Year: 1878

railway. 1 don't know as it is necessary
for me to say just what line it was, but l
will call 1t the b. T. & G.. r. r., jus; to
save myself tho trouble of pronouncing
the whole name.


l had not been on tho run mere than a
month previous to the date of the occur
renee of which L am going 20 tell you.
l had been running on branch route for
more than year, and might have stad
there a good deal longer, if had not been
chosen to take Paxt0n's place WHOM he
went off. You see, two or three attempts
had been made to rob The express car,
and at last, at the end of long run,
Paxton was found dead in tho car with q
bullet hole in his head. But the safe was
closed tight and secure, though an at
tempt had been made to blow it open.
which proved Intellectual. But the strang-
est part of it ali was that tho key was
missing from Paxton's pocket, and ii was
not found till a good six weeks afterward.
Then it was discovered at the side of the
track, with card tied on it, on which it
was written that robbers were in the car,
and he expected they would murder him
ifhe refused to give up the key. Ho was
true to the last. VOL, you may suppose
that felt just the least DIT squeamsh
about accepting such an uninviting berth ;
but The Superintendent gave me orders,
and l meant to do my duty, however 6is-
agreeable it might be. Then the pay
was larger than had ever received be-
fore and l was acquainted with a good
girl who was ready to help me inhabit q
house whenever | should be able to own
one, and that was quite an object to mo,
can assure you.


We'll, everything passed off smoothly
enough for several weeks, and | had be-
come accustomed to the route, and made
n dozen or so very pleasant acquaintances,
and l was growing to be pretty we'll con
tented with my life. / had almost begun
to think tho robbers, whoever they might
be, had given up all thoughts of ever
making anything out of my car, and had
sought another field of operations.


One day was informed by the agent at
r. that some time within week
would have to take charge of about $780,
600 in specie in lis transit over our road.
Tho officers of the express company had
been advised of this intended important
shipment in order that they might exer-
else redoubed vigilance in view OF the
great risk incurred in the transportation
of such a valuable consignment.


The evening af fter my conversation with
the agent he called me into the office, and
told me tho specie was to 60 over the
road the next day but one. IIo produced
an envelope and handed it to me, saying
az he did so


"There, Bill, are your orders, direct
from the Superin ntendont, with his own
signature attached. Read them careful
ly and obey them to the letter, for little
mismove might cause great loss to the
company and cost you your position"


81 shall! do my duty to the very letter" I"
l replied.


81 am sure you moan to do so," said
the agent, "but you cannot bo too careful.
Some of the mem bers of the light-
fingered profession are smart as light
ming. The plans they can't devise amt
worth thinking of, and they are as fertile
in exped dients as the evil one himself. /
thought I'd just put yeu on your guard in
a friendly way, and"


There was slight sound at the door.
IF the depot hadn't been deserted by
every one except as two, and the switch
engine hadn't been up ut the end of the
yard, whore we could hear its incessant
putting, l don't believe we would have
heard the sound at all. But we both no
ticed it at once, and as looked out OF the
office into the large room beyond, saw a
man standing just inside the outer door,
with his head inclined toward US as if he
was trying to ovorhear our conversation
He saw me about the time ] first noticed
him. ! knew it from the little start Of
surprise he gave as his eyes met mine.


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


lie was very fair appearing man, APP
parently about forty, though he might
have been little older. He was dressed
in black, and. wearing high hat, he
might have passed very well for one of
the cloth if his nose hadAt been just n
trine luminous. The other popularity /
noticed about the man was tina. he had
a queer sort Of red looking eye. II
appeared fixed and staring, and as he
came nearer / concluded it was glass. 1t
was SO strange and unnatural in its ex-
preston that ! thought / should know it
if / should see it peering at me over the
wall Of China.


SIS there a small package here for
Isaac @. Van Scoter." he asked in a bus
mess like way, in answer to the inquring
glance OF the agent.


The agent referred to one OF the big
registers on the desk, and answered in
the negative.


Queer" said the man with ths red eye.
at ought 20 have come yesterday. Have
you read .hs EUening Chronicle P'


And after this abrupt interrogation, the
stranger stood quite motioniess, eyeing
the agent intentIy for as iauch as min
ute.


We both ans wered "No."


The man took paper out Of his pocket