Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-03-11
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90 mot know how ! reached T. Iva
diniy conscious Of running bliudI
: through the dizziness. stumblinx ae.ins
The rails, and finally lespine mon d.
, platform. seizing the mon leyer desue.
sicily in both hands.
l heard tho heavy bolts ~ into thai
sockets. and then, before I could key
It, the heavy wheels rumbled over ID
j, switch 1t seemed for moment tina
the heavy pressure would Jerk the leve
cot OF my hands. but chung to it ters
ciously, and finally the last wheel rum
bled over tie fatal place.
The evening express did not usual,
stop At the station, but merely sIowe,
up 70 see II there were any passengers
But before could recover from my ex
cltement the long line Of black carriage
were brought TO q standstiIl and Ia,
guard WAS hnrrying toward me.
Jim" he said, take this package an,
lock it up securely In the safe until Gale,
for. Re very careful of it. for it Is some
thing valuable. will explain later
Then. without waiting for q reply. Il,
showed small, heavy parcel into N,
hands. blew his whistle and leaped ur,ol
the train. -
The next moment the long line of car
riages was swiftly flying southwark, ara
was once more alone.
By this time I felt 70 thoroughly *
hausted by the excitement and sir..il
Upon my nerves thas Ireeled into the sta
ton like q drunken man.
dropped into chair, completed he
wlidered. The parcel lay before me
but took no notice Of it, my Thoughts
being busy with the strange events o.
the evening.
There were NO signso the woman wht
had started me of to find the wrecked
train. In fact, I felt too tired to search
Tor her. She had sent me on wild gooss
chase and came near causing the deatl
ct many people. and to my mind sh'
seemed to deserve punishment little short
Of death.
The storm was still raging without
The thunder shook the station 10 il,
foundation. and the wind helped to r,ak,
1t seem like cradle rocked with invigi
BILE hands.
remained seated in my chair, staring
blankly at the wall for probably 10 min
utes. A thousand thoughts and con
lectures flashed through my brain dur
ing that time, and then, as involuntarily
turned my head, started back with q
nervous jump. In the doorway stood
the woman who had told me about the
accident.
GOOD heavens" cried, what is the
meaning Of thisS'
She smiled, displaying her white teeth.
THE meaning Of whatT she asked in
the quietest manner possible.
l jumped from my chair
'Of whatY' l shouted. "Of telling
me that the express had jumped the
track-that your husband and child
were dead. That's what, madam"
She laughed softly.
THAT was ruse to get you to leave
the station" she replied. You are such
a home body that couldn't get you to
go out in the storm unless resorted 10
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
irst place. didn't your
Yes, did,"
you she fiend!" cried as gazad on
her in utter adherence.
Don't call me bard names. It makes
me think that you don't appreciate lry
opl T,,,, ea,,es+;,,ars
DO you know what would have hap
|pened if 1 had not turned that switch
Into its proper position?
Another light laugh.
"Oh, yes, know" said she.
81 don't think you do
lyon want to draw me out, see.
Han, if you hadn't righted that switch
dozen or more mortals would have
been hurled into eternity, and you would
he tried for murder. had no grudge
against yor and should have preferred
10 have the train wrecked near the cross
ing. but as that couldn't be thought
I'd throw her off near the switch. But
Isou saved her and came near baking
my plans. That stupid guard. who i'm
Iagines himself so clever. arranged every
thing so nicely that he will be surprised
Tomorrow when you tell him the whole
ktory."
Are You crazy?" asked.
mo. my dear. / never was saner than
| am at this moment.''
pray what are you driving at then,
I'd like to know
81 will enlighten you. You see that
little parcel on the table, which your
friend the guard let yen keep for himF'
laid my hand on the parcel and gave
her a sinister look.
Well, what of it?' asked.
ut contains sum of money anywhere
between 5000 and ei0.000."
Indeed" L said contemptuously.
Eyes. It was to be sent to Edilbur.ssl
TODAY, and as two or three OF r5 Got
wind of tho affair we concluded TO stop
lit. By some strange mistake on our
lpart the guard heard of our little plan
lat the other end of the road, and SO to
Ihalk us he left it here with You. At the
Itame time l concluded to play double
lIane and get the whole treasure for
myself. For that purpose ! called you
Iout and turned the switch in order to
wreck the train and so get hold Of the
lmoney. You interfered and saved the
train. but not the parcel. 1t is now in
Isour hands. and will ask you to hand
lit over without demur."
She made one step toward the desk,
but / leaped toward it and grasped the
parcel in both hands.
"Never." shouted. "This goes into
the safe, and warn you to get out be-
fore pitch you out"
"Ha, ha, ha. hal" she laughed deri-
sively; what pluck! didn't think you
would make such q fight over mere
money. But this will bring you to your
senses"
4 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 q Jeweled
pistol glistened in the lamp light, and
the hand that held it was as cool and
steady as possible. I glanced into the
|small barrel of the pretty plaything and
] shuddere,l.
You needn't be frightened" continued
Inv strange visitor in the same easy
tones. Il don't care to commit murder
III can help it, but don't drive me te
desperation"
| At this recovered my self possession
and began to think of way to get neal
enough to grapple with this desperate
villain. In such an encounter l knew
could easily handle him. A sudden
heavy blast Of wind, followed by blind
ling flash of lightning. fairly stunned Ii