Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-11-11

The wheels of the engine of the COM
ne train would take those short rails
ike points, and as the ends curved OH
toward the parapet of the bridge the
whole train would leave the rails and be
precipitated from the frightful height
into the stream beneath. There would
be no escape for single soul In that
train. And so, calmly and in cold blood,
we arranged the wholesale destruction
of the south bound train which would
contain the head and many important
members of the royal family.
We knew that every precautlon was
taken by the railway company and their
servants to observe a 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
sipnalmen 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 tempered 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
net, 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 anc
, mighty than we first expected. Tht
, Duke of K and his suit are, I under
stand, on board the train"
"The Duke of K-?" started ant
dropped my rail in my excitement. I'M!
o boys MASTER" I gasped, "and he neve
9 travels without him."
r $50 much the worse for your boy
G then" said the heartless brute as he pro
f ceeded with his work.
d In an instant my horrible positio
a flashed upon me. Here was l calml
n preparing to slaughter the heads
a England Ito whom before had neve
q given a thought), and with them m
"a own flesh and blood. NEARLY swoone
n. az the awful revelation burst upon M
"a but in moment I recovered, and the
NJ nv decision was prompt. True, tt
failure of the scheme meant certal
q death to my companion and myself, b'
an what of that? There was still time
m save ourselves from becoming wholesa
n murderers. I shouted, while l replace
he nv bolt, to Scraggs to drop his rail al
4. fly. He, however, had no such scrupl
IT. and had too great regard for his ov
at skin and the promised reward. VIII
,lo he saw was determined to spoil |
,er plans, he dropped his rail and made
a me with a knife, the glitter OF which
he he closed with me I saw just in til
mt through the darkness.
,al As.we struggled the roar OF the
" proaching train was heard in the d
lance. Making a frantic effort, as
-ha train was close upon us, l managed
AL throw Scraggs off. He fell across
nd off rail. With rush and roar the 70.
The train swept safely over the bridge, VIII
stifed shrek from Scraggs prepal
AL me for his fate as fell in faint agai
,is- the stonework Of the bridge.
hat Ireyiyed in what must have beer
few minutes after the passage OF
On train. The headless trunk OF my
,all companion was the first object that
,itv NV eve. I shuddered to think how ne
vas " the occupants of the train had escal
an equally certain death.
r. The train had not pulled up, the dri
in evidently not having felt the obstructl
md hastily replaced the bolts on the OF
rail. threw the tools into the stream,
ard with last glance at the remains
we Scraggs fled from the spot. Unsusp
md. ed, 1 made my way to London, but
the to live in deadly fear of the swift
no sure vengeance Of the secret society.
md. The failure of the enterprise mus
, Of already known to them, and hide
wen might I knew their hand would
and mately reach me. My money exha
ans ed. I conceived the desperate idea Of
an. daring burglary Of which I was COM
"a in ed. If I failed to enrich myself, my
we would at least be safe in Jail. ia
ould miserably enough, got caughtred hal
turn and received my sentence. :
Before threw away my liberty l
ARE. from the papers that at the inques
! de-. scragg's remains verdict of "accide
stem DEATH was returned. The dastardl
rail. tempt therefore remained unsuspe
wells. by the general pubic anu SHE -
TALLY here have hearo tha1 tile s ~ ~
of 80 has been broken up anu i.s ino =.
just scattered. reel now tna' Slcll :, =
, the them after all, OUT ! SILL u.o n "a
itself knowing that my poy iu1u.o :,
as to sured, and tnaC no wilA 1esoA An,
rail was convicted unoe. a ialse nanel
other near to annlhliatlon ms own ,a.l.e.
The brought him and his country's que
creed London Tit-Blts'
used
y the Two once HAPPY men. ,-
then, w. h. Vanderbilt some ..lne "
a tho his death. smoke of himself as q