, 1882-02-17
BY THE LIGnTSING'S STROKE.
BY MAJOR HAMILTON.

"The unknown murderer is still at
large"
laid my paper down with halfshud-
der, and turned to throw another knot
upon the dying fire.
Horrible y said /, half aloud, "hOr.
rible What monster could have killed
babe not two years old hope to
Heaven that they will catch and hang
the brute p
As the fire blazed L again took up the
paper, and read the item which had at
tracted my attention.
ga MYSTERIOUS CRIME.-Last night, in
Buckthorne, at the house of Calvin
Mooreland, was perpetrated most ter
rible murder. The entire family, with
the exception OF the mother, who was
absent from town, were killed in their
beds with an axe. Father and three
children, two girls and boy, the young
est not yet two years of age, were
slaughtered as they slept. Discovery
was not made until this morning. The
entire affair is shrouded in the deepest
mystery, and the unknown murderer is
still at large"
A second time shuddered as the paper
fell from my hand, and the moan Of the
prairie wind sounded like the cry of q
child in my ears as it swept around the
cabin.
Horrible p
was line operator on the X. p. r. r.. -,
thirty miles west from Buckthorne, nine
miles east from Jackson's, at siding
where cluster of some five huts besides
my "ofiice" had pompously assumed the
title of village and christene itself Cen
terton. My neighbors were laborers and
their families. / boarded with one of
them, Mrs. OToole, but slept at the
office. This was necessary on account
of the road work, which often kept me
busy at my instrument half the night.
"Air ye'se never afeared over beyant?"
quired my kindly landlady, one black
eve, as l prepared to depart to my post
after supper. ''Shure an it's shame
for ye'se to be alone all night, miss"
'I am not alone, Mrs. O'Toole," had
replied; ''for with the wire l can talk to
the operators at Buckthorne or Jacksons s.
And Pm not afraid-who would molest
me ?"
L felt what I had said, and meant it.
Although only girl of twenty, was
Western girl, accustomed to loneliness
and rough people, able to do for myself
and defend myself, and, with my trusty
pistol in the drawer close at hand L slept
or worked without q thought of fear.
Tonight, however, this newspaper had
disturbed me.
"If somebody will kill little children" !"
l murmured to myself, might not some-
body, that unknown somebody"
''Clickl click! click! CentertOn"
Fanoies disappeared, and for two
hours l was busily at work, while the
wild nigh. grew, and the wilder wind,
half-brother TO the coming storm,
shrieked and sobbed without nay window
and moaned in the yawning blackness OF
the great chimney until the 1890 passed
then "all rightl' sped from my Office
over the huI.ming wires, and for q time
/ was at rest again.
The rain was beginning to fall now,
and an occasional glare foretold the
wrath Of the nearing storm. The news
paper item was forgotten.
Already had turned toward my set
tee, intending TO lie down for awhile,
WHICH, WiLuOuL ucaru blle uehVy SIep Vi
man upon the platform, and an instant
later hand touched my door. The bolt
was shot, but stepped quickly forward
and drew it, expecting some message
from one of the switchmen or track
walkers; but, to my astonishment, the
person who entered was an utter
stranger.
was not frightened; only startled.
The newcomer was wet with the rain.
He pulled his cap from his head.
Even, miss" said he, in heavy
voice, bowing awkwardly. HSaw yer
light, and thought as you might give me
shelter. It's dirty night without for a
traveller"
motioned toward the open fire.
''You can sit there and dry yourself, -
replied, "but there's no place for you
to stay here. This is an Office"
"Yes'm," my visitor returned, slouch.
ing down upon the bench with sigh.
"I knowed it. but thought as you might
let poor feller sleep afSre the fire. It's
q bitter night outside"
''But will not let you sleep herer
said /, sharply, my temper rising. "You