Connecticut western news., 1877-08-17


 him leaning from his engine with eyes fixed to catch a glimpse of her before the train would be swallowed up by the woods again. ....,.. ,.. -
 This life was excitement and joy to Ytol; but it was passing away. The time was coming when Ed. Gordon would leave the road, and accept the superintendency of the company's car sh ops in fourishing city. .,...
 But let me return to the October night when Ytol left her home to investigate the sounds that seemed to come from Gwynne's Cut. "'1S ''3 '' '''''' 1
 She felt that Instructions were being placed upon the track in the dismal place. Of Hate the company had incurred the hatred of certain persons residing in the vicinity of the station, and once or twice the track had been tempered with, but fortunately to no serious ex- tent. The night express'generally went through the cut with un1iminished speed, for no Instructions had been en- countered there, though the cattle guard in. the centre would assist the evilly disposed. E &t'. ar
 Ytol at last reached the cut into which the mellow moonbeams fell, and paused. Something high and dark obstructed the track before her, at the very spot where the cattle guard seemed to be, and she held her breath. It was twelve o'clock when, she left the house.. and her walk had occupied a number of pre- cious minutes. The shrieks of the Red Bird would soon. be heard, and mo- ment thereafter its head light would flash into the cut or gorge? ..-......i ''She saw more than pile of strong ties on the track. She saw the dark figure of g man moving about the pyra- mid as if contemplating his nights work and speculating upon the death and ruin 1t would cause. She watched until she believed that one man had ac- complished the diabolical deed, then she crept forward through the shadow ot the bushes that lined the sides of the cut, until she stood within ten feet of him. % ' "' '..'' .,-' "'
 "I'll go back to the station now" she heard him say to himself. ''I can get there before the accident; and when it occurs, why can run up there and see him under the ruins of his engine, so crushed that that doll-faced girl of his will not recognize him." IT. 1'". ' A cruel laugh rippled over his lips as he stepped back from the heap of ties, several of which he had forced into the guard, where they were wedged like posts of iron. He enjoyed his own words, and viewed the work of his mad hands.
 "It'l crush the Red Bird," he said, turning away, "and put him out of my path forever" ..'r, .. '."~
 The last words, full of devils tri. umph, still quivered. on his lips, when Ytol stepped from the shadows and thrust the muzzle of her revolver into his face. .E.--. ~. ..
 He started back with cry of horror and muttered her name. ....g.'
 s'This is your revenge, Morgan Duke," she said, looking sternly into his eyes. ''Now, obey my commands, or there will be lifeless body on this track, to be mingled among the ruins oi the night express. To work at once Of with your coat, and remove from the track every obstruction your wicked hands have placed therev'
 He looked at her, and a curse fell from his lips.
 ''The train can't be saved now," he said, and there was joy in his tones 'sIt took me one long hour to obstruc the guard. In tw enty minutes, or lcsl perhaps, you'll see the Red Birds heac flight up the cut" I'll
 "Villain!" she cried, Eff this track is not clear when I see her headlight I'll drive bullet through your brain You know what to dol will talk nt longerv' ,.-..-. e. .....
 Covered by her revolver as he was Morgan Duke, the station-master, doffet his coat and fell to work. -...
 Ytol never took her eyes from him and the silvery moon that rested ove the cut showed his every movement He was on the pile of ties, hurling them one by one, with the strength of mod Tern Samson upon the not over wid' grade. He worked for life, for he knev when the laundering train was due and glance at the girl on the tracl told him that she would sternly sla. him if he did not do her bidding.
 Once she said 10 him, as he pause, for breath before attacking the tie which he had driven into the guard:
 'I never thought this of you, Morgan Duke. When l rejected you, I though you would bear it like man.
 He replied not, but glanced at hi watch.
 "Half past twelvev' he said.
 s'To work :" was the stern command and Ytol, stepping forward, brough the revolver nearer his head. He tugged at the ties with gres strength, and large drops of perspira tion stood boldly out on his forehead ''I can't move them,'' he said at las ' turning upon Ytol.
 , "You mustl' was the reply.
 sI drove them in with the sledge." s'I did not hear the sound."
 , ''It was deadened with my coat" The girls face grew paler than evel and she glanced fearfully up the cut. "Take them out"' she said, suddenly = ''the train is coming. I heard it.'' 5 The VillainOus station-master hear {. the rumbling, and again turned to t. 3 ties.
 l "You have your choice," Ytol said ' him. "A bullet or an unobstructe track!"
 3 She watched him as woman nev,