Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-10-29

glimpse of Milly and his mother and
moments chat. His dispatch tonight
read:
"Run through Rockfield TO- night just
ahead of ten o'clock express, reaching
there about quarter of ten.'
81 will start only just in time to get
there as the train arrives" said Milly,
as they made the coffee and frizzled
some slices of ham; eff | walk fast L
can get there in fifteen minutes, and
don't believe the coffee can get cold in
that time, all wrapped up in the pail"
"You might carry 1t in little pail
and set it Oil the stove in the station till
Jim comes" suggested Mrs. Hoslner.
81 don't believe there would be fire
there; and besides, / would rather not
20 in. | can't bear Ten Kennedy's
comments or company. l shall just
stop under the porch till the train
comes, and then l can hand Jim the
lunch-pail and slip away before any
one notices me"
"Maybe that would be best" assented
Mrs. Hosmer, who knew how disagree
able the attentions of the sandy-haired
young station agent were to her adopted
daughter. "But, Milly, do be careful
and take care of yourself. If anything
should happen to you | should never
forgive myself-never! In fact, have
half mind not to let you 60, after ALL"
"What! with this for company"
said Milly gayly, showing the revolver
c!utched tightly under the waterproof;
"what foolis. mamma! Now good
bye! l shall be back before you know
it." And with kiss Milly disappeared
in the dismal drizzle with skip, and
a good little laugh as soon as she was
out of sight at the thought of seeing
Jim.
Arriving at her destination, she softly
crept up into the shelter Of deep door
way and looked down the track, where
she expected even now to see the dis
tant light Of Jim's engine. But not the
faintest CLEAN was visible. Surprised,
she crept along and peeped in at the
clock through the station window. The
hands pointed to half. past nine.
"That stupid old clock" she ex-
claimed petulsntly, as she slipped back
to her snug hiding place, 1--WE might
have known it would be too fast or too
slow; it never is right, except by acci-
dent. Now Jim's coffee will be al cold
as a stone-and |, too, for that matter"
she added, shivering and drawing
closer into the corner out Of tho wind.
But at the next moment the sound Of
low voices almost at her side sent her
heart into her throat, and at the next
bound her blood flew through her veins
like fire.
"Don't turn cussed fool now," ex-
claimed gruff voice in an undertone.
'IGs little too late to turn soft-hearted
just when the game Is ours; and | ain't
no hand to put up with no nonsense,
you are aware of that, Bill"
81 don't mean nothing-only if was
sure there wouldn't be no women and
little children-specially little children
ever since little Tillie died"
"Now bottle that" angrily inter-
rupted the other, with fierce oath.
"If I'd supposed you'd ever turn out
such chickcn-livered coward I'd seen
you starve before I'd have taken you
into this. But it is too late now there
is cool fifty thousand on that express
train tonight, and I'll have it or die.
You do your part and share the plum
der, or you back down and I'll put an
end to you. But you shan't stop me
III see to that, Bill"
"Just give me pull at the flask and
I'll bs all right: never desert friend,
you know that, old fellow"
"All right, them" said the other, now
Modified; "lsts get to work. Mike is
at his post, is he?
"Yes, jest the othor side Of the build
ing. If that station chap sets foot out
side before we've had time to finish our
work Mike will send bullet inte that
sorrel top Of his before you could wink.
He will meet us at the old oak ten min
utes after the train is due, and we'll be
off. Now let's 60 up to the cut and get
them rocks down into the track mighty
lively. There amt much time to spare"
AS they noiselessly moved away the
mons last whisper rang in Milly's ear
like q de1th-knell. Sure there was not
much time to sparep' OF course. they
knew nothing Of Jim's train, that would
within few minutes, come rushing
down into the death-trap they were
to set. Aud she could give no alarm.
The express did not more than slightly
slack its speed to drop some packages
on the platform; no one was at the sta
ton except the sleepy agent, all uncon-
scious OF the terrible guard that stood
beside him; long before she could get
the nearest neighbor there it would be
700 late-all these thoughts rushed like
lightning through Milly's distracted
brain. There was no one to know or to
aid but God and herself. She lifted her
eyes to the starless sky in mute appeal,
then turned and sped like deer through
the darkness toward the spot chosen for
this dreadful deed. Well was IL that
she knew, as by instinct, every step OF
this ground, even the very rocks piled
on the edge Of the rocky gorge, that
now were meant for the crushing out
Of human life. Only at Jim's last visit
she hal walked with him here 70 this