The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-09-07

it was assa med, though it secmeel'rea
enough. And, iHdsed, what psrticu
lar object he could have in feighing 8
I friendship for me which he did moi
feel Iwas at loss to imagine. 3iH
received his advances with a cold.
ness which would have repulsed most
men, but seemed to have no effect On
him. lie smoked his cigars in my lit
tie private room, and read his paper
there, and talked to me in q genial off,
hand way, in q tone so thoroughly
friendly, that at times was ashamed
of myself and of my suspicious. aa f.,
Thinking tower now, L know that
by hook and crock he managed to
worm out of me all the secrets of my
business If, indeed, secret they might
be. called but at that time did not
take notice of the enquiries, go gratiu-
ally were they put. -aidn ,-Il.1a9 40
Meanwhile l gained the confidence
of the company. 1 was trusted with
large sums of money, and was gener-
ally. thought well of. Mr.. Wayne in.
vited nae to dine at his house, and Flor,
ence Gang and played for me, and 4
would have been perfectly happy If
Stanford had not made his appearace
and beguiIed Florence from my side.
One dark, foggy night remember
it was Friday, and it was in March. :.
just as the clock struck ten-the hour
when the Halliden express was due
l heard the whistle of steamboat,
three sharp ones and long one a
signal that the draw must be opened.
seized the green lantern and went
out, Stitson was already there for he
had been setting the switch and hang
ing up all the red signals. is,dys OF o.
"Ease her down Stitson,p said l,
and we took the red lantern down and
hung the green one in its place.
&c It's cussed inconvenient having
this steamer, come just at this time,"
growled Sutson, I" won't old Giles,""-
referring to the driver of the express
-" wont he swear at being stopped
lie opened the draw, and just as he
did SO he heard the whistle of the ap.
preaching train But there was no
time to notice tive were fully occu-
pied in getting the steamer through.
BY some mismanagemept she fouled
and had 10 be backed, which took time
and glancing up ] saw with horror
that instead OF the green light L had
hung from the standard moment az o
the red light was flying out like the
eye of DOOM, ,c,s. -..,ls ,.,.i-...,., :
q Great Heaven +. cried Stitson fol-
lowing my glance, "the red light is up,
and the train'll go to ruin, and the
company win send us after them to-
morrow |" ar,{s .f.,,,lt /
Like lightning shot through, my
brain the thought of the switch! If
could only reach it in time could
send the train up the steep grade of
the wood track, and before they reach |
ed the end Of ii the engineer would be
sOiO ~ StOps fuCW ONCI tuC TouSu
ground and laid my hand OH the
switch. l had the key in my pocket,
and I turned it quickly and flung back
the lever. And simultaneously o hand
yrasped my throat, aud voice hissed
IA my ear: 7i.lI % o'1t't f't0
Y" You mean TO thwart me! but by
Heaven, I will kill you first - eafiasl
l grappled with him, and we fell to
he ground togiher.H And the fierce
'ound of the on coming train dro owned
Ill sense and sound. A hot, sulphur
,us break OF smoke and flame swept
'yer me. 1 felt the grip on my throat
'elaxlng; then there fell period of
silence and GOODNESS, and
'ver so dimly realized that the train
lad run on the wood track aud had
topped. s,s -sI rsatl 81 hla ls.iII
1 put out my hand to touch the head
If Paul Stanford-he who had sought
ny life-but great Heaven there was
10 head on his body! My fingers
we're clotted with something warm
nd sticky, and overcome by the ter
ible revelation it made to me, lost
sfA ii.S' fH'i
When / came to myself was lying i,
N a settee in the station, and great :
rowd filled the room. 3iuusul sf,tu ,
told my storyAby degrees-as 1 I
Ould see that my listeners believed {
u ,4i3lo5s. i--.z Hul,3 ztHat eat t4.s.I IA
1t was settled beyond doubt that 4
had changed the lights; he |
ad been seen to doit by one of the Y
mployes of the road, a stupid fellow,
Who did not think of any hai m com.
ng from tt ,.....,... ...,....
lis object was plain enough 10 me,
hough never spoke OF it to any one.
lie hated ME, and was Jealous OF my
aiming popularity, and he wanted to !,
uin me in the estimation of Florence i,
nd her father. 49, 81. MA a
But he was dead, and when / I
bought OF the fearful manner of his (,
cath, forgave him freely. ~ 3 Il t
L suppose you have guessed that | /
larried Florcuce Wayne, aud l need f
ot tell you that am happy. als5f "
/" ARE you lost, my little fellow" i
a !