The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-09-09

Win nlm as far aS = and enterec
into conversation with him. Adver
tisements have been inserted in al
the papers by Fenthurst's legal advis
ers, for the purpose of discovering
the individual in question, but as nC
answer has been forthcoming, it il
generally believed that the whole story
is myth. At any rate, there seems
but small chance of on alibi being
proved at the last moment. The muir
der was committed on February 6.
Since his condemnation the murderer
has been confined III Silkminster jail,
where his execution will take place"
Astonishment and dismay confront
ed me as l laid the paper down. ]
was the missing witness they had SC
vainly sought. l distinctly remem
bered, early in February, running ur
to town rather late in the afternoon,
spending just half an hour there, and
returning by the first train l could
catch. My laudlady didn't even know
but that l had been for rather longer
walk than usual. had entered into
conversation on the return journey
with the only other occupant of my
compartment a young man with 0
small black bag, on which we're paint
ed the letters 30. F." remembered
all this distinctly. In order to make
sure l snatohed up my diary, and
quickly turned to the date of the muir
der, February 6. There was the en-
try: "Ran up to town in afternoon
Inquired concerning material fol
Chap. vii. Saw B for half an hour,
Returned by ga train"
The horror of the situation nov
flashed upon me. A mans life -the
life of my old friends son-depended
upon me. / looked at my watch. II
was just eleven o'clock. Hurriedly
dragged on my boots, thinking the
while what 1 should do. My first inn
pulse was to rush to the telegraph
Office. Then, with dismay, l remem.
bered that it was shut for the nighi
after s o'clock, aud that the postmas,
ter took the $50 train to the large
town of F., about five miles off,
where he lived, leaving the Office fol
the night in charge of a caretaker,
and returning by an early train the
next morning.
Itwas 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 l? Country
police are proverbial for the leisurely
routine" manner in which they sci
about an inquiry, and it would not
do to trust them. was in despair.
Madly l threw on my hat and rushed
out. ran in a mechanical way to the
postoflice. OF fcourse, it was shut
and if had aroused the caretaker he
couldn't have wired; besides, all oul
wires went first to F., and, as
have said, all communication was shut
off after 8 o'clock. Then 1 started
for the railway station. This wal
about half a mile from the postoffice
and we'll outside the town. AS l hur.
ried along, thought, with fresh dis
may, that this would also prove G
fruitless errand, for the last train t.
Silkminster was the $40 p. M, by
which have mentioned the postmas
ter always Travelled. Silkminster,
must mention, was nearly $50 miles
down the line.
Should l wait till the morning anf
telegraph 1 remembered that the
Office did not open till eight o'clock
had, by this time, reached the sta
tion. OF course, it was all shut up 0nC
oil the lights were out, except those in
the signal lamps for the night express
1t was now half past eleven. Wa:
there no hope? Yes.
At this moment my eye caught {
light in the signal box, about a quar-
ter of mile up the line. 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 wa
almost due. l would make a rush fol
that signal box, and compel the occu
pant to put the signal against it anC
stop ii. 1t was a desperate game, bu
only get that tram to stop for an in
stant, aud all would be right By get
ting into 1t could reach Silkminste,
in the early morning, and what careJ
for any action the company mig {
take if 1 saved my friends son? !
the signalman refused to put back tn
levers, the strength born of desper
tion would enable me to master him
and relax them myself. All thi
flashed across me in an instant, and
clambered over the ratings on tn
side of the station, and found mysel
on the line.
Even as 1 reached the rails sema
phore signal that was near me let fal
its arm, and the red light changed in
to brilliant green. The express wa
signaled Would there be time?
dashed along over the rough sleeper
toward the signal box. 1t was yer,
dark and l stumbled over and owe
again. / had cleared about half tn
distance when l heard the ominou
roar ahead, and in few seconds coult
distinguish the distant glitter of th,
engines head lamp bearing towar,
me. The train was Just over a mil
from me, rushing on at express speed
With groan l calculated, $50
late !"
At that instant my eye fell upon
CHASTITY looking structure by the sid
of the track, looking grimly througl
the darkness. 1t resembled on
armed gallows with a man hangin.
from it For a moment thought j
must have been fearful fancy con
iured up by the thought of Fen
thurst's dreadful fate, but immediate