Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-04-13

| Klrke. George had been his rival IN man.
respects, and particularly where the faire
creation was concerned. George was a
great favorlte with the girls, for he wal
handsome and generous and good nature(
and Jack was sarcastic, and always on thu
contrary side. and the girls avoided him
as they should such man.
We always expected that ill would come
/ to George from Jacks bad blood agains
him, and we warned him more than orsce
but he always laughed, and reminded us o.
the old INV that barking dogs seldom
| bte,'' which is true in the main.
And, as the time went on, until two,
three, four months had p used since Krke's
promotion and nothing occurred, we for
got all about our apprehensions of evil
and if we thought of the matter at all, we
thought we had W1onged Halliday by oul
suspicious.
1t was a dark night in November, with
considerable fog in the air, and strong ap-
pearances of rain.
was at Golosha, the northern terminus
of our road, looking after some repairs Oh
defective boiler, and [ was going down
to New York on the $50 train-Kirke's
train.
About seven there came a telegram from
old Whately, whose summer residence
was nearly midway between Golosha and
New York, and the old heather had not
yet forsaken it for the city. The telegraph
operator came into the engine house where
Kirke was at work-for he was always at
work-and re,d it to him. Kirke made a
note of it in his pocket book.
"Pay train ON the line. viii meet you
just west of Leeds at 1915. Shunt on to
siding at behring's cut, and wait
WHATELY."
Kirke's watch hung on a nail beside the
clock. It was fancy of his always to
hang it there when he was off the train, so
that he could make no mistake in the time.
He glanced at the clock, and from it to
his watch. Both indicated the same hour
Tbs.
's7:15'' said Kirke, meditatively, Sand
we leave at 1850, and the ply train meets
us at behring's Cut at 1915. Scant time
to make the run in this thick weather, but
it must be managed"
And he turned away to give some brief
orders to the fireman.
Jack Halliday was there-he had been
strolling in and out Of the room for the
past half hour, smoking cigar, and swear
ing at the bad weather. His train did
not leave until near midnight, so he had
plenty of time to swear.
We all went to the door and took a
look at the weather, and unanimously vo-
ted it deuced bad, and then we walked uI
and down the platform, and smoked ou1
after supper cigars, and by the time we
were through it was time for the train
hands to be. getting into their places
Both the clock in the engine room and
Kirke's watch indicated $40.
Kirke was putting his watch in his peck
ct as he said:
'sGarth, are you going with me on the
Flyaway?"
ssNo, thank ye," said I, Il get enough
of that sort OF thing1 my everyday life.
I am going to do little swell business TO-
night, and take passage in the palace car.
Want to rest my back. Good night to We,
and hold her we'll round Rocky Bottom
curve. The road beds a little skaky."
faye, aye, sir p responded Kirke, and
swung himself to his position on the Fly
away.
The bell rang-I scrambled to my COM
partment in the Pullman and felt horribly
out of place among the silks and broad
cloths and smells of musk. But [ was in
for frs &C S." AMI made the best Of it
so effectually that five minutes after, Glib
son, VIII fancies he owns all creation be-
cause he has got silver coffin plate on his
breast with conductor on it, had shouted
Call aboard ~ was sound asleep.
What occurred In other quarters to at
feet the fate of Kirke's train, 1 learned
afterward.
Old Whately, the superintendent of the
road, as guess l have already said, had 6
country residence in Leeds, on mountai,
spur, which commanded view of the sur
rounding country for more than a score Of
miles. The line of the railroad could be
distinctly seen in each direction fifteer
miles, and Whately was wont to say his
lookout was worth more to the safety Of
trains than all the telegraph wires on the
line.
Whately was rich old buffer, kline
enough in his way, but sharp as ferret il
looking after the road hands, and deter
mined that every man should do his duty
He had but one child, daughter; anG
Floss Whately was the belle of the country
She was brave, beautiful and spirited, and
more than once, when her father had beer
away, had she assumed the responsibility
of directing the trains, and she had always
acquitted herself with credit.
OLD Whately was very proud of her, as
he had right to be, and he kept all the
young fellows at distance, until it was
said that he intended Ike ping his daugh
ter single till the Gar Of all the Russians
came on to marry her.
This night in November, old Whately
and Floss were out on the piazza of theil
country home, peering through the gloon
and fog for the Goosha train, which was
nearly due.
Its very strange it doesn't come in
sightn said Whately, laying down his
night glass in disgust. ''It is hard on to
ten now! They ought to show their light
round Spruce pond by this time !"
"You telegraphed them, father? You
let them know the pay train was on the
road ?" asked Floss.
ITO be sure. And, good heavens there
q. In hon licrl,t aE tla