Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-09-07


members Of the royal family.
We knew that every precaution was
taken by the railway company and their
servants to observe clear and safe pas
sage for their royal patron, and that ex-
ira patrollnen were out along the route,
while to prevent the risk Of accident all
less important trains were shunted to
one side. The contentsof all goods trains
on the down line were carefully inspect
ed in order that no projections should
endanger the safety of the special, and
signalmen were more than usually put
upon the alert.
The greatest obstacle we had to con-
tend against was the pilot engine. We
could do nothing till it passed (the loos-
ened bolts would not affect its passage),
and that left only 10 minutes to prepare
the rails for the doomed train. Still, we
practiced the screwing process on dummy
metals and soon got very expert. The
night arrived. The previous evening we
had managed, unobserved, to loosen the
bolts necessary for our purpose near the
middle of the bridge, and we could only
trust they would not be tampered with
before our arrival next evening.
The fateful night was dark and stormy,
which favored our purpose. Disguised
as railway laborers at village in the
vicinity, and having previously conceal
ed our tools near the bridge, we made for
the scene of our enterprise. Ensconcing |
ourselves within the shadow of the para |
pet, we waited for the pilot engine to |
come along. At last her lights appear in
the distance, and she thunders safely
over the bridge.
Now to work.
Hastily securing our respective rails,
we make for the selected spot and COM
mence to withdraw the bolts. While
thus engaged my companion with
bloodcurdling chuckle remarks:
"We shall bag more of the high and
mighty than we first expected. The
Duke of k and his suit are, under
stand, on board the train"
"The Duke of K" / started and
dropped my rail in my excitement. "My
boys MASTER" gasped, "and he never
travels without him."
$50 much the worse for your boy,
then" said the heartless brute as he pro-
ceeded with his work.
In an instant my horrible position
flashed upon me- Here was calmly
, preparing to slaughter the heads of
England Ito whom before had never
given a thought, and with them my
, own flesh and blood. Inearly swooned
as the awful revelation burst upon me,
but in a moment l recovered, and then
my decision was prompt. True, the
failure of the scheme meant certain
. death to my companion and myself, but
what of that? There was still time to
, save ourselves from becoming wholesale
. murderers. I shouted, while | replaced
l my bolt, to Scraggs to drop his rail and
. fly. He, however, had no such scruples
! and had too great regard for his own
q skin and the promised reward. When
a he saw l was determined to spoil his
4 plans, he dropped his rail and made for
: me with knife, the glitter Of which as
4 he closed with me I saw just in time
4 through the darkness.
AS we struggled the roar of the ap.
! | L1dlIl was uCobIu III tlO NiAo-
n tance. Making a frantic effort, as the
n train was close upon us, I managed tc
: throw Scraggs off. He fell across the
"a off rail. With rush and roar the royal
!. train swept safely over the bridge, while
+ a stifed shrek from Scraggs prepared
Il me for his fate as fell in faint agains
Ia the stonework of the bridge.
| i1,x xxyhot n11cth hoyo haaY1 c
a few minutes after the passage Of tht
Va train. Tho headless trunk of my late
a companion was the first object that me-
II nv eve. shuddered to think how near
ly the occupants of the train had escaped
an equally certain death.
Va The train had not pulled up, the drive
l. evidently not having felt the obstruction
d hastily replaced the bolts on the othel
10 rail, threw the tools into the stream, anC
with last glance at the remains o
l. Scraggs fled from the spot. Unsuspect
- ed, made my way to London, but onl,,
at to live in deadly fear of the swift ant
T sure vengeance Of the secret society.
n The failure of the enterprise must b
II already known to them, and hide as
tv might I knew their hand would ulti
as mately reach me. My money exhaust
ed, conceived the desperate idea Of th
TO daring burglary Of which was convict
n ed. If 1 failed to enrich myself. my if
ID would at least be safe in Jail. I faile
miserably enough, got caughtred handle
ri and received my sentence.
va Before threw away my liberty say
d. from the papers that at the inquest O
ba Scragg's remains verdict of accidents
no death" was returned. The dastardly al
A. tempt therefore remained unsuspecte
Of by the general public, and since I cam
an here I have heard that the secret societ
nd has been broken up and its member
IS scattered. Ifeel now that shall escar
n. them after all, but I shall die happy
in knowing that my boys future is al
va sured, and that he will never know
ID was convicted under false name) ho'
W, near to annihilation his own father ha
brought him and his country's queen.-
.o- London Tit-Bits.