Year: 1878

sasasc-sz-aSs-sza
attendants permission TO arrange tho
caskets to their own satisfaction, and that
they had been a long time doing it. IL
they had removed the screws unobserved
at that time, what possible object could
they have had in doing so 2 With this
question in my mind l raised the upper
portion of the id of the CONN nearest me
and took look at the face OF the occu-
pant. He was young man, with full
face and square features. His cheeks
we're not sunken, and he had decidedly
fresh appearance for young man who
had been dead nearly two days, l thought.


Replacing the lid, passed away to the
other coffin. Here new and startling
surprise met me. The man in ths coffin
WAS the man whom | had seen in the
express office That red eyo WAS staring
straight ut ma and was not mistaken!
For n moment my Consideration was too
great for words. I could not have utter
ed sound, had my life depended on it.


This man who was alive after tho acci-
dent, which the paper said caused the
death OF Van Scooter and Griggs, and
who had made arrangements for trans
portation Of their remains, and now aero
in this coffin, to all Appearances dead
Then remembered that the bSIeaved
stranger had said that his dead brother
resem blod him very closely. But two
brothers are not apt to have rcd eyes !
Such a coincidence Ms this was beyond
tho pale Of reasonable probabilities.


While yet gazed at the supposed
corpse, the other eye opened little, and
| was sure that it was looking at me ! I
was convinced that there was fraud hero,
but TO show that l had discovered il
might cost me my life. So | very quiet
y replaced the lid OF the coffin and took
moments time to think the matter over.


/ remembered my conversation with
the express agent, which we feared had
been overheard by the clerical appearing,
stranger, and could only come TO the
conclusion that tho whole thing was
deliberate plan to murder me aud gain
possession of tho $780, 900 in my charge.
There was no denying that the man with
the red eye was alive, and had no doubt
that tho other man was also. knoaling
down, placed my ear close to the side
of tho coffin, and could hear him breathe
quite istnctly. | remomber that ii was
the intention Of the attendant who had
boarded tho train to enter the car at Rcd
wood, Ostensibly for the purpose OF seeing
tho bodies and | could not doubt that
tho three men intended to attack mo nflor
the train pulled out for the station and
rob tho car before our arrival at the noxt
stopping place. There was but one sta
ton between US and Redwood, and |
knew wo would bs there in ton minutes
more. had no time for hesitation. In
stunt action was my only chance for safo-
ty. If could secure myself against an
attack until We reached the nNxt station,
felt that nll would bo we'll. In ono in
stant | hnd decided upon npan Of action.
As quickly us possible | piled several
heavy boxes Of merchandsc on the top
Of the two coiiins, and then / knew was
safe. Scarcely was this accomplished
when wo rnn into tho station.


Immediately found two or three Of
6cers. First the man in the coach was
secured. He was highly indignant that
he should be disturbed on such solemn
mission. But it WAS no go. lie was
handculled in less than two minutes and
marched out On the platform.


1t was an easy matter to secure the two
quandom dead mon. Thoy were taken
greatly at a disadvantage, and were do
privod Of all powor to resist almost before
they became aware how their nice little
scheme had terminated. All three had
been we'll armed.


Bound and guarded the three miscreants
were taken to Redwood and lodged in the
county jail.


Before | left took leok ut them
through tho grated doors OF the CELL
When paid my respects to tho man with
the red oye, he smiled u little and re-
marked pstroEizingly:


"You're pretty sharp young man. 1t
takes a middllng keen boy to outwit u.s."


"Pormit me to sympathizo with you
in your sorrow at the loss OF yeur dear
brother, just a little"