AN EPISODE IN A SLEEPING CA"

Dunstan Times, Issue 1054, 30 June 1882, Page 4

AN EPISODE IN A SLEEPING CA"

The express nani Unit leaves Albany at 10 <>’c ock p.m , on the Albany and Susquehanna connects at Binghamotor. with express No. 5 ‘>n the hlrie f| 'hrough coaches are inn over tide r utn from Boston, aniving in Buffal at 11.40 the fo'lowing niornin Among the passengers in on» of the Pullman cars attached to this one Saturday evening was Mr L. Hoi brook, of Buffalo. Mr. Holbrook had had a hard day’s work travelling, aid as soon as the train began to clmb about among the hills, he climbed into his berth and went to sleep, first having partially undressed and placed his watch and a loaded Smith and Wesson under his pillow. The car was quite well filled, among the passengers being a commercial traveller bound for Hornellville, a lady for Buffalo, and another lady for Cinci- • a'H Along in die little hours of the nijit there came a thump and a bump, and a general shakeup, and then the car came to standstill.

Everybody— except, possibly the lady for Buffalo, and the lady for Cinci•nat'i—thrust their bead along the 'c Tt n'ns and -asked— 11 What's up 1” Nothing was up, except sleepy people, hut a string of freight eais had come down a grade, and made a wreck, and the express had tried to climb over it They must Ke there until things were •cleared, or walk. So the man who ■swears said, “ blank the luck,” and the bidy lor somewhere or other said, “ (Hi dear,” and fill went to sleep again. Just as Mr. Holbrook wrs forgeling that Buffalo was severalliours further dff than it should be, he felt, or saw. or dreamed he felt or saw, a hand lightly brush his face, and then slip under his pillow. Mr. Holbrook is a young man who cur do the right •thing in an emergency. He didn’t stop to put on his—hat, •or to button —his si.oes. He simjliy made a giab for his revolver, and bounced into the aisle in an ins ant. His berth was near the middle of the car, and as ho Handed on his feet he saw a man turning towards the side passage leading around the ladies’ toilet-room towards the end -of the car. In an instant Holbrook had the drop on him. As the fellow turned, he faced the little Smith and Wesson, as it was within 6in. of his nose lie couldn’t help seeing th t it was cooked, and the finger that touched the trigger was ready for duty. “HI trouble you fonmy watch,” said Holbrook. The fellow looked Mr. 'Holbrook in The eye, and th* n looked the revolver nu the eye. Neither Holbrook nor •weafion looked friendly. He -wilted ■into a seat, and 'handed over the watch. “Take away that tiling,” he begged, as the revolver continued to •cover him. 11 Take it dfl I tell you, and let me go. I don't want your watch!”

By this time the car was awake. “ Hold on there,” sang out the commercial traveller going to Horuellsviller, my watch is gone too.” u Oh, oh,” squealed the lady going to 'Clinch.atti, “my watch is gone, too."

Really, this was interesting. The fellow begged and protested. He hadn’t touched their watches, and •didn't want to disturb them. His regard for their rest was not ai predated. The conductor appeared on the scene, imt did not inteifere. Some of the gentlemen crowded about Mr. Holbiouk to assist him.

“ Wait, gentlemen,” says Mr. Holbrook, “ this is ray game, if you please ” This to the thief: “ I want you to give up those watches.” “ I tell yon I havn’tgot. ’em You will oblige me by calling off that weapon.” The finger on the weapon was getting very determined. “Throw up your hands,” shouted Holbrook, putting his iron where even a near sighted nose could’nt help smelling it The man’s arms, went up at the word. He grew pale, and the perspiration began to drop from his face

“ Now, boys, go through him," said Holbrook. The pockets were examined, and, sure enough, there was the little gold wateh over which the lady from Oincinatti was excited. The other one didn't appear.” “ Pull off his hoofs,” said our hero. “ Better tuck in your shirt,” said the robber to Holbrook, as the latter brought the revolver nearer than ever The rascal was evidently an artist,and the sight of half men in shirts and drawers dancing about him may have looked funny. But that revolver didn’t and ids bluff and protest were ot no avail. The other wateh was found in a boot leg. About hOOdol. in money was discovered upon him, but as no one in the car could find out that, lie had lost any it was not disturbed. When Holbrook took off tho revolver the fellow gathered strength to slip out of the car, and was seen no more. And they let him go. And then Holbrook, tervy fellow that he is, began to shake He was the hero of t'-e scene, and in spite of the undress uniform of all parties, was congratulated and applauded, as he desei ved to be. “ But » hen it was all over,” says Mr- Holbrook, “ and I got back into my berth, I jierspired and trembled as badly as the thief had done.” Tho accident delayed the train so that Mr. Holbrook d'd not reach Buffalo until Sunday evening. For

fiie rest of tlio trip he was a lion. ! lie lady going to L'inoinatti ins sled on pressing a generous hill into his hand, and the cimnereial traveler (.verwlie med him with favors. Well m might; his wmrh and chain were worih 800 01.