Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1890-04-26

he was in despair and he thumped the
key There before him lay message
from tho Governor Of the State.
TO the Sheriff Of - County:
Respite Of ten days granted to Jonas
Toms
The telegram was signed by the Gov
arnor's Secretary, but apparently it was
as useless as If i had never been written.
The county sea, vas thirty miles distant,
and there was but an hour to get word
Of the respite to the Sheriff before j,
would be forever too late.
A restless man stalked up and down
the long platform he seemed to be wait
ing for train and impatient because It
was DELAYED IIc noticed the telegraph
operators agitation and made inquiry
concerning the 1ause. The operator
showed him message and the mans
f4ce bIanchnd a. he demanded tremul
ously
:, " ny don yEu scQl i
u can't, .ay, for tho wire is not
working"
The man panssd momen' lrresolutely
and then SAID Give the message {
me, seal II n an envelope with wax. J
will take il to-the Sheriff
GLOW
epn that engine He pointed to 10
comotivc that was standing on siding
with steam up, but was not manned
the engineer being at his home, and the
fireman having made trp to the round
house
Give mc switch KEY, the stranger
said, nervously, and be ready with the
telegram vh5n ] come past the plat
| form, )
| Tho operator gave the man the key but
| instantly reached for it again as he ex-
claimed The gravel train-it is up the
| road
"Never mind I'll scare It Oh siding
You have the message ready
Quickly the stranger ran to the switch
and turned il for the siding 4 ward mar
noticed him, but at the distance though
him the station agent, who, at the time
was away from his office, fortunately TO
the strangers plan. The engine re
| sponded TO the throttle and came out OF
the main track slowly-the vardma
looking after it in astonishment, the
sta,tinr on a run to sec what mad man
impulse seemed 10 control the man at To
lever The telegraph operator was rapl
in his movements, and when the engln
steamed past the platform on the trac
that led to the county seat he dehvere
to the man, whom he now regarded as
hero, the message properly sealed an
authenticated
uGod bless YOU. he called after Il
unknown, '.and save you from the grav
train.
The road 10 the county scat was
SINGLE track and the gravel tram sent Q
to keep the road-bed clear OF drifts W
liable to be collided with upon any cur'
, by the engine running without schedu
. or orders but the stranger merely smile
a. he pulled the throttle lever furth
back. The engine dashed up the trac
> the engineer standing in the doorway
!, his home and looking at It aghast, VII
. the 'staaon agent and train dlspatcf
:, fastened TO the telegraph Office TO lea
y III, reason 81 the engines departure OF
i wild cat trip.
The engineer rushed M to the plstfo
d where stood the operator explaining
> the dispatcher how II happened that
II stranger took out the engine.
)" But he will not get through, s
the dispatcher, for he has no frema'
Yes, he has. exclaimed the engine
. he's doin the hrin too Hes lust let
= hel run. he'll iust FIRE and whistle
: And. as il 70 confirm The engine
= statement. the scream of the stf
b.
reached their ears-the whistle shrek
IL
frantic demand for clear track.
at
ha