Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-06-26
Gales aud Sketfhes.
NJ wIFs-s EIPLeIf.

1.-THE little town of DeeriDg. upon the linz
of the Pacific Railroad, between the cities
of D. and c.. Six miles further
west was the more pretentious town OF
Paris, upon the direct road to D..
Deering was BY no means model resi-
Idence. Still there was school, and
little blue-eyed woman had come from
Vermont to teach it. How long an IN
lprntected woman might have lived IN
Deering can only guess, for Alice Hol'
had been there but three months when sht
consented to walk into church with me
and walk out my wife. This was in July
and we had occupied q pretty cottage
nearly quarter of mile from the teie
graph station since our marriage
With this necessary introduction come
Ito the story Of that October night, and the
part nv blue-eyed Alice. only eighteen
and afraid OF her own shadow. played II
lit.
was in the Office at about half pas
seven O'Clock, when one of the city officials
came in. all hurried, saying:
..Stirling, have you been over to the
embankment on the road to. day ?"
mo, have not
III wa, special Providence took me
there. then. One of the great masses Of
rock has rolled down directly across the
track. It will be as dark as a VOLTS
mouth tonight. and if the midnight train
comes from D. there will be horrible
smashup"
1.-THE midnight train must stop at Paris.
them" l replied. IL will send mes
sage"
Eyes. That is what stopped in for
The other track is clear. SO you need not
stop the train to D"
"All right. sir"
was standing at the door, seeing my
caller down the rickety staircase. when
Alice came up with my supper.
ANY messages to-day ?" my wife
asked.
Zone from D. for John Martin"
John Martin ?" Alice cried; "the
greatest ruffian in Deering. What was
the messagep"
Midnight train"
WAS that all p"
"That was all. Mr.. Hill has just been
in here TO tell me there is huge rock
across the track at the embankment, 80
shall stop the midnight train at Paris"
She went into the dressing room, taking
no light. but depending upon the candles
urning in the office. | was rising from
nv seat to send the telegram. when the
door opened and four OF the worst charac-
tiers in Deering, led by John Martin, en-
tered the room. Before could speak,
two threw me back in my chair, one held
a revolver to my head, and John Martin
spoke:
"Mr. Hill was here to tell you to stop
,ba II train Won mill mt Sand that
message Listen. That rock is there to
stop that tran-put there for that purpose
There is half million in gold in the ex-
press car DO you understands"
trembled for Alice. Not a sound came
from the little room, as was tied hand
and foot to my chair, bound so securely
that could not move. 1t was proposed
to gag me. but finally concluding that my
cries, II made any. could not be heard,
a handkerchief was bound over my mouth.
The door of the wash room was closed
and locked. Alice still undiscovered. then
the light was blown out and the ruffians
left me. locking the door after them.
There was long silence. Outside I
could hear the step of one of the men pac-
ing up and down, watching. rubbed
my head against the wall behind me. and
succeeded in getting the handkerchief on
my mouth to fall around my neck. had
scarcely accomplished this when there was
a tap on the inner door.
Robert" Alice said.
Eyes. love. Speak low, there is a man
under my window"
II am going to Paris. There is no man
under my window. and can get out there.
have six long roller towels here knotted
together, and have cut my white skirt
into wide strips to join them. The rope
made 80 reaches nearly to the ground. |
shall fasten it to the door knob and let
myself down. 1t will not take long to reach
home, saddle Selim and reach Paris in
time. Don't fear for me.
| Nine O'Clock As the bell of the church
clock ceased to strike, a rumble, a flash.
told me that thunder storm was coming
rapidly. Oh, the long, long minutes OF
the next hour. Ten O'Clock. The rain
falling in torrents, the thunder pealing
the lightning flashing. Alice was So
afraid of lightning Eleven o'clock The
storm over, though still the night was
inky black.
The midnight down train was coming
swiftly. surely, to certain destruction
Where was my wife Had the ruffians
intercepted her at the cottagep Was she
lying dead somewhere upon the wild
road Her heroism was of no avail, bu,
was her life svaed In the agony of that
question the approaching rumble OF the
train was far more than the bitterness oil
Alice lost in the horror of the doomed
lives it carried. Why had let her star
upon her mad errand?
The heavy train rumbled past the tele
graph office. 1t was an express train
and did not stop at Deering station; bu
as | listened. every sense shapened by
mental torture, it seemed to me that the
speed slackened. Listening intently,
knew that it stopped at the enlbankment,
AS nearly ASH could judge. Not with the
sickening crash / expected. not preceding
walls and groans from the injured pas
sengers. but carefully. A moment more
and heard the shouts, the crack of Ere
arms. sounds of some conflict
What could it all meanp The minute:
were hours. till heard KEY turn in the
door of my prison. and a momeet Later
two tender arms were round my neck. ant
Alice was whispering in my ear:
They will come in few minutes, love
to set you free!"
but have you been to Paris ?''
ayes. dear"
1 At all hat sf,~,,,