The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1890-05-09

.- "''PA sharper k-o
WI han upon a dead-b.ack night.
ihe rnn was long one and We were
carrying only two cars. one -passenpcr
ahu one freight. both empty. for We *
P'ct'a 70 get one load when We met the
ton. ~
when swung myself into the cab !
w"s startled by tho expression OF
smelly lace. y was deadly pale and
set. remember noticing that Id had
ni't'r MS lower lip and that there was
blood upon ii.
why, shelly. old man. what has
happcncd?' exclaimed Are YOU
sick?' ~
he smiled and his features RELAXED
slowly into their usual sad expression.
as he answered:
no Tom, nothing has happened.
only = headache. Don't mind me.v
Just then we received the signal 10
START and soon left tho station behind
" IN the gloon. had my hands fuil
keeping q head ~ steam on for the frst
lew miles. but as ! busted myself about
The furnace, ! could not help rlancing
AZ shelly now and then. as be Sat peer
Ing out into the dusk before Us. with
That strange set look upon his face. and
thinking: "a heart-ache. poor fellow.
instead OF a headache is what YOU
mean"
There were twenty miles OF straight
driving before we made the first stop.
we had got over about half the distance
ana was just settling down to steady
work, having my furnaces well loaded
and seen that my water gauges were
well up, when ] was startled by a sharp
exclamation from Shelly. Looking M
quickly. ] was shocked at his appear
ance. Ne Was leaning forward. gazing
out 81 the cab window. which was open.
ms eyes starting from his head and his
whole air expressive OF the most in
tense terror and expectancy. Above the
%clanking Of the machinery and the whizz
Of the escaping steam. ! could hear his
loud. quick breathing.
smelly" ! cried. what Is ito"
lie did not heed me until ! had re-
pcatcd my question in a louder tone.
lie put out his hand as II TO silence
me without turning. Hush" he said.
in aNtrange, choked voice; hush. Tom
sir nMrcr
sic. whoo' / asked. in alarm.
There IS nc one there. You are i'll.
shelly"
NO, no" he answered. in the same
husky tone. She is there. | tell YOU.
You are mad, shelly" Icried. nerv-
ously, hardly knowing what | was say
ing. ''What woman would be out on
such a night as this?"
lie slowly turned his face toward re
and by the faint light OF the gauge lamp
could see how locked and rigid his
features were.
mo fSing woman he said in a slow.
penetrating whisper, every syllable oi
which was audible above the noise OF
the engine. "A lead woman. Tom"
am not naturally a nervous man. and
at times. at least. in the prime Of my
youth and strength. feared neither
man nor ghost. but | confess was thor
oughly shaken. There was something
so uncanny about the whole thing. The
unnatural expression Of the mans face.
the b~lood-curdling accents Of his voice.
his evident belief in his own i'm
pressions, all contributed to send an icy
chill down my skin and bring the per-
spiration out upon my forehead.
shelly" l cried. shelly, don't look
out there. shut the window and sit
down. III run her to Sharp's and
give YOU time TO get over this"
For reply he bcckoned me to his side
and against my will / crossed 70 where
ne stood.
look there he muttered in my ear.
while his fingers closed upon my arm
with q visc-like grip. There just
ahead OF the pilot in the glare Of the
head-light-and tell me what you see"
In the lane Of light flung far ahead
upon the tracks, making a brilliant
wedge in the darkness. the steam.
driven downward by the icy wind. rolled
in dense white volumes. at times shut
ting of the view as with a thick. wav-
ing curtain. And there just beside the
engine. not ten feet distant. saw
what? / rubbed my eyes and stared. ]
drew back and looked at Shelly's bag
gard face in bcwildercd inquiry, too
much Mortified to speak. rubbed my eyes
again and looked. Yes. there ii was.
Was | mad or dreaming? Could ! trust
nv " senses and was there, almost
within reach OF my outstrctched arm.
floating in the air and keeping pace
with our swift motion a ,roman's tormf
shelly" ! whispered. breaking the
spell OF terror which was upon me with
an effort. what does IL mean? What
Is this awful thing?"
.sSee,v he replied in q tone which ]
hope never again to hear from the lips
Of mortal man while ] live. she has
come 10 accuse me for the deed ! did.
She has come to exact rctribution from
the man who loved her better than his
own soul, and yet took her innocent
life"
shelly. Shellyy' ! cried. shaking 50
| violently that l could hardly keep my
feet "What are you saying"
Look" he said, pointing with a
trembling finger through the open win
dow. .'See what Is upon her breast! 4
did that. /, lost wretch that ] am, gave
her the blow in my mad jealousy that
let out her pure young life. And !
loved her. OH. Heaven! l loved her"
m. ~~cr,J Ne faro wifh his hands