The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-09-30

other piece which he holds IN HIS hand
When this Ia secure he carries the other
end over his desk. and kneeling down,
spends some minutes In arranging Il
In some manner below; bringing two
free ends up through hole In the top
Of the table. This done. he takes from
a closet several round and greasy-loOk-
ing sticks about a foot long. and, de-
scendlng the stairs. places them AZ reg
ular intervals along the railroad track.
connecting them all together with
wires. which he afterward brings up
stairs and Joins TO the arrangement
underneath the table. Then he returns
10 his seat, and save for his trembling
hands and the peculiar glare OF his
eyes. performs his routine duties In the
usual manner.
Tick tick. tlckety tick. II Is the call
for Plnetree Siding. The operator opens
his key and answers promptly. II Is q
message from headquarters announcing
that the special following No. 6, and
carrying the division superintendent
and the new operator for Pinetree Sid
Ing Is due at $50. Just three minutes
after No. 6's schedule time. The oper-
ator's eyes fash: Il Is as he has anti.
clnated. lie wires the track clear ana
waits.
Promptly at 5.47 No. G. the vestlbuleu
limited express for the cast, dashes pas
tho siding with n rattle and crash thai
causes the operator. whose nerves are
tense 10 the breaking point, TO sprins
to his feet In alarm. fearing that the
destruction meant for the special has
oycriaken her predecessor But the
express whlrls safely by and the oper-
ator has the satisfaction Of seeing MS
innocent looking messengers OF death
| lying untouched but waiting his VIII 10
fulhll their devilish mission.
And now the operators breath comes
short and sharp and his eyes glisten
and glare as though the fires OF nell
we're lighted behind: his lips are drawn
back over his teeth and his long fingers
work neryously, as n longing TO execute
the finishing touch which shall culmin-
ate the awful catastrophe he has
planned. Gold help the poor men on
the train so swiftly rushing 10 their
doom. and God help their waiting fam
lilies. for the operator at Pinetree Sid
Ing who holds their lives IN his hands
Is no longer a man but demon.
Suddenly the whistle Of the approach
ing special ls heard and the operator
bounds from his chair and rushes TO the
window. eager 10 feast his eyes for a
moment on the sight Of his nearing vic
tins Everything l. complete. He has
but 10 press together those two tiny
bits Of wire and the entire telegraph
line will be transformed into Kissing,
blazing serpent. carrying death and de-
siruction TO the poor operators along
lis path and wrccking the instruments,
thus stopping telegraphic communloa-
tlon an over the line: while az Plnetree
Siding only scattered tangle OF wood
iron and human flesh would mark the
annihilation Of both the special with
her human freight and the operator as
we'll For he Is quite willing 10 sacri-
fee himself to achieve his end, and
counts the cost but little n with the
forfeit OF his life he may encompass
the revenge he has 50 cunningly plot
ted.
But there Ia no time. 10 lose: already
the special Is slowing up In front Of th'
station, and. lcaping 10 the table like 1
wolf upon his prey he presses the tive
wires together Hut no boom or roar O
the expected explosion follows. nothlnl
but the escape OF steam as the air
, brakes Of the special bring her 10 I
= stop. and the operator, realizing tina
his scheme has miscarrled. flngs him
self upon the wires. biting them togeth
. or with his teeth. cursing. praying
disappearing and shrleking aloud In hi
mad rage and disappointment But al
TO no purpose: and as tac division
superintendent and the new dispatche
enter the room they start back In hor
TOR At sight Of the body Of the operator
% with black and twisted features h
: lies across the table. stlll grasping Il
his hand the wires by which he hal
hoped 20 ayenge himself for lie o
scorn and enmity. A glance reveal
the whole plot. and with cheeks pale
than usual they cut the wires and re
store everything TO It's original stat,
As the new operator brings In the dy
Mantle which he has carefully remove
from the track. and looks over at hi
! predecessor lying Strengthened out o.
] the floor by the window. he shoulders 8
that the division superintendent jump
forward to catch the stun. thinking b
Is about to drop Il.
Next morning the nluehelds Expos
tor calls the attention Of the citizen
TO the wonderful mercy OF providence
which by permitting a fuse az the eleS
n trio light plant to blow out, so cnttin
Is OF the current just before the specll
u following No. was due at Plnetre
r siding. had saved the lives Of sewers
b prominent railway officials. besides
y large amount OF damage to railwa
e property. And when the coroner "a,
q to the public the verdict that the opol
" a,or at Pinetree siding had come /
ID his death from the effects OF the II
" tense heat OF the previous day no mel
ID ton was made OF the letter found !
r. the division superintendent on the u
e. BILE beside him.
An Ideal Antlseptic.
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