Year: 1878

About eight years ago, when l had
not railroaded it as long as ! have now,
] was employed as a messenger on a
Western railway ] don't know as it is
necessary for me say what line it was,
but will call it the B. T. and G. B., to
save myself the trouble of pronouncing
the whole name.


had not been on the run more than
s.month previous to the date Of the oc-
currence of whichsI am going to tell
you. had been running on branch
route for more than year, and l might
have stayed there good deal longer if l
had not been chosen to take Paxton's
place when 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 the car with bullet hole 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 Paxton's
pocket, and it was not found till a good
six weeks afterward. Then it was dis
covered at the side of the track, with a
card tied on it, on which was written
that robbers were in the car, and he ex.
pected they would murder him if he re-
fused to give up the key.


Well, you may suppose that felt just
the least bit saueamish about accepting
such an uninviting berth but the Super
intendent gave me orders, and l meant
to do my duty, however disagreeable il
might be. Then the pay was larger
than l had ever seen before; and l wa:
acquainted with a good girl who was
ready to help me inhabit house when
ever 1 was able to own one, and that
was quite an object to me, I can assure
you.


Every thing passed off smoothly
enough for several weeks, and I had be
come accustomed to the route, and mad.
dozen or SO of very pleasant acquaint
ances, and / was growing to be prett!
well contented with life. / had almos
began to think the robbers, wheeve
they might be, had given up all thought
of ever making any thing out of m,
car, and had sought another field of op
erations.


One day | was informed by the agen
at R that sometime within week
would have to take charge of abou
eighty thousand dollars in specie in it
transit over our road. The officers @
the express company had been advise
of this intended shipment in order tina
they might exercise redoubled vigilance
in view of the great risk incurred in tn
transportation of such valuable COZ
signment.


The evening after the conversation
with the agent he called me into hi
Office, and told me the specie was to g
over the road the next day but one. H
produced an envelope and handed it
me, saying, as he did so:


"There, Bill, are your orders, diret
from the Superintendent, with his ow
signature attached. Read them car,
fully and obey them to the letter, for
little mismove might cause great 10
/. to the company and cost you your pos
ton"


I" l shall do my duty to the very le
ter" replied.


am sure you mean to do 3d." sal
the agent, "but you can not be too car
full. Some of the members of the ligh
fingered profession are smart as ligh
ming. The plans they can't devise ain
worth thinking of, and they are as fe
tile in expedients as the evil one hil
self. / thought I'd just put you ,
your guard in a friendly way, and


There was slight sound at the doc
If the depot hadn't been deserted
every one except we two, and the swift
engine hadn't been up at the end of t
yard, where we couldn't hear its
cessant putting, l don't believe we won
have heard the sound at all. But


both noticed it at once, and as 1 look
out of the Office into the large roc


beyond ! saw man standing Just


side the outer door, with his head
clined toward us as if he were trying
oYerhear our conversation. He saw


about the time / first noticed him.


knew it from the little start of surpr


Re gave as his eye met mine.