The Diamonds

Leonard elbowed Patrick in the ribs. The boy pointed at one of the women in the sleeper car.

Patrick watched as she got out of her seat. She was wearing a fancy red hat and dress. Her earrings and bracelet sparkled. Extra dress fabric was bunched up in the back.

The woman walked down the aisle. Her dress hem dragged on the floor. The extra bows swayed side to side. She stopped next to Reverend Hagerty.

“My name is Mrs. Scott,” the woman said. “Please help me. I know you are an honest Christian man.”

Mrs. Scott held a small blue-velvet bag with both hands. She clutched it near her neck.

The reverend stood. “How may I assist you?” he asked.

“My husband owns a jewelry store,” Mrs. Scott said. “He just got back from Chicago. He bought twenty large diamonds there. It took our life savings to buy them.”

Patrick sensed Leonard’s excitement over the word diamonds.

“Where is Mr. Scott now?” Reverend Hagerty asked.

“He had business to take care of,” Mrs. Scott said. “He sent me ahead.”

Suddenly she thrust her bag into Reverend Hagerty’s hands. “Take the diamonds and hide them on your person,” she pleaded. “Jesse James’s father was a preacher. He won’t rob you.”

Reverend Hagerty looked stunned. “I don’t think . . .”

Leonard reached over and tugged on the skirt of Mrs. Scott’s dress.

She looked down at him.

“I’ve got a better idea,” the orphan said. “Give the diamonds to me. Jesse James wouldn’t rob an orphan.”

Mrs. Scott’s face beamed. “That is a better idea,” she said.

Leonard quickly took the blue bag from Reverend Hagerty. “I’ll keep these diamonds safe,” he said. And then he grinned.

Beth held her breath. She could see nothing from behind the safe.

Beth thought Agent Wilson must be kneeling in front of it. She heard the soft clicks of the dial spinning.

Then she heard a pistol click. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up.

“Who’s that?” the voice said. “Come out from behind the safe.”

Beth tilted her head so it wasn’t hidden by the iron box. She could see the bandit. And he could see her.

The man was wearing a white hood with small triangles for eyeholes. He also had on a wide-brimmed black hat. His body was covered by a thick navy-blue wool coat. His black boots reached to his knees.

Mr. Alford stood next to the robber. The conductor gave her a smile. It was meant to comfort her. But it didn’t work.

Beth was too frightened. The masked man’s gun was pointed at Mr. Alford.

“It’s a little girl,” the robber said. “The Pinkertons must have sent her. They’re too scared to face me themselves.”

Beth heard another man laughing. She leaned farther out and saw a second masked man.

“Which one of you is Jesse James?” she asked.

The men laughed again. They seemed like young boys at a birthday party.

“What makes you think one of us is Jesse?” the first robber said.

Beth shrugged. “I heard the James gang was bold like you,” she said.

Just then Agent Wilson said, “The safe is open. Take what you want. But don’t shoot the conductor.”

The second masked man pushed Agent Wilson away from the safe. Then he opened a US mailbag. He stuffed the sack full with the safe’s contents.

Then he picked up Agent Wilson’s pistol from the table. He emptied the bullets from the weapon. He put the pistol in the bag too.

The first robber pushed Mr. Alford out the door. His gun was still pointed at the conductor.

The remaining masked man told Agent Wilson to give him his pocket watch.

Agent Wilson reached into his vest pocket. He held out the timepiece in his palm.

“It’s silver,” the robber said. “It isn’t worth much. Keep it.”

The masked man looked at Beth. He quickly reached into his pocket. He pulled out a coin and tossed it to Beth.

She snatched it out of the air with one hand. She looked at her catch. It was a silver dollar.

“Tell everyone that the bold Jesse James took a shining to you,” he said. He gave her a little bow. Then suddenly he was gone.