Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1896-02-01

had been scowlino hlachlv over Mr..
Iorke'a Intervention, looked greatly
relieved upon hearing that gentle
mans profession, and readily con-
senfet to give his version of the mat
ter Tor publication. Bat first Of all
he desired that note should be taken,
before the gnard went on with the
train, that that official admitted the
accident was due to the negligence Of
the railway engineer.
That's right, Mr.. Gresswell," said
the guard with bloodless lips.
Well, just tell this gentleman:
about it, responded the passenger
sharply, and in tone Of annoyance
"A few moments before the-the
fatality, happened to look along the
train, and ] noticed that the handle
Of this gentleman compartment was
not fastened.
How dld You know 1t was this
gentleman s compartment from that
distance" interiectcd Mr.. Yorkc.
"Of course, he didn't know till he
got there, put in Mr. Gresswell,
hastily
"No, OF course | didn't know till /
got there, repeated the guard. Il
suppose. looking back now it's all
over, it would have been wiser TO have
! stopped the train, but we we're slack
ing down our speed passing Evesham
Woods, as we always do, and the car
rage was not far from my van, SO |
started out to turn the handle. IDe
lady fell ont Just as | was about to
reach the door. With another step
! conld have prevented the accident :
| 'Did she fall out back wards or face
/ foremost, asked the Journalist.
"Oh! backwards, sir. was the an
swer.
''\o, | think YOU re wrong, guard.
again intelposed Mr. Grcsswell with
q snap.
LET me think moment, said the
guard, placing shaking hand to
! his clammv brow, ."Yes, she fell face
| foremost, Of course. | can see hci
now.
| In the meantime the tall passenger
or, as the guard called him, Mr..
/ ell-told the journalist the
story he desired to have published.
| His wife. he SAID, had suffered from a
! painful illness, which be specified,
| and had been under the care Of DIR.
/ Stelnwav, Of Victoria street. He was
/ taking her uown to the seaside at hel
! had been forming IN Mr.. Yorke' s
mind took definite shape from the
moment Of this lame explanation, II
he now became an apparently more
sympathetic listener, it was bv dint
OF the stimulation which discretion
suggested as a cloak to the hostility
| which began TO take possession o
| him.
''Nlv wife rose TO see If 1t was rain
ING, proceeded Mr.. Gresswcll, an,
:, looked out of the window.
An obvious lie. reflected Mr.. Yorke
for the person who was lifted into the
carriage IN the helpless condition O.
this invalid could not rise and 60 I,
the window unassisted But he sale
nothing.
As ! looked around, continue,
the bereaved husba Il saw hel
falling forward ] clutched at her
lust caught the edge Of her dress, ant
II came away IN my. grasp as she dis
appeared through the door which ha'
been SO nesllsently left unfastencd
Here is the piece of material which
was left IN my grasp. and here is tn
Now Mr.. Iorke saw the reason 10
that contradiction Of the guard bv Mr.
Gres,vcll. aud the necessity for til
story that the lady fell face foremost
The rent was exactly III the center 0
the back, IN the edGlnc.
Before he had finished h.s ln,ervle,
with Mr.. Gresswell the Journalist va
confident that he was treadlng upu
the heels OF murder. He was no
surprised that there had been d
feminine crv Of terror He felt cor
tident that the Lady had not met he
death on the line ~ all, but that sd
had been murdered aud then throw
IL front OF the express train. IN orde
that lie. body might not remain avai
able Tor me proof OF the guilty neac