The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1869-11-19

me in n genial, otf-hand ways
thoroughly friendly that at times
was ashamed Of myself and my sus
p;vions., - ,s..
Thinking it over now, | know tha
by "hook or by crook" he had ma
aged to worm out of me all the Sc
crcts of my busincss--.if indeed they
might be called secrets; but at the
time l did not take notice of his in
quiries, SO gradually were they put.
Meanwhile, 7 gained the confidence c
of the company--I was trusted with
large sums Of money, and was gencr-
|,ally thought we'll of. Mr.. Wayne in
vited me to. dine at his house, and
Florence sang and played for me,
and would have been perfectly hap
py If Stanford had not made his ap-
pcarancc and beguiled Florence away
from my side.
One dark, foggy nieht--I remember
it was Friday, and it was in March
just as the clock pointed to tcn--the
hour when the Halidon Express was
duel heard the whistle of steam
boat, three sharp whistles and ono
long one--a signal that the draw
must be opened.
seized the green lantern and went
cut. Stitson was already there, for
he had been settling the switches and
hanging up the albright signal.
"Easc her down, Stitson!" said
AND we took the red lantern down
and hooked on the green one in its
place. -
"It's cusscd inconvcnicut having
this steamer come jest at this time"
growled Stitson; won't old Giles
referring to the driver Of the ex-
prcss--"won't he swear at being
stcpped?"
He opened the draw, and just as
be did so, heard the whistle Of the
approaching train. But there was
no time to notice tive were fully
occupied with getting the steamer
thr, ,ugh. BY some m;smanagsment
on board of her, she foiled, and had
to be backed, which took up time,
and glancing up I saw with horror
that instead of the green lantern l
ha! hung firm the standard mo-
mcnt ago, the red lantern was flying
out like the eye of doom! =.
''Grcat Heaven!' cried Stitson,
following my glance--''the red light
is up and the train will 60 to ruin,
and the company'll send US after 'em
tomorrow !"
Like lightning shot through my
brain the thought Of the switch! If
| could only reach it in time I could
send the train up tho steep grade of
the wood track, and before they
reached the end of it, the engineer
would be able to step. Few over
the rough ground and laid my hand
on the iron rod of the switch. I had
the key IN my poek.t, l turned it
quickly and flung back the lever
And simultaneously hand grasped
my throat and voice knew we'll
hissed in my ear
You mean to thwart me but by
Heaven, will kill you first -
l grapplcd with him and We fell to
tho ground together. And the fierce
thunder of the on-coming train drown
ed all sound and sense! A hot sui
phurous breath of flame and smoke
swept over me. felt the gripc of
my throat relaxiag--thcn there fell
a period of comparative silence and
coolness, and ever SO dimly realized
that the train had run On to the wood
track and had stopped.
| put out my hand to touch the head
of Paul Stanferd-he, who had sought
my lifc-but great Heaven! There
was no head Oh his body! My fing-
.rs werc clotted with something
warm and sticky-and overcome by
the terrible revelation it made to
me lost consciousness. ..- = +.
When | came to myself, I was ly-
ing on settee in the station, and
great crowd filled the room.
l told my story-by degrees-as 1
could remember it, and l could see
that my listeners believed it.
It was settled beyond doubt tkat
Stanford had changed the lights, he
had been seen to do it by one of the
employees of the road. q stupid fell
low. who did not think Of any harm
coming from it. a@~# ~ "s
His object was plain enough to me,
thongh | never spoke of it to any one.
He hated me-he was jealous of my
gaining popularity, and be wanted to
ruin me in the estimation of the COM
pany and in the estimation # Flor
cnce and her father.
But he was dead, and when I
thought of tho fearful manner Of his
death, I forgave lin freely.
| suppose you have guessed that l
married Florence Wayne, and l need
not tell you that l am happy.
How Small Expenditures
Count. a.-