Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-03-14
RailYOQdDetectiye' sSt0yy

A3 S"s II NNANSbtfC AbOlliAlS5 Ou
| had little trouble in workin,
up the case, although l wa
some time in finding the chain +,
which belonged the broken linl
which l had discovered. 1t al
came about in such a queer wa,
that if | should live a Thousand
years I should not forget it.''
"Well, that S no way, Dick,
cried Uncle Billy Franklin, the
genial Master of Transportation
after waiting long time fol
Rollins to continue-''that s nc
way of getting over the road
But it s just like men in your
business; stirring up ones dor
mant curiosity, and exciting
ones expectations, so that they
settle themselves back for some
thing good or not, as the case
may be, only to be placed on
nettles by long pauses, like that
in which you are now indulging.
Come, drop little sand, pull
her wide open, and take a run at
the hill of your story
"Aye, aye, Dick!" exclaimed
Jack Spraguc, "Y on re bulle-
tined for that yarn, SO pull ont,
my boy"
"You should be the last man
to hurry an engineer, Jack, . re-
piled Rollins; "either one of
the 'company's kettles or a sto-
ry. In either case one is com
pelled-if he does not wish TO
run the risk Of breaking down,
or sticking on some hard pull
to examine his machinery,
dropping a little oil here and
there, where there is danger of
rust or wear, and after satisfy
ing himselfthat his guides, cross
heads and eccentrics are all O.
IL, pull ahead, as l now propose
doing, with a clear track, agood
fire, plenty of water and fuel,
and a good train behind.
"On the morning of the 10th |
Of December, 1870, / was sit
ting in the telegraph Office at
-,congratulating myself on
the dearth of business on my
line, on account Of the terrible
weather we were then expert
encing, and Ginning the oper-
ltor, as we sat back in our COM
+ortable alm-chairs, testing the
merits of some Lone jack in
which [ had invested, when
lick, click, went the call over
he line for the headquarters
'ffice. Now, among other things,
Useful and otherwise, that I've
picked up in many years service
With the railroad, is tthe, alt-if
uch it may be caIlcd-of tele-
'raphy. 1 cannot manipulate
he lightning myself to any
,reat extent, bpt / have no diff
iculty in understanding the
TRANCE language, as spoken by
he many mouths Of the tele-
,raph line. SO when Rob. and
heard the call for headquar-
ers office, we involuntarily sus-
oended our talking and smoking
o listen to what was to follow.
'Headquarters answered, and {
hen this message-as near as | !
AN recoAect-was sent flying
'yer the wires: t
4" agent Pancoast of this
tation (Attica), was found dead
n his Office at 6:30 this A. M.
That he committed suicide, is s
videmt from the fact that all {
he doors were securely locked, !
nd it was necessary to force an 1
ntrance to his Office. The body {
vas lying about the centre Of '
he floor, and near by was a {
arge pocket knife--supposed 10 I
&c his own-covered with blood.
lie had stabbed himself in sew
raj places near the heart, and
ailing thus to reach the seat Of
ife, cnt his throat almost from
ar to ear. Safe-key found on
lis person, and contents of the |
afe supposed to be 0. K.'
Sin a minute after this mes
age had been turned in, there {
:ame one from headquarters,
;alling D.. Then followed:
is Rollins there? Answer {
Iuick!'
@Qf course, Bob told them I
vasS s