Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1885-06-26

in the little town Of Deering, upon the
line of the Pacific Railroad, between
the cities of D and C.. Six
miles further west was the more pre-
tentious town of Paris, upon the di-
rect road to D..
Deering was by no means model
residence. Still there was a school,
and a timid little blue-eyed woman
had come from Vermont to teach 1t,
How long an unprotected woman
might have lived in Deering 1 can only
guess. for Alice Holt had been there
but three months when she consented
to walk into church with me and walk
out my wife. This was in July, and
we had occupied a pretty cottage
nearly quarter of mile from the
telegraph station since our marriage.
With this necessary introduction l
come to the story of that October night,
and the part my blue-eyed Alice, only
eighteen and afraid of her own shad-
ow, played in It.
Twas in the Office at about half past
seven o'clock, when one Of the city
officials came in, all hurried, saying:
"stirHng, have you been over to the
embankment on the road to-dayP"
"No, have moi"
at was a special Providence TOOK
me there, then. One Of the great
masses Of rock has rolled down direct
~ across the track. It will be as darA
as a VOLTS mouth tonight, and If the
midnight train comes from D there
Will be horrible smashup."
1.-THE midnight train must stop al
Paris, them" 1 replied. 81 will send
message"
ayes. That is what I stopped il
for. The other track is clear, so yor
need not stop the train to D."
can right, sir"
I was standing at the door, seeing
nv, caller down the rickety staircase
when Alice came up with my supper.
"Any messages tO-dayP" my wifi
asked.
zone from D. for John Martin.
"John MARTINI Alice cried; 18th
greatest rufilan in Deering. What wa
the messageP"
Midnight train"
"Was that all?"
"That was all. Mr.. Hill has jus
been in here to tell me there is hug
rock across the track at the embank
ment, so I shall stop the midnigh
train at Paris"
She went into the dressing-roon
taking no light, but depending upo
the candles burning in the Office.
was rising from my seat to send tn
telegram, when the door opened, an
four of the worse characters in Deel
ing, led by John Martin, entered tn
room. Before 1 could speak, tw
threw me back in my chair, one held
revolver to my head and John Marti
spoke:
"Mr. Hill was here to tell you to ste
, the D. train, You will not sen
that message. Listen. The rock
there to stop that trsin-put there #
that purpose. There is half a milliC
in gold in the express car. Do 20
understand"
I trembled for Alice. Not a sour
came from the little room as WI
tied, hand and foot. to my chair, bour
so securely that I could not move.
d was proposed to gag me- but final
concluding that my cries, if 1 made an
could not be heard, handkerchief W
i. bound over my mouth.
>. The door Of the wash room was Gle
. cd and locked, Alice still undiscovere
then the light was blown out, and t
II rufians left me, locking the door aft
IS them.
There was long silence. Outside
could hear the step Of one Of the m
pacing up and down, watching,
rubbed my head against the wall |
hind me. and succeeded in getting t
handkerchief on my mouth 70 +
weuna my neck. I hsd scarcely