The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1894-03-07
THE MISSING PAPER.
"My God. Wiul What is that light

''My God WiIll What is that light
ahead:'
1t cant be No. 10?"
Tom took from his pocket, in less time
than il takes you to read, a grimy yellow
paper.
"See, VIII, he said, II have followed
out the directions exactly"
Will took the order and read. AS he
handed the paper back Tom lost his grasp,
and the paper flew out of the cab window.
Tom whistled franticalIy for brakes and
turned off the steam, but too late. They
jumped just before the crash came. There
lay fearful wreCk-iron, wood, freight,
humanity.
Those who saw it will never forget.
Tom was terribly burned. He hunted
about, looking for Will-but found h&D
dead. The other engineer, too, was fatal
ly injured.
The matter was sifted, and Tom was
placed under arrest for manslaughter.
He was a young engineer, as brave and
popular as any on the line. a tall, hand
some fellow, friend to all, Il noble fellow
clear through.
His closest friend visited him the night
before his trial.
''Tom, . he said, everything is against
you"
~ followed out the directions explicit
| ~, Horace" he said. "There must be
some explanation!"
'There is some terrible mistake some
! place Johnson says he gave you the ex-
act orders, and Bates says he telegraphed
them to Johnson. Could we only find the
paper"
| ''But it few from the window, and VIII,
the only one who saw it, is dead, and
/ am doomed"
"Checr up, old man." Horace said as
lie patted Tom on the back. II have a
message from Bessie for you. Tell him.
she says, that whichever way it goes
shall believe in him and wait for him for
ever if needs be- "
Tom and Bessie-a sweet, brown eyed
| girl-were to be married in the fall. 1t
was all bitter indeed. When be thought
of Bessie the bitterness deepened into de-
spair Sad and disheartened Horace left
! his friend. The trial came. Tom was CON
victed and received q sentence OF 10 years.
! 1t was in farmhouse in Illinois that
/ Bessie Keith was spending the autumn.
! 1t was the 10th day of October, the day
! set for her wedding. Her sweet face had
/ grown thin, and in the brown eyes visit
! ful look had Crept. About the mouth a
| pathetic curve was apt to creep and lin
! ger. No one ever heard an audible moan.
! Horace ran down for brief spell to see
| his only sister. AS he took her in his arms
! she drew her breath hard. That was all,
! but Horace understood. She wandered
/ that afternoon down to the woods, where
! the railroad track was laid. piece Of
/ coal ObStructed her path. lmpatiently
/ she kicked it from her. A sOiled piece Of
! paper caught her eye. Listlessly STOPPING,
| she picked it up and read the blurred lines.
/ There was a startled exclamation. Then
she turned and fairly flew up the road to
/ the farmhouse.
| 'IIorace Oh, Horace she cried fran
| ticalIy
Horace turned to meet her. "Why, Bcss.
what IS the natter:"
"Read, readn' she gasped, her breath
/ coming in gasps.
/ He took the paper and read, NO. 81
I proceed to Gaiena. switch there and await
/ No. 10" The collision and its terrible re
! suits for which his friend was suffering
/ happened 20 miles this side Of Galena.
T He held the proof in his hand. Horace
7 caught the next train to Chicago. II did
not take long TO arrange the preliminaries
and set to work to find the one who made
the fatal mistake. They gave Horace the
release and sent him to Joliet to get Tom
/ Weary and heartsorc, that hot October
/ day, Tom had leaned his head for mo-
ment against the machinery. The door
T opened. but he still sat there.
50 detected. 50 weary and EeCrtSiCk did
he look that Horace turned his head 10
hide the moisture that gathered il his
/ eyes
I He put his hand on the bowed head and
softly said. "Tom!'
The first thing Tom saw was the letter
He sprang up.
"Horace' \ relcase.' he cried.
Putting his arms about his friend :
/ shoulders he laid his head on the ample
/ bosom Ii seemed that all the peut Up
/ feelings Of those misery freigLted months
/ burst forth in perfect torrent Of tears
tears such q strong men seldom shed.
Free. free. free, and proved innocent!
/ Great God, thank thee"
While Tom lay in prison a resolution
had been formed He said nothing Of II
until he helG the loved form Of Bessie in
his arms and read approval and pride IN
the sweet brown eyes
Together Bessie and Tom had entered
T the law school. Together they practice.
Bessie. with her gentle intuition. often
helping Tom n bout the sharp corners of
reason. Among the first law firms - Our
state stands the name Of Courtney = Court
nev, TO whom the worthy never appeal n
vain. 10 whom all are innocent Until! prov
ed gu.lty.-CL!CaGo News
The cheapest knives for the money you
ever saw in your life are now shown in
po.tlav'z ~Y;r3,us Tuerfv--va 1prf :