The Safe Breakers' Gang — page 2: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘Sane 2 THE LOG CABIN LIBRARY. No. 194, a ee —_— ———$———— er BRR as er Sr a og : “T wasn’t asking about the fee of the Western Union A SAFE BREAKE RS GAN ¢ Telegraph Company, you understand,” the man went on, in his careless manner. “My message contained less than OR, ten words, so a quarter will pay for that. But 1 want to know what you want?” THE THREE H.’S GREAT SKILL. “T don’t know as ye owe me anything. I didn’t do SS nothing. And what’s more, you had no business to touch the telegraph, anyway, and’I ain’t going to take the reg’lar fee. I’m goin’ to report what yer done. That’s what [I’m goin’ to do.” The stranger still fingered the money in one hand. At the same time he took the cigar from his lips. By CAPT. CLINCH. CHAPTER I. JULES JEPWORTH. “ Hey. there !—what’re ye doin’ ?” : Tad Silsby saw a steel-like glint in the man’s eyes as The ‘speaker was Tad Silsby, telegraph operator and | he fixed them on the youth’s countenance. man of general usefulness around the rural railway sta- “So you’re going to report me for meddling with the tion of Tin Bridge. ‘key and doing alittle of your work for you?” he ex- He had just come in from attending a switch, the local claimed, a sound in bis voice that matched the metallic freight for Jersey City baving just pulled out. hardness of his gaze. There was not a soul to be seen in or about the station “Ye no business to tech it. You knowed yer hadn’t. building when he went out ten minutes before, and Tad | Ye crawled in here through the ticket-winder, and ye no, Silsbv had done what he knew he had no business to do right to do that. I reckon yer are a thief !” —in other words, he went out and left the ticket-window| Tad had seen twenty years of life, and he was full of open. that indomitable quality which is vulgarly called “ sand.” The door he had closed, and, as it had a spring-lock, he; His legs were short, as were his arms also, which may did not feel that he had taken a very great risk in merely | have been the reason for the stranger calling him “ban- leaving the ticket-window ajar. tam.” Yet there was a man in the office, sitting in Tad Silsby’s| His build was of the “ stocky” description, and he could chair, and fumbling with the telegraph key. ‘lift a heavier weight than any man in Tin Bridge. In response to Tad’s demand, which we have quoted, the} This was not all. Tad Silsby had, in the winter prior to intruder turned slowly about, stared at the youth in a| the events which we are chronicling, taken lessons in brazen fashion, and proceeded, without speaking, to hght| wrestling and boxing, and his reputation in these sciences a cigar. ‘extended beyond the precincts of Tin Bridge. In the meantime Tad had unlocked the door, and; Even the master who had taught him admitted that the strode into the office with a determined air, as though he | youth was one too many for him. were mentally and morally prepared to eject the cool | Hence the assurance with which Tad now undertook to stranger with such a degree of force as might teach him defend his rights as custodian of the little railway station better manners for the future. and telegraph office. “Say, mister, what was you doin’ with that,telegraph| The stranger had never heard of the prowess of Tad key?” Tad demanded, as he confronted the silent in- | Silsby, else, perhaps, he would have been more wary. truder. He returned the cigar to his lips, and smoked on fora “I was sending a message, my young bantam,” the|Mminute in his unconcerned manner. He still held the other replied, as he sent acloud of cigar smoke toward | money in his left hand. the ceiling. “As I was about to say,” he resumed, after a pause, “J ~Sendin’ a message, was ye!” echoed the young oper-| wasn’t going to offer to pay for the use of the Western ator, whose astonishment at the other’s “cheek” was too | Union wire. The company has had dealings with me be- great for expression. fore, and knows it is no use to kick. But I thought likely “Yes, my bantam, I was sending a message. You see, you would like a little fee yourself. Just a trifle—ten dol- I know how to finger the key pretty well, and I had a/larsor so. What do you say ?” message that I wanted to send. You wasn’t here—I was} “What are ye to pay me for?” —the instrument was handy click—click—away she| “For being a prudent, circumspect young bantam, as went. What’s to pay ?” you look capable of being.” The stranger, whose eyes were the sharpest Tad Silsby| “Yethink if ye pay me ten dollars that I won’t report had ever seen, smiled in a nonchalant way, and pulled | ye?” out a roll of money. ‘That's it.” “ What's to pay, young man?” he repeated, as the other| “Ye miss yer calkelations, then.” continued to stare, more speechless than ever at the sight| “Want fifteen, eh?” of so much money. “I'd get bounced if I covered it up. That ain’t all. It The money in the hand of the stranger was in bank and | ain’t my style to let a thief come in when I’m out and run government notes, and Tad's eyes, which were as big as | my Office for me. I don’t want none of yer money, and suucers, Saw that the bills were of large denomination. yer better get out ’fore I tackle yer.” } The man must have held several thousand dollars in The stranger coolly pocketed tha money, continuing to his fingers at that moment. And he handled it as if it} pull at his cigar, and not withdrawing his gaze from the were but so much waste paper. face of the youth “Come, boy, what’s t aia J 0 pay?” the other demanded once | He glanced at his watch; then pushed one of the two 2, chairs which the stuffy little office contained toward Tad. —I don’t know—as there’s anything,” faltered Tad. “Sit down !” he said 5 EN ee el .