The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-03-06

INlll.I
Within ten yards on either side wcrt
lcdges of sharp pointed rocks, extend
ing for II quarter of II mile in each direc
ton along the track, which would havt
ground my bplH to atoms. Ny falling
In that spot va, II miracle. lAc soft,
yielding s..nd had saved my life. The
thought OF thcagouy and anxiety OF my
poor wife, ana the fright of the little
children on missing me from the train
rushed upon my mind with intense
force. | felt that next tOa thankful
heart for preservation from instant de-
struclion, my next duty wa, to acquaint
my wife with my safety Mt the earliest
| possible moment. For Il moment wa.
puzzled what direction to pursue, but
the sun was shining glonmily through
the heavy, lcadcn col0ured clouds it, the
east, and knew that p lay in an
| opposite direction, and probably not
many miles away. ! started on up the
railroad track, aud it was not long be
fore | came TO Il crossing, and in sight
of II cottage. My little rcmuining
strength was exhausted even bv the
few rods had travelled ,and quickly en-
gazing conveyance aud driver, | was
once more on my way. | arrived at
p. paid and dismissed the driver,
and entered hotel. | felt much better
after refreshing the inner man, and ia
King up paper while waiting for Il
carriage, my eye fell upon he following
paragraph:
1--WE this instant learn that Mr.. Brad
ford, well known merchant Of b,
was missed by nj. family, with whom
he was travelling, from the ! II. NJ
train last evening, between S. and
p. His deeply distressed friends
suppose he must have fallen from the
train while in notion"
1t seemed, then, that search had been
made for me. ] clcanscd my clothing,
and replacing my damaged hat. ordered
the hostler TO drive me over To the farm
house, five miles distant, where even
th"n my family and host of relatives,
were awaiting distractrdly some tidiugs
of my fate. Ii was on the stroke of four
o'clo.'k p. NJ, when I drove up to the
gate; thc house dog came Running nois
lly out to greet me; the door opened,
and III II uG;nrnt | was in the arms of
my wife and little ones, with score of
friends overwhelming me with Qucs-
! lions.
| had strange story 10 tell but nay
appearance fully corrOboratcd it. l
was, after all, in time for the grand an
nual dinner; aud as we drew around
| the ample board, a ierNcnt prayer OF
thankSgi giving went up from the lips o
the reverend head of the household
The next day the train bore me to tho
city and 10 my business, consulted &
lawyer and acquainted the police with
the facts of my adventure, but to nc
| purpose. ! could get no light as tn my
would-bc murderer. 1t was mystery
-uniathomable. business often ncrps-
| Stated railway travel, but took unusl,-
al prccaution when stepped from car
/ to car in Il dark night. Only the evil
| features Of the man who passed me H. |
stood ON the platform of the smok ing
car haunted me.
One day, Il little past noon, as sat in
my cuunling-rUom alone, the teller of u
cighhorng bank entered
"Mr, Biadfnrd,n he >ad. "you over
drew your balance this morVing. We
| were just closing, and | took the oppor-
| tunity to stcT Overland Inform you of it,
| ! thanked the young man for his
courtesy, and bidding me good-day, he
wa, hurrying off.
"llold'On, Jones ~ cried. "Stop and
take Il cigar with me, won't you ?n And
| umblcd in my pocket tor Il couple OF
lIavan as, but without success. ~ dc-
clare" said t., a little irritated, II be,
IievC have mi.laid them"
"Ailow me to offer %" ouc," said he,
politely.
thanked him, but Il, lighted mine,
my eye fell upon the purple morocco
cigar ease which he mad produced. 1t
was wonderfully like onc formerly
/ possessed. y curious impuI,cscizrd me.
excuse my curiosity; but will you
allow me to examine that cigar ease >"
Certainly"
took it in my hand, turned it over,
opened the under lid, and there tucked
away n corner not easily Gi-covor,d,
were the letter. of my own name,
".Eo,lia Il. BrdLord," in red India
ink. suddenly the idea flashed iull
upon my mind. This wa, the vcrilablc
cigar.uasc | had lost on that dark night
when WAS pushed hcadlong from tic
rushing railroad train. Now | had 4
clue to the mystery. grew pal" with
cNcitcn NJ, and lrrmbcd from head t,
loot. Wlth an cHbrt At ,all,rontrp., Is
"a mly ~ could, | said;
"Jonc-, huw camcthi, in your posses
slOn?"
81 believe had the good fortune tC
find it," he replied blandly, rcgariin.
me wi,h an inquiring stare.
"Fouud il? Where? wherc?" thun
dcred |.
81 picked it up on the platform Of Il
railroad car, While making trip 10 the
cItyoi p, II few months since. Why
sir, is it yours? | should have lookec
furan owner long ago, had thought
cut short his astoni.hcd speech, by
fierce pull at the bcll-ropc by my side
"John,' cried |, rs the porter mad,
his appearance, 'run to Mr., Clarke's of
fee, and bring him here instantly"
The servant was of ina jilly, and
rose to my feet and strobe up and duwl
the roam, it, II state of intense excite
mcnt, wniIc Jonc, stood staring at ne
like one out Of his senses.
"What does this mcDn? There i
some mystery"
"Yrs, there is II mystery, which
propose to ferret out" | cried san,