Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1878-03-28


he thought of the man for whom h.
had prepared the jaws of unyieldlnI
steel.
He would doubtless reach the cross
ing and release him before tie trail
was due, for Julian Ringfold was no
a vengeful.
All thoughts ofrevenge against th'
beautiful Agnes Temple bad left hi
mind he looked up at the stars ant
they seemed to mock at his misery
he cried for help from the terro
stricken depths Of his heart.
But no footstep sounded upon hi
ears. God and mal seemed to havl
left the hater to his fate.
Suddenly David Thrall started, ane
a cry of despair welled from hi:
throat.
The shrill shrek OF the locomotive
told him that the one dread hour oI
his captivity had passed away, and
that the end Of all was near at hand
God in Heaven have mercy! he
cried DO Unto Inc not as | would
have done to another
But no deliveran,e came, and the
sound Of the whistle died away with
a mocking echo.
Within five minutes the iron mon
ster would be upon him, and the
most terrible drama ever enacted In
that lovely country would have
reached its tragic finale.
lie heard the rumble Of the train,
which seemed to approach on the
wings Of The wind. He raved, he
cursed, and tried to wrench his wrists
from the jaws Of steel, tried to break
them off, and bear life and bleeding
stumps away, but in vain. With the
tenac.ty of death itself the Samsonlan
trap held him down.
The loco motive shriekel again, and
David Thrall paused and looked over
his shoulder. He saw the headlight
now; 1t dazed his eyes, and he could
not shade the precious orbs with his
hands. Then he shrieked at the top
of his voice; but the cars came on.
No delverance oh, heaven he ex-
claimed, sinking back in the few sec.
ouls he had yet to live. I have mer-
tied this. What a terrible thing ret
ributon is! He will he happy, and
she will smile upon hlm with all her
dazzling beauty. But l-I-oh, God
pity me. Chained to the track --caugh'
in the trap made by my own hands
for a fellow being. 1t is just. Iea.
ven forgive me, and comfort my poor
The roar Of the coming train
drowned the sweetest word that ever
parted his lips-mother.
X \
The rumbIing Of the train hat
scarcely died away in the distance
when Julian Wingfold, returning
from the home of Agnes Temple
crossed the track. lie stepped where
the instrument of death had beer
placed, and passed on without motto
ing its handiwork. If he had but
have glanced down, he might have
seen the battered steel Jaws, closed
now, upon the lifeless hands only, o.
his rival, the blacksmith.
The remains were discovered or
the following day, and the presence
of the trap told the awful story.
David Thrall's widowed mother
soon followed him to the grave.
The little smithy still stands il
Middletown, and the superstitious say
that at night David Thrall can be
heard beating steel with steel before
his forge.
Julian Wingfold is a happy hus
band and father now, but he never
thinks of that one nights walk with
out feeling Of tlankfulness as vel
as of horror.
r. w Berry, sheep man, and his
trusted Mexican servant, were muir.
dered near Eagle Pass, San Antonio
Texas, on February Oath, by two
Mexicans herlers, whom Berry had
secured to erds sheep. The assassins
fled into Mexico, were pursued by
McCabe, deputy sheriff Of Maverick
county, Texas, who was assisted in
his search by order Of General Falcon
Mexican consul. He arrested them
at Santa Rosa, Mexico, land Immediate
lv started for TeyaS crOSSinu the rlV-