Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-11-01

mind tie walk alone. Haven't the slight.
est idsa how it feels to be afraid. Start
right along now; it's good mile"
She gave me the directions and 7 set
out, rather reluctantly, it must be con-
fcsscd.
Tho station stood somewhat above tic
village. the railroad wound past on an
embaakinent, crossing u river gullcy on a
high bridge II short distance to the west
followed Josic's directions; went
down through the village and up the
road leading to her home. Mrs. Mcclure
gave me Il delightful welcome and sup
per beyond description. We had pleas
ant talk of old times and new She spoke
of Josic's goodness and iilal affection I'M
til tears came into her eyes and my own
rs well.
Then rose to return to the station
shall never know precisely what
thought it was came into my mind and
caused me TO hasten my footsteps Time
had flown. 1t was 6 o'clock and after,
and growing quite dark. The sky had
c!oudcd over, as if storm were ilnpcnd-
ing, and the quiet of the village was un-
earthly.
hurried on; almost ran. and finally
reached the station. But what was my
surprise to find Josie was not there She
had mot gone home, for her tin pail stood
upon the table and II handkerchief lay on
the floor beneath. glanced in the pail.
Her supper was yet untouched Tho
place was growing dark and no lamp
lighted. Suddenly, 'iclick. click" from
the table. listened and knew that some
ono was calling up this station. sT.
W." 1T. W." knew that Josie was
CT. W." Whoever it was calling per-
sisted so that | grew uneasy. Where
could the girl have gomez At length, rs
she did not come, | answered the call.
''Wcll. what is it," ".\bout the cx-
press" the answer came ''Thcrc is no
mistaken hcstatcd What should
say! ''Rcpcat Instructions. n w is
out for the moment Ikncw only that
the express would come from the west.
and this was IL man talking nj Il station
fifty or sixty miles TO the east lie an
Swcrcd nftcra moment; "NInttcr of life
or death. Express will leave Ain
ten minutes. Should switch ut p
(JoSic's station) and wait for special from
east 10 pass. Other train blocked with
freight For Gods sake, fix il right No
direct wire from here to A."
a cold chill ran over me Where was
Josie? How could l call up the other
station. made an attempt but cot no
answer. waited little, but no Josie.
1t WAS growing darker. rushed out OH
the pntform and looked up and down.
There WIS Il small shed across the track.
ran over and wrcnchcd open The door,
bat could see nothing for the darkness.
"Josir," called dcspairingly. lark!
What sound was that, faint and ia
miliar, click. click-click. 81 listened
without breathing. 81 am here" il
said. Pound and gagged; tied down so
can't get my hands free or stir. I'M
loose me quickly
CROPPED my WAY into The shed. Stun
blcd over piles Of wood and came TO
something warm and human
1t was Il moments work 10 release her.
''Grcat God!' l cried, s'who did
ihis?"
She caught her breath with n gasp.
''Bacil to the station she cried.
"don't waste second" We ran togeth-
cr. She caught the key and called up
the Office | had spoken with "Villainy.''
She tclcgraphcd. "Wirc 10 A cut.
Station man here in plot. Call UP \
- by D and c."
Too late" the answer came back.
Express has left A. by this. Flag
it,"
Josie turned and looked at me for an
Instant aimosS despairingiy.
"What snail do? The special has
left there. The express has started.
They will meet on the same track. The
scOundrcls came on me Just as had
taken a note of the special, so l should
make no mistake"
eve must flag the cxprcss.' cried
eve must flag both, she said. "This
may not he all that has been done"
While speaking she had turned 60 light
the lamp and could see how pale She
was.
''A lantern, said then. She fastened
to a box in the corner and took it out.
We trimmed and lighted it.
"This is only one" she said. eve
need two. Take this and go down the
tracl-you know, to the west. Stop the
express and tell thcm-that is all. i will
run to the nearest house, get another
lantern and go the other way"
| shuddercd.
"Supposc those men come upon you,
No. you shall not go alone will
Co.
"IIush" she said. $50 quickly. The
express is most here
And obeyed. And as ran tremblcl
at the thought of her peril. trcmblcd
so that the lantern shook, but I ran on.
JOSIE ENDS THE STORY.
This was as far as Sam could write,
poor boy. lie always shoulders when he
speaks OF that night. But it was nothing
after all so terrible l got the other
lantern in great haste, not from any neigh
Dor, for there was no time, but out from