Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-03-25

track-tnat your HUSBAND ana CHILD
were dead. That's what, madam"
She laughed softly.
THAT was a ruse to get you to leave
the station" she replied. 4" You are such
a home body that l couldn't get you to
90 in the storm unless | resorted TO a
trick. But you came near defeating my
purpose after all. You turned that
switch back in its proper place just in
the nick of time
Eyes, and you turned it wrong in the
first place, didn't your"
"Yes, l did,
"You she fiendm l cried, as I gazed
on her in utter adherence.
Don't call me hard names. 1t makes
me think that you don't appreciate my
company, and I'm so sensitive."
"Do you know what would have hap
pened if had not turned that switch
into its proper positionf'
Another light laugh.
ooh. yes, know said She
81 don't think you do"
"You want TO draw me out, | see.
Man, if you hadn't righted that switch
a dozen or more mortals would have been
hurled into eternity, and you would be
tried for murder. l had no grudge
against you, and should have preferred
to have the train wrecked near the cross
ing, but as that couldn't be, | thought
I'd throw her off near the switch. But
you saved her and came near baking my
plans. That stupid guard, who imagines
himself so clever, arranged everything
so nicely that he will be surprised to-
morrow when you tell him the whole
story"
"Are you crazy2' asked.
"No, my dear. | was never saner than
| am at this momentw
Pray what are you driving at then,
I'd like to knowp
II will enlighten you. You see that,
little parcel on the table, which your
friend the guard let you keep for
him.
l laid my hand on the parcel and gave
her a sinister look.
''Well, what of it2" asked.
at contains sum of money anywhere
between 5000 and $40, COO"
"Indeedm | said contemptuously.
eyes 1t was to be sent to Edinburgh
to-day, and as two or three of us got
wind of the affair we concluded to stop
it. By some strange mistake on our
part the guard heard Of our little plan at
the other end of the road, and so to balk
us he left it here with you. At the same
time l concluded to play double game
and get the whole treasure for myself
For that purpose | called you out and
turned the switch in order to wreck the
train and so get hold of the money You
interfered and saved the train, but not
the parcel 1t is now in your hands, and
| will ask you to hand it over without
demur.n
She made one step toward the desk,
but leaped toward it and grasDed the
parcel in both hands.
'Neverw | shouted '"This goes
into the safe, and | warn you to get out
before pitch you out"
''Ha, ha, ha, hal" she laughed deri-
sively; "what pluck | didn't think
you would make such a fight over mere
money. But this will bring you to your
senses.
Throwing back the cloak which en-
veloped her small form, she stood before
me wiry looking man, with piercing
dark eyes. In the right hand a iewelled
pistol cleaned in the lamp light, and
the hand that held it was as cool and
steady as possible. | glanced into the
small barrel of the pretty plaything and
shuddered.
"You needn't be frightened" con-
tinued my strange visitor in the same
easy tones. II don't care to commit
murder if | can help it, but don't drive
me to desperation"
At this l recovered my self possession
end began to think of way to get near
enough to grapple with this desperate
villain. In such an encounter | knew l
could easily handle him. A sudden,
heavy blast of wind, followed by blind
ing flash Of lightning, fairly stunned US
for a moment.
That was terrible flash, - | said, no
ticing that my companion slightly paled.
"You are not afraid of thunder, are
your"
"Afraidl No, you idiotw he replied.
"But give me that money, or I'll send a
bullet through your head
"One momentn | cried.
"Not a.
The sentence was never finished.
There was a peal of thunder that seemed
to rend the heavens in twain, and then a
brilliant streak of fire flashed between
US felt the building tremble heard a
confused murmur of strange noises--and
then a blank.
When | awoke to consciousness, day.
light was just breaking in the east. The
/ sky was clear as on a summer morning,
and the fields and woods were vocal with
the songs of birds. But in my office
everything was changed. At my feet
lay the stranger Of the previous night,
with a little dark spot near his left
temple. The heavy timbers of the sta
ton were burned and cracked, and my
papers were scattered all about. The
work Of the thundcrbot had been effect
i've, but on the table lay the money I'M
touched.
When the guard came, I handed him
the property. The stranger was identi-
fed as a notorious thief, and | was duly
rewarded by the company for my work
in saving the money. But since that ter
rible shock a Thunderstorm has been 20
me the most undesirable thing on the