Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-07-08
"WATCH THE BOXw

The 6 90 evening express, No. 80, was
over an hour late that night. Cause
enough, heaven knows. For twelve
hours the storm had ragged, and now in
stead of showing any signs of breaking,
the rain came down in torrents from
the inky sky, and the thunder rolled
ominously overhead. A bad storm to
drive an engine through, as anybody
would have known, and the wonder is
that No. 80 was not three hours late in
stead of one. Luke Granger. the trus-
tiest, nerviCst engineer on the road,
rounded the curve just below Red
Ravine station at twenty-six minutes
past seven. l breathed q sigh of relief
when saw the headlight cut hole in
the darkness. The station bridge might
have given away in storm ike that,
and | was beginning to get nervous over
this thought.
Somehow everything made me nerv-
Gus that night. It was Just the kind of
weather when things look all out of
gear, anyway.
Then, / suppose, the knowledge of
that money package being due and fail
ing to come on the III 80, as it should
have done, had its effect on me, /
didn't relish the idea of keeping Sl3, 900
in cash until the next day. Eldridge &
Ricketson had been down themselves TO
meet the morning train, and IL the
package had come / could have turned
it over TO them at onc9, and that would
have been the end of the matter. But
it didn't come. That's a way things
have in this world, when you most
want 'em.
There wasn't n soul at the station that
night except myself, and there were
only two passengers who got off the
train. i speak of 'em that way not
meaning to be disrespectful, or make
light of solemn things; only it's habit, |
suppose; for most people would say
there was only one passenger that got
off at Red Ravine, seeing that the second
of 'em was carried out Of the ex press car
in a wooden box. Usually when body
was coming on 4 got word beforehand,
but this one took me quite by surprise,
and added not little to the nervousness
already felt.
WHO is itP" asked, as the box was
carried into the station.
The passenger who had got off the
train, and who was n stranger TO me,
answered my inquiry.
"The body is that of my sister in
law" said he. "She was the niece of
Thomas Eldridge-doubtless you know
him. Her death was very sudden. She
IS to be buried in Mr.. Eldrigde's lot
here"
.'Then I suppose the body is to be
left in my charge until tomorrow ?"
said /.
Yes" answered the stranger. "Do
you suppose that i can get TO Mr.. FL
dridze's myself Tonight"
well" replied, "it's a good four
miles. and in such a storm as this,
"Tll wait until tomorrow, inter-
rupted the stranger. There Is some
sort of hotel here, isn't thereP"
Yes, a good one. You'll have to
foot It, though; but It's only matter of
quarter OF q mile, and you can't miss
your way, for the road up the hill leads
to the house,"
Here made my way out to the plat
form again and made my way on the
express car where the money package.
which all along / had secretly hoped
wouldn't come, was delivered 10 me by
the messenger. AS he gave 1t to me he
sud:
You'll want to keep sharp eye on
that, Billy. There's enough In IL TO
make one OF your Red Raviners put a
bullet through your head. and never
give you the chance 10 object"
TT look out for the Red Raviners,
and the package, too" said I. conf
IDENTIFY enough. But II the truth had
been told, didn't like the suggestion
which the messenger had made.
The train moved off quickly. and l
swung my lantern, as was my habit, by
way of bidding goodnight to Luke
granger. Then went into the station
house with the little package clutched
tightly under my rubber coat, expecting
TO find the man there who had come on
with the body. But he had gone, being
anxious, no doubt. TO get 10 the hotel
as quickly as possible. No 80 was the