The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-08-21

VIII
"And if he has robbed Edserton
would he run the risk of detection, which
he is doing? Why,..he checked the trunl
himself at Troy, people believing him tt
r he Edgerton, when he is not. l do no
believe that he could have stolen tht
drummer's baggage in the light Of even
tide"
Then where is Edgerton % asked
Clyde "You must have theory"
Murdered in his room at the Hatfield
House, or else crowded into that trunk !!
The messenger started back in horror
and stared at McGrew
I'm one of the places we will end the
drummer" continued the baggage mas
ter, aud minute later he stood before
the trunk with chisel and hammer in his
hand
"Are you going to open the trunk ?"
asked Clyde
81 ami was the laconic answer, and
Mct1rew dropped on his knee and struck
the first blow.
"Go to the door and admit nobody
but Walters, if he comes"
! Walters was the conductor and q
brave, clear-headed man.
Clyde's face was pale when he took up
his station at the door aud listened to
the work of chisel and hammer on Ed,
gerton's trunk.
The noise made by the train, which
was rushing at the rate of five and thirty
miles an hour through the night, drown.
ed to ears outside the car the sound of
steel. McGrew, kneeling before the
trunk, was picking away at the lock
which he knew would not long hold out
against him Many drops of perspira-
ton stood on his face, and ever and anon
he paused to relieve his forehead with
his sleeve
Poor Edgerton! who'd have thought
that your last ride would be taken in
your own trunk2'' McGrew murmured
again and again. and resolved that the
villain in the rear car should not escape
the condign punishment which be de-
served
Jim Clyde, the messenger, stood at
the door keeping guard.
Each sound Of the hammer went to
his own stricken heart, and he pictured
the terrible object which the lifting of the
trunk lid would expose.
"There!' he heard McGrew exclaim,
with long breath of relief. "Come
here, Jim"
The messenger left his post and ap-
preached the trunk, which McGrew was
about to open.
The pallor that was visible on the ia.
ces OF the two men was deathly appal-
ling; and when Wilson McGrew lifted
the lid of the trunk Clyde started back
with cry OF horror
The next instant the iron bound lid
dropped from McGrew's hands, for he.
too, had caugh, sight sofstbe white face.
that seemed TO stare at him from the
drummer's trunk! And as the lid fell
down the door of the car was pulled
shut
Clyde turned at the sound, thinking
that the conductor had entered The car
but no form rewarded his gaze.
"Somebody shut the door," cried Nc. |
Grew, grasping his companions arm Il
"For Heavens sake, Jim, go and see !"
Instantly the messenger started for
ward, and moment later was on the |
platform. ..-.-..,...
What did he seep Whose terrible face
was that swinging off from the steps into |
the night Whose wild cry of despair
that saluted his ear2 ...
He saw and heard all in single in
slant of time. .-.....
The face was the counterpart of the
dead one in the trunk; but the cry was
unlike Edgerton's tone .aae i
The messenger did not lose his self
possession. He jerked the bell-rope, and
felt the train Stacking its speed. Pres
emily the conductor confronted him, and
was led to the trunk.
Crowded into his own truBk-hinself
his own baggage-was Warren Edger-
ton, drummer He was quite dead, and
when the body was taken from its prison
ard the limbs Strengthened, two poniard
"ouuuo "CtC iOuuu OfeT bue -uedTG.
The train was backed 20 the spot
where the supposed murderer had taken
his dangerous leap,and search was made
for bim; nor was the search in vain.
Edgerton's double was found at the
foot of precipitous embankment, fa-
lally injured and very near unto death
They carried bim on board the train and
placed him near his victim.
"Tell them / did it, he said to Nc
Grew. 81 killed him this afternoon at
the Hatfield My face was going to help
me carry out big plan, but l must first
get him out of the road. Then | would
have been Edgerton I saw you lift the
lid of the trunk; then I knew that
would hang if | didn't try to save my
SELF"
That night he died, and the secret of
his plans, his motives, persisted with him
Side by side in the car lay Warren Ed
eerton and his double, and from that
night to this the iron bound trunk was
Kept out of McGrew's sight I'll wager
my pen that he does not want to see it