The Yale expositor., 1895-08-16

telegraphE i remembered that the or
flee did not open till o'clock.
1 had, by this time, reached the
station. OF course Il was all shut up
and all the lights were out except those
in the signal lamps for the night ex-
press. 1t is now 11:30. Was there no
hope? Yes!
AT this moment my eye caught
light In the signal box about a quarter
OF mile UP the line. could see the
signalman in his box, the outline or
his figure standing out against the light
within.
1 looked at my watch: the down ex-
press from London was almost due. I
would make rush for that signal box.
and compel the occupant to put the
signal against II and stop IT,
Even as / reached the rails, soma
phore signal that was near me let fall
its arm. and the red lieht changed into
brilliant green. Would there be
time?
1t was very dark, and I stumbled
over and over again. I had cleared
about half the distance, when l heard
the ominous roar ahead, and In few
seconds could distinguish the distant
glitter of the engines lamp-head bear
ing towards me.
AT that instant my eye fell upon n
ghastly-loolIing structure by the side
or the track, looming grimly through
the darkness. II resembled one-arn
gallows with man dangling from II!
This strange looking apparition was
none other than a mail bag suspended
from post-in fact. part OF the APP
paratus by which a train going at ful
speed picks up the mails.
A mad and desperate idea took pos
session of me. The train that was
bearing down, and that would reach me
In one minute. should pick me up with
the mails. If could hang on to that
bag so that IL came between me and
the net, It would break the force OF
the shock. and the net would receive
me as well as the bag.
The bag hung just over my head. 1
jumped at 1t, seized 1t. drew myself
up parallel with 1t, held 1t firmly at
the top, where IT swung by hook, and
drew my legs up SO as to present as
small compass as possible.
Then 1 waited. II was but few
seconds. but 1t seemed hours. 1 heard
the roar of the approaching train. Then
the engine dashed past me.
/ shall never forget the row or
| lighted carriages passing about foot
away from me-closer even than that.
1 suppose-and / hanging ard waiting
for the crash to come.
And IL came. There was a dull thud
"a whirr and a rush, and all was dark.
When 1 came to my senses I was
lying on the floor of the postal van.
Two men In their shirt sleeves were
busily engaged in sorting letters at
rack. i felt bruised and stiff all over.
and I found that my left arm was
bound In sling, made out of hand
| kerchief.
Where are we?" asked.
"Oh, you've come &c, have you?" said
one of them. Now. perhaps you'll
give an account OF yourself. It's
precious lucky you're here at all, let me
tell you, for II you had been a taller
man we should only have got a part
| of you in the net. AS IL Is, you've got
your collar bone broken. Now, per-
haps, you'll speak out; and look here,
| IL we find you've been lodging the po-
lice, don't you go thinking you'll give
'em the slip any further The mail van
isn't refuge of that sort"
They would not believe me at first.
Luckily, though, had put the evening
paper and my dairy in my pocket, so
1 showed them the paragraph and the
entry. They were civil enough then.
"Well, sir, we shall be in Silkmin-
ster about 8. or a little later. l hope
you'll be able to save the poor beggar.
You must excuse our turning to work
again, and the best thing for you will
be to rest yourself"
Before he went to work again the
other one said:
What a pity you never thought Of
| a better way out of the difficulty than
coming in here so sudden like"
what was that?"
why, you should have got the sig
mailman to telegraph &c Silkminster; he
could have done 1t all right"
What an idiot had been after all!
| However, I should be in time to stop
the execution.
A little after . we drew up at Silk
minister station. There was n police
man on the platform. and at once told
my story to him, the result being that
we drove around to the jail and insist
ed upon seeing the governor.
OF course, he was deeply interested IN
what 1 had to tell him. and at once
made arrangements to stop the execu-
ton. The home secretary was COM
municated with by means of special
wire. Fortunately he happened to be
in town, and after couple of hours
anxious suspense, a reprieve was re-
| ceived from him.
| Little remains to be told. I soon
identified the condemn ed man as the
person whom 1 had metein the train.
He also turned out to be the son OF my
old friend, as / had fully expected.
| After the due formalities he was dis
charged, and about fortnight after
ward the real murderer was discovered
and captured.