Year: 1878

About eight years ago, when had not
railroaded it as long ~ have Row, was
employed rs messenger on a western
railway. / don't know as it is nt casary
for me to say just what line it was, but |
will call it the B. 4. L G. r. R, Just ts
save myself the trouble of pronouncing
the whole name.


had not been on the run more than
mouth previous to the date Of the occurs
renee Of which | am going to tell you
| had been running on branch route for
more than year, and ! might have staid
there good deal longer il | had not
been chosen to take Paxon's place when
he went Off You see two or three
attempts had been made to rob the *,
press car, and at last, at the end OF .
long run, Paxon was found de9d in the
car with bullethole in his head. But
the safe was closed tight and secure,
though an attempt had been made to
blow it open, which proved Intellectual.
But the strangest part Of it all was that
the key was missing from Paxons pocket
and it was not bund till good six weeks
afterward. Then it was discovered at
the side of the track, with card tied en-
it, on which it was written that robbers
were in the car, aud he expected they
would murder him if he refused to give
up the key. He was true to the last.
Well, you may suppose that felt Just
the least bit squeamish about accepting
such an uninviting berth, but the super
intendent gave me orders, and / meant
to do my duty, however disagreeable it
might be. Then the pay was larger than
| had ever received before and as was
acquainted with a good girl, who was
ready to help me inhabit house when
ever | should be able TO own one, that
was quite an object to me, | can assure
you.


Well, everything passed off smoothly
enough for several weeks, and | had be-
come accustomed to the route, and made
a dozen or so o. very pleasant acquaint-
ances, and was growing to he pretty
well contented with my life, l had al
most begun to think the robbers, who,
ever they might be, had given up all
thoughts of ever making anything out of
my car, and had sought another field of
operation.


One day was informed by the agent
at R. that some time within a week
| would have to take charge of about
$780, in specie in its transit over our
road on its way from Washington to
San Francisco. The officers OF the ex-
press company had been advised of this
intended important shipment in order
that they might exercise redOubled vigi-
lance in the transportation of such val
liable consignment.


The evening after my conversation
with the agent he called me into the
Once, and told me that the specie was to
go over the road the next day but one.
He produced an envelope, and handed it
to me, saying as he did 80:


"There, Bill, are your orders, direct
from the superintendent, with his own
signature attached Read them care.
fully, and obey them to the letter for a
little mismove might cause great loss
to the company, and cost on your posi-.
ton"


al shall do my duty to the very let
ter I replied.


Il am sure you mean to do SO" re,
turned the agent, " but you can't be too
careful. Some of the members of the
light.hngered profession are as smart as
lightning The plans they can't devise
amt worth thinking of, and they are as
fertile in expedient as the evil one him.
self. Thought I'd just put you on your
guard in friendly way, and"


There was a slight sound at the door.
II the depot hadn't been deserted by
everyone except us two, and the switch.
engine hadn't been up at the head of the
yard where we could hear its incessant
putting, don't believe we would have
heard the sound at all. But we both
noticed it at once, and, as looked out OF
the ONCE into the large room beyond, l
saw man standing just inside the eutsr
door, with his head inclined toward us
as il he was trying to Overhear our corr
versation, He saw ME about the time l
first noticed him, | knew it from the
liCtle start of surprise he gave as his
eyes met mine.


He was all over his awkwardness in
minute, for he drew his face down to an
expression of the utmost unconcern, and
came boldly forward to the windows Of
the ofiice through which the ageat
always transacted any business he might
have with persons without.


He was a very fair appearing man,
apparently of about ~ years, though be
might have been little older. He was
dressed in black, and, wearing high hat,
he might have passed very well for Que
of the cloth, it isnOSe bad not been just
trife luminous. The other peculigity
l noticed about the man was that he had
queer sort of red.looking eye. It
appeared fixed and staring, and, as he
came nearer, / concluded it was glass,
| II was so strange and unnatural in its
expression that l thought should know
it If l should zee it peering at me over


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