Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1892-07-16

termined to satisfy his curiosity.
He was not long in arriving of the
spot, and to his surprise and horror he
found the object to be a pile of cross
ties on the track. lie advanced quick
" to throw them aside, when he dis
covered that several rails had been torn
from the track,
This fearful sight chilled his blood,
and he stood almost paralyzed for a
moment, Then he thought of the train,
loaded with human souls, that was even
then rushing rapidly toward its doom,
and wheeling round he dashed toward
the depot.
He had scarcely traversed twenty
steps, however, before he felt a heavy
hand come down on his shoulder,
"%IIalt.' came a grutf voice, lone
step further, and you die!'
Ned fclt the cold muzzle of a revolver
come in contact with his ear, and he
stopped.
$50 the voice continued, sncering-
ly, Thought yc'd Spite u prospects,
did YEP"
For Gods sake" begged Ned, "let
me go and save the precious lives you
have put in jeopardy"
mice move that'd be for us" chuckled
the wreckcr, after all our work and
plans"
But think, man, what you are do
ing"
Done thought; and the end of the
think is that we're goin' to have a pull
at a pile OF cash now on the train You
speak of"
Ned ~shuddered. What should he do?
Beside him stood n determined man
ready to blow his brains out if ncccssa-
ry to the furthering of the murderous
plans,
Suddenly, probably without knowing
it, the hand holding the pistol dropped
a few inches, and the hand on Ned's
shoulder loosened its grasp; then a
wild desire to reach his Office flashed
across the operators mind, and clinch-
ing his teeth, he shook himself loose
from his captor and fed in the direction
of the depot.
He had gone several yards before the
man realized his escape, then a deep
curse broke out On the evening air and
the train wrecker started in pursuit.
Ned glanced back, and in place of
n he saw several forms rushing after
him,
Don't shoot" he heard one of them
say; lit might arouse some one; be-
sides we can reach the Office before he
can send a warning message"
Poor Ncd's heart sank as he heard
this; he knew too well that they would
dash in on him before he could even
get Il response from one of the Offices
above him; but he madly dashed in
to his Office and attempted to lock the
door.
But, alas, for once he was too excited,
and before his trembling fingers could
place the key in the lock the entire
crowd was on him.
"Sit down now painted one Of them,
"and behave"
In despair Ned dropped into a chair,
with his back to the curtains, and bur.
led his face in his hands.
After a hurried consultation the gang
of wreckers left two of their members
to guard Ned, while the rest FASTENED
back to the demolished track.
The telegraph instrument was tick.
ing away merrily, loaded with train or
ders and news of the day. Oh, how his
trembling fingers, idly drumming on the
round of his chair, longed to seize the
magic key and give d warning before
it was too late; but grim death stood
between him and the coveted table, and
in agony the operator sat like a stone.
Suddenly the tick of the instrument
caused him to raise his head. 1t was
Singleton, the second station from Pine
vile, reporting the arrival and de.
parturc of No. SO.
Great drops of perspiration stood out
on Ned's face, and he felt as if his
heart would burst before this trial was
over. Only one more station to pass,
and then the hopes Of saving the train
would be over.
He sat with straining ears to catch
the sound of Ellaville, the next station
to his, reporting the train, for then he
knew the end had come, and his sus-
pense would cease.
His eyes roamed about the room and
rested on the mirror he had laughed,
with his wife, about so much.
Suddenly he saw in the reflection.
The curtains at his back part and dis
close the happy smiling face of his wife.
Then his mind grew clearer, as he
realized that she was in danger, and the
tapping of his nervous fingers on his
chair changed to telegraphic signals:
"Step back quick, and l~isten!' the
clear taps spoke ont, and to his 10y she
quietly obeyed, and the curtains flut.
tered softly back to their places; then
he went on:
Hurry home and wire Ellaville to
stop 81; track torn up here and gang of
wreckers waiting to rob it; send help
on engine; be quick; / am under cover
Va pNAtul'
AS this ominous message was listened
to by the wife, her courage almost
failed, and an icy hand seemed to clutch
her throat, but the thought of Ned's
danger renewed her strength, and she
stealthily crept from the depot.
After he had given the instructions
to his wife, Ned listened attentively to
catch the sound of her departure, but
SO soft was her tread that he could not
decide whether she had gone out or not;
this added more fear to his already
overstrained system, and he was almost
in the act of s~pringing on his captors,
although it was certain death, when he
heard the instrument begin to tick with
renewed vigor; to add to his ioy he ,
recognized the delicate, firm touch of ,
his wife, and in the steady click he
heard the call for Ellaville. ,
1t seemed that an answer would 5
never be given to his wife's rapid call, l
and this added fuel TO Ned's terror, |