The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-08-14

/ than the drummer llue vi mllllutT y
samples, and that something seems to
fiji the trunk in single bulk. Ii the
man has robbed Edgerton, what has be
put into the trunk that he is making OH
WITH"
"And if he has robbed Edgerton,
would he run the risk OF detection which
ne is doiIg2 Why, he checked the
trunk himself at Troy, people believing
him to be Edgerton, when he is not, |
do not believe that he could have stolen
the drummer's baggage in the light of
eventide"
"TAen where is Edgerton?" asked
| CLYDE. You must have theory"
Murdered in his room at the Hatfield
! House, or else crowded into tLst trunk -
The messenger started back in horror
and stared at McGrew.
ain one Of the places we will find the
drummer" continued the baggage mas
ter, and y minute later he stood before
the trunk with chisel and hammer in his
hand.
"Are you going to open the truuk2"
asked Clyde.
Il am I" was the laconic answer, and
McGrew dropped on his krees and struck
the frat blow
"Go to the door and admit nobody but
Walters, if no comes"
Walter, was the conductor and n
brave, clear headed man.
Clydes face was pale when he took up
his station at the door, and listened to the
work of hammer and chisel on EdgertOn's
trunk.
The noise made by the train, which
was rushing at the rate OF five and-thlrty
miles an hour through the night, drown
ed to ears outside the car the sound OF
steel McGtew, kneeling before the
trunk was picking away at the lock, which
he knew would not long hold out against
him. Many drops of perspiration stood
on his face, and ever and anon he paused
to relieve his forehead 9TH MS sleeve
"Poor Edgertonl who'd have thought
that YOUR last ride would be taken In
YOUR own trunk!' McGrew murmured
again and again, and resolved that the
villain in the rear car should not escape
the condign punishment which he de-
served
jim OlNuc, Tue ulCSsciIE sINONA az VIZ
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
trunks lid would reveal.
,'There" he heard McGrew exclaim,
with long breath Of relief. Come
here, jim"
The messenger left his post, and APP
preached the trunk, which McGrew was
about TO open.
The pa lor that Was visible on the
faces of the two men was deathly APP
paning; aud when Wilson McGrew
lifted the lid of the trunk, Clyde started
back with cry of horror.
The next instant the iron-bound Id
dropped from McGrew's hands, for he,
too, had caught sight of the white face
that seemed to stare at him trem the
drummer's trunk! And rs the lid fell
down the door of the car was pulled
shut.
Clyde turned at the sound, thinking
that the conductors had entered the car;
but no form rewarded his gaze.
Somebody shut the door" cried Nc
Grew, grasping his companions arm.
For Heavens sake, Jim, go and see!'
Instantly the messenger started for
ward, and a moment later was on the
platform.
What did he see? Whose terrible face
was that swinging of from the steps into
the night? Whose wild cry OF despair
that saluted his ear?
He saw and heard all in 4 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.
TIE messenger did not lose his self
possession. He jerked the boll-rope, and
ielt the train Stacking It's speed. Present.
ly the conductor confronted him, and
was led to the trunk.
Crowded into his own trunk-himselt
his own baggage-was Warren Edger-
ton. drummer. He was quite dead, and
when the body was taken from It's prison,
and the limbs Strengthened, two poign-
ard wounds were found over the heart
The train was backed to the spot
where the supposed murderer had taken
his dsngerou leap, and sesr ch was made
for hlm. Nor was the seach in vain.
Edgerton's double WAS found at the foot
of precipitous embsnkment, fatally in.
iured, and very near unto death. They
ca ried him on board the train, and
placed him near his victim.
Tell them | did II, be said to Nc.
Grew. 81 killed him this afternoon at
the Hatfield. Ny face was going TO
help me carry out n big plan, but | must
first get him out of the road. Then l
would have been Edgerton. | SAW you
lift the lid of the trunk; then | knew
that l would hang il | didn't try to save
myself"
That night he died, and the secret of
his plans, MS motives, persisted with him.
Side by side in the car lay Warren Edg-
erton and his double, and from that night
to this the iron bounc trunk was kept
out of McGrew 5 sight. I'll wager my
pen mat he does not want to see It.