Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-10-13

with fresh dis1nay, that this would also
prove fruitless errand, for the last
train to Silkminster was the 80 p. M,
By which, have mentioned, the post
master always travelled Silkminster,
must mention, was nearly 150 miles
down the line.
Should / wait till the morning and
telegraph? remembered that the Office
did not open till s o'clock I had by
this time reached the station. OF
course it was all shut up, and all the
lights were out except those in the sig
nal lamps for the night expresses. It
was now past half past IL. Was there
no hope?
At this moment my eye caught
light in the signal box. about a quarter
Of mile up the line. 1 could see the
signalman in his box, the outline of his
figure standing out against the light
within. 1 looked at my watch. The
down express from London was almost
due. would make rush for that sig
nal box and compel the occupant to put
the signal against it and stop it It was
a desperate game, bat only get that train
to stop for an instant and all would be
right. By getting into it could reach
Silkminster in the early morning, and
what cared I for any action the conf
pany might take if 1 saved my friends
son? If the signalman refused TO put
back the levers the strength born of
desperation would enable me to master
him and then relax them myself. All
this flashed across me in al instant, and
clambered over the ratings ON the side
of the station aud found myself ON the
line.
Even as reached the rails q sema-
phore signal that was near me let fall
its arm, and the red light was changed
into u brilliant green. The express was
signaled! Would there be timei dashed
along over the rough sleepers toward the
signal box. 1t was very dark, and 1
stumbled over and over again. ] had
cleared half the distance when heard
the ominous roar ahead, and in n few
seconds could distinguish the distant
glitter of the engines head lamp bear
ing toward me. The train WAS just over
q mile from me, rushing ON at express
speed. With q groan calculated, ''Too
later
At that instant my eye fell upon a
CHASTITY looking structure by the side of
the track, looming grimly through the
udI hl4Csb IL IGSSAIOlttt OllG
gallows with q man hanging from It'll
For moment thought it must have
been fearful fancy conjured up by the
thought of Fenthurst's dreadful fate,
but Immediately remembered that this
strange looking apparition was none
other than mailbag suspended from
post-in fact, part Of the apparatus by
which train going at full speed picks
up the mails. The express train that
was coming had postal car attached to
it. From the side of the car strong
rope net would be laid out, catching the
bag saw suspended before me.
a mad and desperate idea took pos
session OF me. Fortunately 1 am a small
man. The bag hung just over my head-
jumped at it, seized it, drew myself
up parallel with it, held it firmly at the
top. where it swung by q hook, and
drew my legs mp so as to present as
small compass as possible. Then 1
waited. 1t was but few seconds, but
it seemed hours. heard the roar of the
approaching train. Then the engine
dashed past me. There was a whir and
rush, and all was dark.
When I came to my senses was ly-
ing on the floor of the postal van. Two
men III their shirt sleeves were busily
engaged in sorting letters at rack.
felt bruised and stiff all over, and l
found that my left arm was bound in q
sling made out of handkerchief.
"Where are yye?'' asked.
They turned around.
'Oh, you've come to, have your 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 if you had been n taller man
we should only have got part of you in
the net. AS it is. you've got your col
lar bone broken. We've tied it up q
bit.
1 told them the motive that had
prompted me to take the desperate step
had done. They piled a quantity Of
empty mailbags on the floor and made
me rough shakedown.
A little after We drew up at Silk
minister station. There was policeman
ON the platform, and at once told my
story to him, the result being that we
drove round to the Jail and insisted
upon seeing the governor. OF course he
was deeply interested in what had TO
tell them and at once made arrange
ments to stop the execution. The home
secretary was communicated with by
means of special wire. Fortunately he
happened to be in town, and after q
couple of hours of anxious suspense a
reprieve was received from him.
Well said the governor, 81 don't
know which 1 ought to congratulate
most, Mr.. Fenthurst or yourself, for you
have both had a most narrow escape.
Little remains to be told. 1 soon
identified the condemned man az the
person whom 1 had met in the train.
lie also turned ont to be the son of my
old friend, as / had fully expected.
After the due formalities ne was dis
charged. Suspicion having strongly at
tached itself 10 his name, however, he
was very miserable, until about fort
night afterward the real murderer was
discovered and captured. Charles Fent-
hurst and myself became firm friends,
and although 1 was fearfully shaken
and upset for some weeks after this ad-
venture l never regretted the night on
which 1 was picked up with the mails
Strand Magazine.