The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-05-14
WHOLE No. 1133.

throttle and came out on the main
track slowly-the yard-man looking
after it in astonishment, then starting
on run to see what madman's impulse
seemed to control the man at the lever?
The telegraph operator was rapid in
his movements, and, when the engine
steamed past the platform on the track
that led to the county seat, he delivered
TO the man, whom he now regarded as
hero, the message properly sealed
and authenticated.
God bless you," he called after the
unknown, land save you from the
gravel train"
The road to the county seat was a
single track, and the gravel train sent
out to keep the roadbed clear of drifts
was liable to be collided with upon any
curve by the engine running without
schedule or orders, but the stranger
merely smiled as he pulled the throttle
lever further back. The ergine dashed
up the track, the engineer standing in
the doorway of his home and looking
at it aghast, while the station-agent
and train-dispatcher fastened to the
telegraph office to learn the reason of
the engines departure on ''wild cat"
trip.
The engineer rushed up to the plat
form, where stood the operator ex-
planning to the dispatcher how it hap
pened that the stranger took out the
engine.
But he will not get through" said
the dispatcher, '.for he has no fire
man"
Yes, he has," exclaimed the en-
gineer; ''he's doin' the firm too. He's
just lettin' her run; he'll just fire and
whistle"
And as if to confirm the engineers
statement, the scream of the steam
reached their ears-the whistle Shrek
ing frantic demand for a clear track.
''If the gravel train is on the main
track there will be the ID to pay"
said the dispatcher ruefully, and he
went to report the facts to the superin-
tendent.
At the jail the sheriff's Jury was
drawn up in the corridor, solemnly
waiting for the conclusion of the last
conference of the condemned with his
spiritual adviser The sheriff restlessly
paced the tagging, while one of the
deputies nervously fingered black
cap, and the other toyed with the cords
to be used in pinioning the prisoner.
The sheriff who had repeatedly looked
at his watch in a way that seemed to
beg time to go more slowly, glanced at
it at last with a heavy sigh, and went
to the jail entrance for final look to-
ward the telegraph office. The deputy
stationed there was not in sight, and the
executive official turned with a heavy
heart to the prisoners cell.
Gomez he said, and the heavy foot
falls of the jury sounded dismally
through the corridor
''It is time" he said gently to the
prisoner, who courageously stepped
into the corridor and bravely faced
the jury, while the deputies bound his
arms and slipped the cord of the cap
over his head. He was ready, but,
just when the word to move to the
yard was given, he turned a longing
glance toward the main entrance, as if
he hoped to see his wife appear there
suddenly.
Slowly the procession moved-the
prisoner leaning on the arm of the
clergyman, his back toward the main
entrance, his temples throbbing many
beats between the footballs of his exc
cutors, who stepped heavily and in time
with him, as if to deaden the sound
of his own feet, which shuffied in spite
of him, the nails in the heels of his
boots rasping on the stone floor.
And then came shrieking through
the corridor the whistle of a locomo-
time-strident scream on scream risin Q
higher each second, and Indicating that
the engine was approaching at a
terrible speed. The heart of every
man in the Jail leaped. The prisoner
stood still and his lips moved as if in
silent thanksgiving, for to him the
shrill sounds were trumpeting his free
dom. The sheriff rushed to the jail
entrance. A commotion rose among
the visitors, who had grown cold in the
snow, and they began to crowd into the
jail. The deputies momentarily for
got the prisoner, while they contended
with the impatient and excited specta-
tors, forcing them back to the yard.
The conductor of the gravel train
was startled when the whistle pene-
trated his ears with its cry for a clear
track, and he was glad that he had
reached with his train the safety of the
siding at the county seat when he saw
the engine leaping toward the town on
a steep down grade.
The deputy stationed at the tele-
graph office ran out on the track to
learn the meaning of the terrible
shrieking. The operator ran with him
and the crowd around the Jail STAN
| peded toward the station. The whistle
ceased its screams and a man was seer
standing between the cab and the ten
der as the engine with unabated speed
forged toward the station.
The crowd stood still in silence a:
the man lowered himself on the step tt
the cab.
Heavens! he is going to jump u sait
the deputy, and the crowd fell pell
nell back out of the way, but every on
heard the man cry:
Take this to the sheriff.
He waved his hand in which h
clutched something yellow.
"a mans life depends on it," h
shouted again.
Then he jumped and rolled to tn
feet of the deputy, who wrenched a
envelope from the grasp of his twitch
ing fingers. Without pausing to Sc
whether the man was alive or dead tn
crowd ran after the deputy, and no on
looked around when the engine crash
ed into the dump and was total,
wrecked.
The sheriff, in trembling, cage
haste, opened the envelope and rea
aloud the telegram.
The crowd shouted and returned
the station, where physician, with th
calmness due to his profession, was Ell
deavoring to restore the senseless ma
to life. At last he succeeded. Th
stranger opened his eyes and looked
a bewildered manner at the crowd {
curious men and boys. But present.
his eyes lighted with intelligence, an
he asked in a whisper:
"Was l in timer"
"Yes," said the surgeon.
THANK God! l killed Joseph Kel
dali, and this is my expiation. 1 al
Joseph Kendalrs brother"
With great presence of mind th
physician wrote the confession in hi
note book, and then read it aloud.
lis that correct?n he asked.
The stranger nodded and his liz
moved buE they uttered no SOund IL