sleet made it al
most impossible to see any distance
ahead. When the men had al
most disappeared in the storm care
fully crept out of my hole in the snow,
and, keeping them in view, ,dogged their
footsteps. About quarter of mile
from the station they turned into
narrow lane, at the end of which was
wretched- ooking house, with barn
near it. My men went straight to the
barn and entered it, There was no
cover to allow of my creeping up to
the barn, and I was afraid they might
come out any moment; SO, crouching
low in the snow, I awaited further de-
velopments. Presently they came out
of the barn without the coff1n,a and went
into the house, from window Of which
there shone very faint light as soon
as they had entered the house. Creep
ing up, was able to see what was go
ing on inside, and the first peep salts
fed me that some unlawful deed was
being enacted in which the coffin, I
felt sure, bore prominent part. By
the light of the tallow- candle, which
burned on rude table at which they
sat, I observed that they were occupied
in peeling from their faces false mus
taches and whiskers, and keeping up
low conversation of which I could not
distinguish one word.


My mind was quickly made up. The
Lightning Express, passing T at
1890, and due in New Yorh at 2.25 A.
NJ, would pass the Edgaston station in
a few minutes. If could but waken
the station-master and flag the train
1 could rush down to New York, report
what had seen to the superintendent
and the police, and be back before day
light / ran to the station as fast as
/ could through the snow, and awoke
the station master, who slept there
A few words sufficed to tell him my er-
land, and in minute or so the station