The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1894-01-26


handy pieces of rail, faced at one end
like points and the other end curving
gradually outward.
The thin ends of the rails would be
pierced for bolts of the same size as
those used to fasten the ordinary rails
together. We should then on the
night preceding the passage of the
train loosen the bolts of the particular
rails we pitched upon, trusting they
would be overlooked by the patrolllng
surfaceman.
On the following night we should
conceal ourselves in the recess of the
bridge and as soon as the pilot engine,
which always precedes the royal train
by fifteen minutes, had passed we
should take out the bolts, release the
fish plates on the outer side of one
rail and on the inner side of the other,
replacing them by our specially pre-
pared rails.
There would be no escape for a
single soul on that train.
The night arrived. The previous
evening we had managed, unobserved,
to loosen the bolts necessary Tor our
purpose near the middle of the bridge
and we could only trust they would
not be tampercd with before our arri-
val next evening.
Ensconsed within the shadow of a
parapet we waited for the pilot engine
to come along. AT last her lights ap-
peared in the distance and she thun-
dered safely over the bridge.
Hastily securing our respective rails
we made for the selected spot and
commenced to draw the bolts. While
thus engaged my companion, with a
blood-curdling chuckle, remarked:
"We shall bag more of the high and
mighty than We first expected. The
duke of X and his suits are, l un-
derstand, on board the train"
"Thc duke of K-?" l started and
dropped my rail in my excitement.
"My boys MASTER" ! gaspcd, "and he
never travels without him"
$50 much the worse for your boy,
then" SAID the heartless brute, as he
proceeded with his work.
In an Instant my horrible position
flashed upon me. Here was calmly
preparing to slaughter the heads Of
England Ito whom before had never
given a thought) and with them my
own flesh aud blood.
l nearly swooned as the awful reve-
lation burst upon me; but in a mo-
ment l recovered and then my decision
was prompt.
There was still time to save our
selves from becoming wholesale mur-
dercrs. shouted, while l replaced
my bolt, to Scraggs to drop his rail
and fly.
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, l 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 me, managed
to throw scraggs off.
He fell across the off rail. With a
rush and roar the royal train swept
safely over the bridge, while stifled
shrek from Scraggs.prepared me for
his fate, as fell in a faint against
the stone work of the bridge.
l revived in what must have been Il
few minutes after the passage OF the
train. The headlcss trunk of my late
companion was the first object that
met my eye.
The train had not pulled up, the
driver evidently not having felt the
obstruction. hastily replaced the bolt
in the other rail, threw the tools into
the stream, and with a last glance at
the remains of Scraggs fled from the
spot.
Unsuspectcd ! 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 tStlem, and hide
as might I knew that their hand
would ultimately reach nh.
My money exhausted, conceived
the desperate idea Of the daring bur
glary of which was convicted. If l
failed to enrich myself my life would
at least be safe in Jail.
Before ! threw away my liberty l
saw from the papers that at the in
quest on Scragg's remains a verdict of
accidental death" was returned. The
dastardly attempt, therefore, re-
mained unsupported by the general
public, and since came here l have
heard that the secret society has been
broken up and its members scattered.
feel now that shall escape them
after all, but shall die happy know
| ing that my boys future is assured,
and that he will never know Il was
convicted under a false name) how
near to annihilation his own father
had brought him and his country's
queen.
A woman may be no more vain than
man is, but she will do more for
| ,,o :, a s,,u rakn thnn n m n will