The herald., 1893-09-21

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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 patrolmen were out along the route,
| while to prevent the risk Of accident all
less important trains were shunted to
one side The contents Of 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 it's passage),
and that left only Is 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 a
bloodcurdling chuckle remarks:
eve 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 x" / started and
dropped my rail in my excitement. "My
boys MASTER" / gasped, land he never
travels without him."
$50 much the worse for your boy,
them" said the heartless brute as he pro-
ceeded with his work.
In an instant my horrible position
flashed upon me. Here was 1 calmly
preparing to slaughter the heads Of
England Ito whom before had never
given thought), and with them my
own flesh and blood. nearly swooned
as the awful revelation burst upon me,
but in moment / 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
my bolt, to Scraggs to drop his rail and
fly. He, however, had no such scruples
and had too great regard for his own
skin and the promised reward. When
he saw / was determined to spoil his
plans, he dropped his rail and made for
me with knife, the glitter of which as
he closed with me / saw just in time
through the darkness.
AS we struggled the roar of the ap
preaching train was heard in the dis
tance. Making frantic effort, as the
train was close upon lus, managed to.
throw Scraggs off. He fell across the
off rail. With rush and roar the royal
train swept safely over the bridge, while
stifed shrek from Scraggs prepared
me for his fate rs fell in a faint against
the stonework of the bridge.
revived in what must have been a
few minutes after the passage of the
train. The headless trunk of my late
companion was the first object that met
my eye. / shuddered to think how near
ly the occupants of the train had escaped
an equally certain death.
The train had not pulled up, the driver
evidently not having felt the obstruction.
I hastily replaced the bolts on the other
rail, threw the tools into the stream, and
with last glance at the remains of
Scraggs fled from the spot. Unsuspect-
ed, made my way to London, but only
to live in deadly fear of the swift and
sure vengeance of the secret society.
The failure of the enterprise must be
already known to them, and hide as /
might l knew their hand would ulti-
mately reach me. My money exhaust
ed, conceived the desperate idea of the
daring burglary Of which was convict
ed. If failed to enrich myself. my life
would at least be safe in Jail. failed
miserably enough, got caughtred handed
and received my sentence.
Before threw away my liberty saw
from the papers that at the inquest Oh
Scragg's remains verdict of accidental
death" was returned. The dastardly at
tempt therefore remained unsuspected
by the general public, and since l came
here | have heard that the secret society
has been broken up and its members
scattered. Ifeel now that shall escape |
them after all, but shall die happy,
knowing that my boys future is as
sured, and that he will never know q
was convicted under false name) how
near to annihilation his own father had
brought him and his country's queen
London Tit-Bits.
Two Once Happy Men.