The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-10-21

with fresh dismay, that this would also
prove a 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 100 miles
down the line
Should wait till the morning and |.
telegraph I remembered that the Office |
did not open TIL O'Clock. l 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. 1t
was now past half past Il. Was there
no hope?
AT this moment my eye caught a
light in the signal box, about quarter
of a mile up the line. l could see the
signalman in his box, the outline of his
figure standing out against the light
within. | looked at my watch. The
down express from London was almost
due l would make a rush for that sig
nal box and compel the occupant to put
the signal against it and stop it 1t was
a desperate game, but only get that train
to stop for an instant and all would be
right BY getting into it l could reach
Silkminster in the early morning, and
what cared for any action the COM
pany might take if l 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 an instant, and
/ clambered over the ratings on the side
of the station and found myself on the
line.
Even as l reached the rails sema-
phore signal that was near me let fall
its arm, and the red light was changed
into brilliant green. The express was
signaled! Would there be time! dashed
along over the rough sleepers toward the
signal box. 1t was very dark, and
stumbled over and over again. 1 had
cleared half the distance when 1 heard
the ominous roar ahead, and in few
seconds could distinguish the distant
glitter of the engines head lamp bear
ing toward me- The train was just over
mile from me, rushing on at express
speed With a groan calculated, TOO
latep'
AT that instant my eye fell upon
CHASTITY looking structure by the side of
the track, looming grimly through the
darkness. 1t resembled a one armed
gallows with man hanging from it!
For a moment 1 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 a
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 1 saw suspended before me.
A mad and desperate idea took pos
! session of me. Fortunately 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 a hook, and
/ drew my legs up SO as to present as
small compass as possible Then
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 whir and
a rush, and all was dark.
When l came to my senses 1 was ~
ing ON the floor of the postal van. Two
men in their shirt sleeves were busily
engaged in sorting letters at a rack.
felt bruised and stiff all over, and
found that my left arm was bound in a
sling made out of handkerchief.
"Where are WEI" l 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 a 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 a
bit"
prompted me to take the desperate step
I had DONE They piled quantity Of
empty mailbags on the floor and made
me rough shakedown.
A little after we drew up at Silk
minister station. There was a 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 tC
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 q
reprieve was received from him.
well, said the governor, 81 don't
know which ought to congratulate
most, Mr.. Fenthurst or yourself, for you
have both had most narrow escape.
Little remains to be told. / soor
| identified the condemned man as the