Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-14

you saw the detective on my track-he's
in the train now-Ive been betting-and
you knew-the books at the ofice-found
out this morning-Iv'e fed for my life
but you'll hep me to give them the slip.
Ben?" and the shiverlng wretch fell down
helpless and clasped my knees.
Don't talk nonsense. man. I answer
ed. roughly; what you ask is an impos-
sibility My duty as a servant Of the
company is to hand you over 10 the au-
thorities who will be waiting for you at
Crewe: beside, your own sense should tell
YOU there is no place 10 hide a child here"
"Oh. yes" added my mate, grimly;
you're every bit as bad off as if you were
sitting on them comfortable cushions in
the carriage there. ] wouldn't give much
for your chance"
But you can help me if you like he
screamed. his eager face upturned and
The hunted expression Of a wild animal
AT bay in his eyes. SLOW up the train
urtIe-vou can do it. I've money! Will
give you O-el00-anythins you like
and he pulled out handful Of glittering
gold.
III can't be done, I tell YOU replied.
shaking myself free from his grasp. Get
M and be a man. You've made your bed
and YOU will have to lie in it. No man
on this earth could get out OF this scrape,.
so make the best OF It.
Seeing that I was immovable he turn
ed his attention TO Bill. and l saw him
proffer a handful Of gold. Ny fireman
turned his back and busted himself with
his duties. IT'S no use, matey, I heard
him say, If Ben says it can't be done II
can't and that's the end Of il. I'm sorry
for yer. for you're a rafting good-plucked
'un."
The despairing creature detected the tone
NJ cormjseration In Bilrs voice. and re-
doubled his entreatles.
III it could be done I'd do it." Bill MUIR
nSred. i've got a wife and six kids TO
look after at home and that brass would
come in useful" and he cast his eyes
around the tender. Suddenly they III up
with a peculiar light and, turning 10 me-
he said apologeucally: Ben 1 don't ask
YOU to have any hand in this at all. You
knows nothing about it.. If the worst
comes 10 the worst. we forced yer to ST.
lence. and all l says is this: VIII you
give me a chance 20 get the begsar on
l think can do it without danger TO you
or me. All 1 ask yer TO do is TO know
nothing about it. What say now?'
well Bill" l remarked, Il bear the
fellow no love, as you can see, but If by
keeping silent 1 can do you good turn
to the tune of ESQ you can depend on me-
though I must say l don't see how you
can possibly do the trick
turned smilingly, as he gripped my hand,
and retired to the end Of the tender with
Deval.
We had left Stafford behind some time
since. and L nothing happened should run
into Crewe in another twenty-five minutes
or so. Having to do Bits work as well
as control the engine, ! had my hands
pretty full and during the next ten mln-
utes / was fully occupied. At the end Of
that time Bill rejoned me, and threw open
the furnace doors once more. looked
around the engine. Deval had disappear
ed, Not a vistage or sign Of his visit re-
NAMED. but Bits pocket bulsed consid-
erably. and his grimy face was expanded
in a broad grin.
\ few minutes later we slowed up az
our destination for the night. There they
were. Just as / had expected. one police
man at the station gates and five or six
stationed along the platform.
Before we had quite stopped out jumps
Jobson and rushes up the train. As the
sergeant threw open the door of the com
partment Deval had occupied we saw an
expression Of CONSERVATION cross the face
of the bewildered detective. but, quickly
Is rrI
ed the examination with a practiced eye.
NV mate had unfastened the couplings
and we were just of to the sheds when
Jobson approached the engine
Ben" he queried anxiously. did you
SEQ anything extraordinary on the way
down? I've been sold nicely and no mis-
take
Il don't have any time to see anything
except signals ahead when I'm in charge
of an EXPRESS. " returned. unceremonious-
". Did you see anything, Bn?'
Cant say as / did" Bill answered.
artlcssly. Have you lost your man, Mr.
Jobson?'
Il have so" replied the officer. Il ex-
pect he dropped of somewhere
If he did he's "a goner for certain" said
Bill. I'VE were never under fifty since We
left Willesden."
III look along the track for him going
back" l remarked. Are YOU going on
or back with the morning mail?'
II hardly know" he returned, disap-
pointedly. well. thank you, anyhow.
Good night. or rather, good morning" and
he made his way to the telegraph office.
We returned his salutation and steamed
of 10 the sheds.
What cid I tell you?" said Bill, joy
ously I'VE drop him outside and let him
take his chance"
Then he is on the engine?" ] asked. as
We pulled up.
For answer Bill got Off and went TO see
if the coast was clear. Returning in five
minutes. he proceeded TO the rear Of the
! tender and carefully lifted up a large piece
of coal Underneath was the head Of De-
val! Bill had artfully walled him i'm
against the side, and in such manner rs
TO defy suspicion. little bits being scat
tered about in the most natural way pos
sible Quickly he was rescued from his
uncomfortable position, and stood up as
black as a sweep. Bill gave him a drink
from his pannikin. and then conducted
him off the engine and round the back OF
the sheds.
Did ever hear from him again? oh.
yes About TWO years afterward a letter
reached me one morning from Columbia,
| inclosing a Bank Of England note FOR el0o.
! 1t was from Deval and in # he told how
he had succeeded in doubling on his tracks
| 10 Birmingham. and thence had worked
down TO Southampton. in DISCUSSES, and
| got clear away. He expressed the hope