Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-11-29

-l~
see O----65 Go. respecting those bills we
hold, as soon as possible, and l am on my
way down. ,, i.
father told me 80 last week"
eyes, sir" said the clerk, but my
mothers very ill-dying,I fear, and as Mr..
Somerville kindly told me to go down to
E, I said I'd do the bills, too" And
| having given vent to this contradictory
| speech. the clerk blew his nose violently.
: The cool way in which this was said, and
| the curious looks of the other occupants
/ of the compartment at any other time
| would have quieted my suspicious, but a
gentle touch on the arm reminded me of
the presenceIof the guard, and l therefore
| said loudly, 9. Oh, you are going to F. -. !"
ASH spoke, the guard said suddenly,
and touched his cap respectfully, % /" Beg
| your pardon, sir; did you say you was 60
ing to F. p STE 70
No,'aI replied, shut this gentleman
is" indicating Mr.. Barton as spoke q
| avery sorry" continued the guard shut
| he can't go by this train /; he must wait for
| the Parliamentary at 8:5. Tickets, please"
he added opening the door. ALI the tickets
with the exception of the clerks were I'M
| mediately produced "Now, sir, your
ticket, please" said the guard. Thus
brought to bay, Byles alas Barton had no
alternative, so he handed the guard his
| ticket, and suddenly using attempted to
leave the carriage, but the detective was
| too quick for him Before the clerks foot
| had touched the platform grasp vas laid
upon his collar, and the carriage door
closed. 81 thought as much" said the
guard, as he looked at the ticket, holding
| d. tha xUbiIQ.
| thought so, going abroad was you, sir, but
I want you for a moment"
| He then, asking me to open the door
| again, descended from the carriage, forcing
Barton to follow him, when, having gained
the platform, he whispered few words in
his ear The man grew as pale as death,
exclaiming 81 never did lswear never
did," .'0l''s.a 1, s@ne3s.14 =
T At that moment the whistle sounded,
and with hiss and scream the train
moved away. Life, liberty, hope-all
seemed to fade from the unhappy wretch
as the carriages passed him, and with an
almost superhuman effort he wrenched
himself free from the guards grasp, and
attempted to open one of the doors of the
departing train. Cries of "Stop him !"
were raised by the spectators, while the
guard hurried in pursuit, but his efforts
were of no avail. ss.aT Tf "a
| Before any one could seize the fugitive
his foot had slipped, and still clinging to
the handle, he was carried along for few
yards, and then dashed between the plat
form and the now rapidly moving train.
A despairipg cry and a deep groan We're
heard over and above the rattle OF the
wheels, and the train passed on, leaving
the mangled yet breathing form OF the I'M
| fortunate clerk stretched across the rails.
Assistance was Immediately procured,
but it was of no use; death soon put an
end to his sufferings; but before he died
the unhappy man confessed his guilt to
me, and asked my pardon. 1t appeared
that he had been induced to embezzle sums
| of money to repay losses at play with his
old associates, and he had thus been led to
return to path of life which he had in
tended to have quilted forever when he
entered my fathers business. He had con-
trived to possess himself in all of about
6,000I., in bills and notes, some of which, to
the value of 2,000l., were found upon him.
The remainder had been made away with,
and was never recovered. .s =
Having made such arrangements as were
necessary left the station, and proceeded
home to communicate to my father the
tragical termination of my journey, when
1 found he had already taken steps for ar
resting Barton on his appearance in the
city, circumstances having arisen which
placed his guilt beyond question.
My father was much moved and interest.
ed by the details of the death of this un
happy clerk, and by my recital of the cir.
eumstances of my meeting with the guard
who had fully repaid the interest my pa.
rent had formerly taken in him. m
The fortunes of our house soon recov
cred the blow which the misguided Barton
had managed to iEf1ict upon our credit
and 1 consider the prosperity of the firm
of Somerville s. Co., is due to my acct
dental meeting with, and the story tole
me by the mail guard. a0