Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-11-23

only passenger that alighted. Awhis-
pered conference was held between
the two. and while talking Manning
caught enough of dispatch that was
going ever the wire to make him yell
with delight.
"Gronndwig," exultingly exclaimed
Manning, "God in Heaven approves OF
my acts. The next west bound train
has met with an accident and will be
at least four hours late That train is
the one Patterson must connect With
at Jamestown [ shall be married and
on the south-bound train, and fifty
miles away before he can reach this
station. Who says now that fortune
don't favor the brave, no matter what
they do, if their conscience approves
their acts?"
"Groundwig, have won on every
side. Mary Nordmun once my wife L
will be to her such a devoted loving
think she has been deceived. | will
be her slave. Yea, ] will die for her.
! If necessary. 1 will die to keep her
from marrying another. But enough
of this. Meet me here in an hour and
[ will have the money for you that [
promised
/ There comes the purchaser of my
farm for the deed: he brings the pur-
chase price with him. Go, now, and
come at the hour named"
/ The trade was completed, the money
| paid, and Manning, jumping into his
| buggy, drove to the Nordnum place,
where he met Mary who appeared
somewhat depressed, but in the excite
ment he paid little attention to it, and
| telling her the sale of his farm had
been consummated that all the prep
arations had been made for the bridal
! tour, that the south-bound train was
reported on time, he hurried back to
meet his engagement with GrOundWlg.
The new operator was now in charge
of the station. Grounding, disguised,
and hideOus, was there impatient and
nervous.
Manning came in hurried and ex
cited.
He handed his faithful accomplice
roll of banknoteS in full satisfaction OF
all services rendered, and as he
turned the operator remarked as
though telling an item of ordinary
news that the road was just ordered
| clear of all trains for a special.
Manning. excitedly and confessedly
asked:
''TO this station.''
ga freight or passenger"
"Neither, locomotive and tender"
"When does it start?'
This mOment-three thirty"
Not another word was said.
Grounding had been an attentive
| listener to every word. He understood
we'll what it all meant.
More villainy for him.
More labor of love to appease his
| own hate. Both men stepped out upon
the platform. Clear the track to
Sandy Lake., rung in Manning's ears
| like a funeral dirge at wedding. The
most onimous words of all that had
passed over the wires since this bold
conspiracy was set on foot.
| A special for Louis Patterson and at
that moment it must be whirling west
ward at it's greatest possible speed.
At this last hour should he, Charles
Manning, be foiled and cheated of the
hand of her he loved better than life?
Never.
There is still one more chance. Now
then for the most desperate means to
meet the most desperate case.
"Groundwig, for Gods sake get your
brains to working quick-quicker than
ever before. That is Louis Patterson's
special. Yes. [ know, and [ know you
know already what [ am going to pro-
pose.
That special will make mile
minute. In the store-room you will
| find an auger, saw and a Ratchet
Put them in one of those bags. | will
hand you a package of giant powder.
Number has orders to run to Had
| lev, twelve miles, and Side-track for
special that's her whistle, quick now,
not second to spare: go to Clarks
Mills, a mile this side of Hadley, you
know the bridge at the end of that
sharp curve, the freight will be slow
| ing up there, so you will have no
trouble in getting Oft. bore a hole
Jump aboard-blow the bridge to-"
and the train and Grounding were on
their way to Hadley.
Grounding was faithful to the last.
He did his work we'll. He had full
hour in which to do his job.
He first cut the wires in two differ
| ent places The bridge was on the
bottom, quite high elevation of land
on one side, and thick woods on the
other, SO there was no danger of being
discovered in his nefarious work.
He would not be interrupted by
trains, for none could move in either
direction until the special had passed.
When all was ready he set fire to the
| fuse, and almost before the smoke had
cleared away the locomotive rounded
the curve, slowed up, and stopped
| within few feet of the wrecked bridge.
The miscreant who had done the
deed was seen to plunge into the for
est and disappear.
| The engine was run back to the sta
ton, the alarm given. and, under the
lead of the superintendent, a posse we'll
armed. and several men mounted on
horseback, started in pursuit of the
would-be murderer.
The chase was a short one.
| The desperate was soon surrounded,
! and. as he drew revolver to intimi
date his pursuers and resist arrest,