Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1891-01-24

lpOstu lHt ClluSlIS hiScIo say hh5'
There. there, mother, perhaps it is all
for the best and went on up to his
room. Once inside he turned on me
like a tiger: Tom, | want your re-
%volver.'
what for?'
"To follow that thieving hound until
| find him
"'And then?'
Then, oh, my Godl End three
lives
''rhe last words came out with a hiss
like that of a snake when ready to
strike.
Think of your mother
"'Will you get me the revolver|'
Ono
"'And you call yourself a friend.
There's the door. Get OUT
"'But, Ed
"'Get OUT
"'See here, Ed; listen to reason
"At that he sprang for me. | am no
infant, as you see, and handling two or
three tons of coal every day is apt to
take all labbiness out of a fellow, but |
had all I could do the next five minutes
to defend myself. Neither of us said n
word after we clinched. At the end of
that time Ed cried huskily: All right,
TN. ! give up Both of us were ready
to lit down. 1t was long into the night
before | could argue him out of his in
sane project. just at the turning point
there was a feeble knock at the door
and Mrs. jackson entered. With an
i%mploring cry she stretched forth her
arms. Ed sprang forward and left.
The next day Ed appeared as usual
to take his engine out but it was a diff
ferent fellow from the n we had
known forty-eight hours before. The
face was pale and stern. The laugh in
the gray eyes had given place to a set,
hard look. From that time on Ed
seemed possessed with an insane desire
to keep employed. He was always the
first to apply for extra duty and fire.
quently would take the u of some fel
low who didnot want to go out. Though
he never referred to it in words | knew
he liked to have me with him, and so i
came about that we were even more to
gether than before.
Nothing had been heard of Kitty Of
her husband. They dropped out o
sight. Her people may have heard o
them but they never said any thing.
'One day late in the succeeding sum
mer we were waiting at Mud Creel
Junction for a train on a connecting
line that was a few minutes late. E'
took the opportunity to tighten up
bolt or two. | had finished oiling ant
was leaning lazily out Of the cab win
dow, when | heard the rattle of a car
riage coming up the country road.
turned in that direction and saw it wa
occupied by a gentleman and lady VIII
seemed anxious to make our train
Something made me give n second loo
at the lady. 1t was Kitty Moore. II
had not been braced against the seat
should have fallen. She was talkin
animatedly and did not notice the trair
my first thought on recovering fror
the shock of surprise was for Ed.
started to Jump down and call him on
on the other side. Who was it sait
Man proposes and God ~disposes?' AS
rose Ed clambered out on the side neal
est the road. At this moment the valv
on the steam dome popped off. Tn
startled the horses attached to the ca
rage, Kitty turned and her eyes mt
those of Ed. Her face was the color {
your handkerchief. For a second the
were face to face. Then the horse
dashed forward and the carriage wit
its occupants was hidden behind I'll
depot.
~ could see Eds fingers grip the han
mer he held in his hand until it SCENE
as II they would leave their print on Il
hickory handle.
"His pallor deepened, but the on
sign of the passion called into play |
this unexpected meeting was a fen
ish look that crept into his eyes whei
as he swung up into the gangway, !
saw the pair hurry Gro the platfor
to the cars. | believe at that nome
he would have wrecked the who
train could he have been certain tn
those two would not have escape
Mile after mile was cut off, static
after station passed without his ST
ring from his post. He was thinkin
and his thoughts were not such
brought comfort.
"Then we began to climb the Wabu
grade, and I had enough to do witho
watching. After reaching the SUNNI
there is a down grade for a couple
miles. At the foot the road takes
D short curve and crosses Burnhan
h creek, which was spanned then by
Q wooden bridge-afterward replac
= with stone. Just before reaching I
70 curve you had a look cross-lots at {
d bridge. After reaching the top Of I
sr grade the train was given a sta
rs steam vas shut off and away we we
u down the grade at the rate Of for
Is miles an hour. / was looking out
~ my window. As we crossed the gar
TX spoke, and my heart jumped clear In
a my mouth. The bridge was gone.
ed saw II the same moment, a
a over his face flashed q look Of fendi
glee. Instead of applying the a
or brakes his hand played about I
err throttle-bar Is II he woald give the
NJ CINE more steam. Then, quick a.
nd came, the look faded and gave place
one Of calm determination. The Q
q brakes were applied and the hissi
I'll and grinding Of the wheels in Tn
ns iron shoes told Of the great prcss'
tn brought TO bear on them. But the |
nut petus was too great.
"'Jumpf' shouted Ed.
ID II followed his command In o h
est dared way. sprang through the "a,
wn wAy and landed IN . pol Of water
NE tho bottom q ths gradsr A ! raj