Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-11-05
DUVAL'S ESCAPE.

| when / was first put in charge of
passenger - I'd worked my way up
| by successive stages from the post of
cleaner i'll the sheds, and, being always
a steady going young fellow, had reach
| ed the topmost rung of the ladder sooner
than most There was perhaps an extra
| incentive in my case, as was counting
little girl who was, she had told me,
only waiting till 1 earned enough to
| make me the happiest of men.
To be sure, had rival, Ernest Du-
| val by name, who was something in
the city" and possessed the snowy at
| tractiveness and the art of insidious
fattery which sometimes lure tickle
minded women to forsake the true metal
for the glittering dross. l must own he
occasioned me some slight cause for jeal-
ousy. Still, secure in the knowledge of
our mutual love and knowing Alice to
be sensible little girl, was, on the
whole, as happy as most chaps who see
their sweethearts but once or twice
week
She had told him on more than one
occasion tbat,she wanted nothing to do
with him, but in spite of her obvious
dislike ne persisted in prosecuting her
with his attentions, and only the day
before the incidents happened which |
! am about to relate l had found it neces-
, sary myself to display the finger Of
Alice TO him with my ring upon it, to
his i'll concealed chagrin and evident
modification.
On the next night was, as usual, or
dered to take out the sleeping saloon ex-
press to the north. My mate had secured
the couplings, the old engine was pant
ing and snorting like thing of life, as
if eager for the coming journey, and the
hustle on the platform had subsidized.
The signals were right and l had my
hand on the throttle, only waiting for
the Fright awayp' when, just as the
green light was displayed, a cab ratified
into the station, from which an excited
man hastily jumped. Flinging some
money TO tho driver, he rushed along
the platform and sprang into the first
compartment Of the train, the one next
to the engine, just as | pressed the lever
and my fireman had loosened the brake
We had hardly begun to move when
another man, who had been waiting on
the station, in the shadow Of u pillar,
and whom knew az Detective Jobson
Of Scotland Yard, sprang to the carriage,
and circulating, Thought should nab
you here, my beauty!' endeavored to
enter. was busy getting under way,
but my mate told me that the man in
tho carriage struck the detective in the
face and thrust him off the footboard.
His hat flew Off in the struggle and fell
between the platform and the moving
train, but the officer, determined not to
lose his quarry, was up again in an in
stant, and, though the carriages were
flying past him, he had sprung upon the
footboard Of the last coach, needing not
the cries Of the excited porters and ter
rife6 onlookers. and just as the train
cleared the platform we saw the guard
lean forward from tho open door. and,
grasping the man by the arms, assist
him into the van. Tho fugitive in the
first coach saw the detectives disap-
pearance also, and his bloodless face
blanched shade paler.
Great snakesp' exclaimed my fire
man, drawing in his breath with IA
sharp hiss ''That was narrow shave.
Jobson means to have that chap some
how, and have him he will. / wonder
what he's wanted for He'll never reach
the landing stage this journey, that's IA
dead certp'
mo" said l. "They'll have him ut
Crcwe right enough. Poor beggarl He
made Il desperate fight for it. anyhowp'
Tho sleeper" as we called it, was
timed straight through to tEewe with
out stop, doing tho 1853 miles in 3
hours and 8 minutes. There we left it
to anotIer engine which would be
waiting to take it on, but we should re-
turn with the CUP" express later in the
morning. 1 knew tn as soon AZ we
reached Crewe there would be q crowd
OF policemen waiting to search tho train
from end to end. Jobson was up to his
work, and tho telegraph would be click
Ing its warning message moment or
two after we had passed through tho
first station.
1t was not the only capture by any
means ] had witnessed this astutc officer
make, and the despairing faces Of the
men, robbed Of the last hope Of escape, |
the shadow Of the criminal esell already |
upon them. came into my mind as we |
rushed pat Willcsd.n, aud, looking |
backward for moment through the |
ftful light, | saw the futeful piece Of |
paper fiuttcr from the detectivo's hand. |
The officials would understand tho |
Significance Of that scribbled message, |
and unless Providence miraculously in- |
torposod the man was doomed. To leave |
the train ~ it flew through the night ut |
the rate Of 30 miles an hour was impos- |
rible. One man had done so once, but |
his body was found, mangled beyond |
recognition. lying on the track in the |
morning. There was no escape, and /,
with such passing thoughts | dismissed |
the matter and concentrated my alton
tiOn Oh the work in hand,
Suddenly | was startled by an ojacu-
lation Of horror from my mate.
Look, Ben" he shouted, his eyes
starting from his head as he gazcd into
the dim light whirh surrounded tho
/, like haze. Tho fool will kill f,
asn'""'