Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-05-10

The murder was committed on Febru-
ary 6. Since his condemnation the
murderer has been confined inSilkmin-
ster Jail, where his execution will take
place.
Astonishmnt and dismay confronted
me as | laid down the paper. l was
the missing witness they had 50 vainly
sought
l had entered into conversation on
the return journey with the only other
OCCUPANT of my compartment, young
man with a small black bag on which
were painted the letters &C. F. re-
membered an this distinctly. In order
TO make sure l snatched up my diary
and quickly turned to the date of the
murder February 6. There was the en-
try.
The horror of the situatiOlnOwflash-
er upon me. A mans life the life Of
my friends son depended upon me.
looked AT my watch. 1t was just
IL o'clock. Hurriedly ! dragged on my
boots thinking the while what should
do.
My first impulse was to rush to the
telegraph Office Then. with dismay, 1
remembered that il was shut for the
night after o'clock. and that the
postmaster took the $50 train for
q large town about five miles Off
leaving the Office for the night in the
charge Of q caretGker. and returning By
an early train the next morning.
Then I thought of going TO the police
(there We're just TWO constables and a
sergeant In our little town. but what
could they do more than T.?
Nadly I threw on my hat and rushed
out. l ran in mechanical way to the
post0fice
Then / started for the railway sta
ton. This was about half mile from
the postofice. and well outside the
town. As [ hurried along, l thought,
with fresh dismay. that this would
also prove a fruitless Grand, for the last
train to Silkminster was at $50 p. m.
Should 1 wait iii the morning and
telegraph9I remembered that the office
did not open till o'clock.
had. by this time. reached the sta
ton. OF course it was all locked up
and ali the lights were out except those
I'm the signal lamps for the night eX-
press. IL is now 1850. Was there no
hopeo Yes,
Al this moment my eye caught a
light I'm the signal box, about a quarter
of q mile up the line. l could see the
signalmau i'm his box. the outline OF his
figure standing aut against the hShe
within.
L looked at my watch; the down eX-
press from London was almost due. l
would make rush for that signal box,
and compel the OCCUPANT 20 put the sig
nal against it.
Even as I reached the rails sema-
phore signal that was near me let taIl
fts arm. and the red light changed into
brilliant green. Would there he
time?
Ii was very dark, and ! stuholeG
over and over again. had cleared
about half the distance when l hearu
the ominous roar ahead, and In rev
seconds could distinguish the distant
glitter of the engines head-lamp pear
ing towards me.
Ar that instant my eye fell upon
ebastly looking structure by the side
MP the track looming grimly through
the darkness. 1t resCmbled one
armed gallows with man hanging
from it.
This strange looking apparlton was
was none other than mail bag sus-
pended from q post-in fact. part Oh
,he apparatus by which a train gong
ut full speed picks Up the mails.
mad and desperate idea took pos
session OF mo. The train that was
hearing down and which would reach
me i'm one minute. should pick me up
with the mails IL 1 could hang on 10
fher bag so that it came between me
and the net IL would break the force OF
the shock. and the net would receive
me as we'll as the bag.
The bag hung just over my head.
summed at it. seized il. drew myself up
naraueu with it, held il firmly at the
top. where it hung by HOOK ana drew
my LEGS mp so as 20 present as sinai d
compass as possible.
Then 1 waited. IL was out leW sec
onds. but it seemed hours. l heard the
roar of the approaching Ualh. Iueu
the engine dashed past me-
I shall never forget the row or Iight-
cd carriages passing about q loot away
from ne-cIoser than that, l suppose
a.d 1 hanging and waiting Tor the
crash 10 come.
And il came. There was a dull
thud. a roar and rush, and all was
dark.
When I came to my senses ] was "
ing on the floor of the postal van. Two