The morning call., 1894-07-01

only other exit Il don't know about
that. Now. if you should happen to be
stricken down by heart disease, or sud-
denly fall and hurt the back of your head
severely, you wouldn't feel that YOU were
morally responsible. would you"
Bennie made no reDlv.
''Of course you wouldn't, of course you
wouldn't; and in case you don't sit right
down in that chair and keep perfectly still
something very much resem bling in gen.
eral effect what Eve just limited at will
happen to you"
Bennie sank back aghast. The whole
scheme flashed through his mind in a
moment These men had contem ulated
wrecklng the express fer plunder, but if
the holding order was not carried out the
same effect would be secured and he would
be responsible. No. 60 and No. 13 would
probably meet just beyond the curve. and
the thought of the terri BILE collision which
must ensue made him sick with horror.
What could he do to save the train ? In
voluntarily his hand stole toward the
telegraph key upon the table.
Il would much prefer hat you refrain
from manipulating the instruments" re-
marked the man in the doorway in his ex-
tremely polite but meaning way.
Elise he may get an atack of that 'ere
heart disease you sp0ke about-eb, pard ?''
added the man in the bagga ge-room door.
Poor Ben was almost wild, but the men
in the doorways sat smoking calmly.
Pm sorry for you, young man." said
the walting-room man, with trace of gen.
uine pity in his voice; honestly am: but
don't you see it isn't your fault You
won't De blamed at all Wen take all Of
the blame-won't we, James?"
well, rather guess so, and consider
able of something else, too, f that express
car mas got the stuff we're lookin' for in
her,"
"Well, said, James, we'll said. But, upon
my soul. young man. Pm sorry for YOU"
You'd heter be sorry for yourselves.
and what you've got to answer for" cried
Ben, frantic with the horror of the mo-
ment, "and while you're about it you
might be sorry for the husbands and wives
and children and mothers you're going to
murder for little money-but may be you
don't call it murder"
why. no. we don't. that's So" said the
lmperturbable man in the doorway.
BLESS me, if you didn't look and talk then
just about as my wife used to when she
was trying TO explain to me how bad
was. 1t won't be murder, my boy; it
won't be murder. Let me see. 1t will be
an accident caused by the unavoidable
negligen ce Of telegraph operator, who
was prevented from performing his duty
by an unforeseen engagement which 1t
was impossible for him to break not
strong enough: Don't that draw it milder
tUi fUu, lily SUI
To this heartIessness Ben could not
reply. He heard No. 60 reported as leav-
ing the next station below, and No. Is had
left Milport some minutes before.
In ten minutes they must certainly come
together. He must make one more appeal.
Think of how tough it'll be for me. he
said with pathetic eagerness. They'll
say that | was asleep, and that it's all you
could expect from a son of Dick Grant.
It'll just break my mothers heart, that's
what it will"
Bennie buried his head in his arms and
fairly writhed in agony. otherwise he
might have seen the sudden start which
the robber In the doorway gave.
II guess, jim, you'd better be getting up
toward the curve. I'll take care of this
boy and be with you when it's time" was
what he man in be doorway said. The
other man hurried away without word.
Hardly had he disappeared IN the dark
ness when Bennie beheId a strange change
in the man who rem aimed.
He leaned edly forward and gaZed
long and iutently iuto the lads face. Then
suddenly he rlasped him close in his arms
for single moment. and putting his lips
close down to Bennie's ear he said buskily:
There won't be any murder done to-
night, boy. You tell your mother that
Dick Grant has been bad. pretty bad. but
he's never been quite so tough as that yet
and he never will be. And you tell her
that some time when he's made right as
much of the wrong he's done as he can
he'll come back and help her 10 be proud
of their boy. Now, yru get out and tag
that tram. You've got just time enough.
In another moment he, too. had dlsap-
peared in the darkness. I ork World.