The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-04-25
ONE NIGHTS SUSPENSE.
And How | Managed to Escape Just
in Time te Save the Train.

The office clock licked with a steady
swing, the long pendulum oscillated be-
tween the ends of the arc with a monoto-
nous regularity that made one sleepy.
The air was damp and chilly outside, only
to make the CRATE a dispenser of warmth
and comfort. The constant clicking at
my desk relieved the lonesomeness, as
l sat with my thumb and two fingers on
the key and my eyes on the clock dial
sending the trains In security along the
various lines Of the road.
The comfort and happiness of men,
women and children were intrusted to
my vigilant care. The responsibility of
the position can only be appreciated by
one who is, or has been, placed in a SINH
lar position. / sat all alone with invisi-
BILE glnnces fixed on the network of iron
bands, where trains were sweeping over
miles of space with lightning speed,
while the far reaching throb of electric
power came to me from distant stations
to locate every movement that guided
my unerring judgment.
Every delayed train became an object
of concern as it sidetracked for the regu-
lar or made up the time between long
runs, thus keeping my nerves up to the
tension which made life a constant round
of duty.
l looked drowsily at the clock, my
eyes were heavy with sleep. Oh! for
something to rouse me. I walked the
narrow space in front of the railing. /
opened the door; the cool air blew on my
face to bring new life to the sluggish
blood that was stealing all my senses.
/ involuntarily shivered, as the cool
breath of night swept through me to
make me draw nearer t. the fire.
I peered into the glowing bank of
Goals only to relapse into deeper uncon-
seriousness, when a rap at the door
startled me. Glad to escape from the
incubus that made me dull, I welcomed
the intruder with a bluff:
"Come in"
A rough looking figure stood by my
side. The broad brimmed SLOUGH hat half
concealed the fierce look that made me
feel uncomfortable as his wild looking
eyes stared steadily into mine. Was the
man a lunatic just escaped from the
asylum? Insanity was evidently stamped
upon the neglected face.
Are you the OPERATOR"
Eyes; what do you want?v
"Here is note for you. You dare not
refuse the request contained in the letter.
You recognize the handwriting
I hurriedly glanced along the lines to
catch the import. My heart stood still.
$50! Twill beat the appointed place."
81 was instructed to see that you did
come. / will show you the way"
/ glanced at the face, upon which a
frigid, determined look had settled with
a savagenesst that made me tramble. The
letter was before me. Without noticing
the remark, 7 read every line that burned
into my brain.
"Wait. l will come"
/ arose from my seat, glanced sharply
at the clock, noted the time, which was
propitious, for l could spare an hour
without danger; drew On my oveTeost
and followed the strange man, who
seemed entirely oblivious to surround
ings as he strobe forward with an energy
that made walking anything but a pleas
ure.
I halted and dropped behind a corner;
in a moment his clammy, bony fingers
were around my throat. / was power
less to resist. A choking sensation made
me weak and timid. With a movement
that he seemed to understand the strong
grip on my neck was relaxed. Again we
strobe forward to turn into byways which
were unknown to me.
/ was betrayed; what was the terrible
danger that made my duty a culpable
neglect? Already the moments were fly
ing, a chilly sensation swept through ev-
cry nerve as / thought of the helpless
lives intrusted to my keeping; but on
ward he strobe. / could feel the basilisk
charm of the bloodshot eyes that resem-
bled Goals of fire as they cast watchful
chances behind. We halted at a remote
house on the suburbs; with a heavy rap
he stood waiting for an entrance. while
by the sickly glare of a single tallow dip,
whose dull rays struggled through the
dingy panes.
A shutting gait from within and a eau
tious turn Of the key opened the door t
reveal the outlines of a bent figure that
shaded the candle with n hand, while
q suspicious. cunning stare was fixed
upon the newcomers
Without a remonstrance / followed my
guide through the rickety passage that
ended at a low, wide portal, which was
securely closed. Quietly the limping
figure drew from the faded cloak a bunch
of keys and with extreme elaboration
pushed open the door.
The subdued hum of voices reached us
family as we passed along a narrow,
dark way to stand at the further end
until a.food of light almost blinded our
eyes. We entered, the door was closed.
The low ceiled room was filled with
rough looking men. Winchesters and
pistols were the principal ornaments, as
they hung from painted pegs or lay care
lessly around within easy reach.
A look of astonishlnent that ! could
not conceal caused a roar of laughter as
they handed my evil genius a flask of
brandy and showed him into one corner,
where he was soon lost to the present, as
he reclined in a drunken stupor.
"Come, young chap, you see we decoy-
ed you; take a hand just for luck"
81 have no money"
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