The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-05-18

papers by Fenthurst's legal ADVISERS for IN,
purpose OF discovering the individual In q s.es
tion, but as no answer has been fortheorzine h
is eenerally believed that the whole story Is a
MYTH AT any rate, there seems but small
enance OF the alibt being proved ut the las
Ionens Inc murder was committed Febru
sry o. since his condemnation the murdere,
mas been confined in Silkminster jail, where
his execution win take place.
Astonishment and dismay confronted
me as laid the paper down. I was the
missing witness they had so vainly
sought. distinctly remembered,
early in February, running up to town
rather late In the afternoon, spending
Just half an hour there, and returning
py the first train / could catch Nv
landlay didn't even know but that /
had been for rather longer walk
than usual. / had entered into CONVEX
sation on the return journey with the
only other occupant of my compart-
ment, a young man with small black
Dag. on which was printed the letters
Y. f. remembered all this distinct
iy. In order to make sure / snatched
up my dairy and quickly turned to the
GATE OF the murder, FEBRUARY 8. There
was the entry: Ran up to town in
afternoon. Inquired concerning ma
terial for chapter wi. Saw B for
half hour. Returned by 6:42 train"
The horror of the situation now
flashed upon me. A mans life-the life
OF my old friends son-depended upon
me. l looked at my watch; it was elev-
en- 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, l
remembered that it was shut for the
night after eight o'clock and that the
postmaster took the $40 train to the
large town of F., about Ave miles off.
where he lived, leaving the office for
the night in the charge of a caretalxer
and returning by an early train the
next morning.
1t was impossible to telegraph. Then
thought OF going to the police there
were just two constables and SER
geant in our little town., but what |
could they do more than 1? Country |
police are proverbial for the leisurely |
routine" manner in which they set |
about any inquiry and it would never |
do to trust them. / was in despair.
Madly l threw on my hat and rushed |
out. ran in mechanical way to /
the post Office. OF course, it was shut,
and If had aroused the caretaker he
couldn't have wired. Besides, all our
wires went first to r., and, as have
said, all communication was shut off
after eight o'clock. Then started for
the railway station. This was about
half mile from the post office and well
outside the town. AS I hurried along
thought, with fresh dismay, that this
would also prove fruitless errand, for
The last train to Silkmiuster was at $40
,. M, by which 1 have mentioned the
postmaster. always travelled. Silk
Minister, must mention, was nearly
me hundred and fifty miles down the
ine. tgs
Should | wait till the morning and
telegraph? remembered that the Of
Ice did not open till eight o'clock. III
lad by this time reached the station.
u course, it was all shut up and all
he lights were out, except those in
he signal lamps for the next expresses. ,
was now past 1880 Was there no ,
Ope? Yes! s
At this moment my eye caught a ,
ght in the signal box, about a
narter Of a mile up the line. I could !;
ee the signalman in his box, the out :
ne OF his figure standing out against :
ne light within. looked at nv
-atch; the down express from London
as almost due. I would make a :
ash for that signal box, and compel :
he occupant to put the signal against :,
and stop 1t. 1t was desperate r r
anne; but only get that train to stop !.
n an instant and all would be right. :
y getting into 1t / could reach Silk
mister in the early morning, and a
hat cared / for any action the COM y
my might take If saved my friends Y
N? 1.-THE signalman refused to put =
lex the lever. the strength born of n
separation would enable me to
aster him, and relax them myself. ~
II this flashed across me in an instant, p,
I'd l clambered over the ratings on },
e side OF the station, and found N.Y.
II on the line.
Even as reached the rails a y,
maphore signal that was near me let
IL its arm, and the red light changed
to brilliant green. The express
Is signaled! Would there be time? l
shed along over the rough ties to- n,
ard the signal box. 1t was very cc
rk, and stumbled over and over
ain. l had cleared about half the IL
,aGAafHIHNkIf1fHMAlh :"