Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-04-17

wired me on his private line, and
wired to the city for him.
One day, chancng to sit at the instru-
meat, there came a call on the presi
dents wire and responding / received
this message: let me know if the
road is clear"
A minute later l called up his private
wire and tapped: THE road is clear
"All right. came back the answer.
1t was a simple enough message, but
1t set my pulses throbbing. Mechani-
cally touched the button arr repeated
the message, ssThe road is scar and
Immediately came back the words, "All
right
sat at the instrument like a man in
a dream and my thoughts were with
Dick, who had sat at the same spot
five years before and had touched that
same instrument. What was there in
that reply that so fascinated me? Or
was it the anniversary Of poor Dicks
death that made me SO fanciful?
That afternoon the president came
down to the station on business. He
must have seen me watching him. for
he shifted his position uneasily and
nervOusly handled the instrument. /
may say that he was an expert opera
tor and preferred telegraphing his mes
sages to writing them.
AS | watched him | remembered
hearing the strange story of his rise
How from an operator on a distant
road he had suddenly become a stock
holder, a director, and finally the presi-
dent of the road; and how his wealth
and holdings We're known far and wide
He, seemed i'll at ease that day, and !
withdrew my eyes and busted myself
elsewhere; but more than once he
caught me looking at him.
Twice that day the president drove
down to the station and slowly he
drove home again as though he were
disturbed about something. The third
time he came it was almost dark, and
heard him send his coachman home.
telling him that he would follow soon
on foot
For half an hour the president busted
himself around the station, most un-
usual thing for him, and when he
finally took leave it was to walk hur-
riedly away in the direction of the
churchyard, a journey which | often
took myself.
Scarcely knowing what | was doing,
pulled my cap over my eyes and
started after him. What excuse
would make if he turned and saw me
knew not. | only understood that
some force was pulling me onward and
that some force was taking me over the
same road and in the very footprints of
President Croydon of the LakeviIle and
Laska Railway.
To my surprise he turned the corner
as he reached the church, and, plodding
his way past it, opened the gate which
led into the churchyard and slowly
wendell his way among the graves.
Through the narrow paths we went,
he the substance, l the shadow close
after him.
When, horror of horrors, he stopped,
And, my God, he bent over Dick. Ram
sey's grave. Lower and lower he sunk
until he was upon his knees and his
hands We're spread out upon the sod
In the uncertain light of the rising
moon, l could see that he threw back
his head and his face was drawn and
deadly white, and that his lips We're
moving.
| must have stepped upon twig, for
a sound betrayed me. Springing to his
feet, he turned and faced nee, not ten
feet away.
With cry of rage, he sprang toward
me. 80 you followed me" he cried
tiercely between his teeth; you dog
ged my steps
He was a powerful man, but in the
struggle which followed / easily mas
tered him and had him pinioned, white
and painting. DO not add another
murder" | said, fiercely, Ito that of
Dick Ramsey"
How did you know" he whispered.
Il recognized your hand upon the
wire, l was the agent at the next sta
ton when you-took Dicks place you
remember-five years ago-tc day."
"Oh, God, yesw he cried "ShaI 1
ever forget? When l had to come to
this cursed place TO live l thought it
p,iybf d;Sonoaoy a fto. =, x1-bilo p,,4 Il
grows stronger every day. / live with
it, see it, hear it; that poor fellow-all
the time. Yet 1 had 10 do it or be
killed. There was gang of US Oh,
OH" he cried, and, breaking down ut
terly, the proud president Of the road
buried his face in his hands.
1t was a strange scene, we two there
in the moonlight, the accuser and ac-
cused, he trembling. / revengeful.
Il tried TO lead better life, he con-
tinued, land, on my gains, 1 succeeded
well. But oh. the misery of these
years. | thought tonight If l could
see his grave aud pray upon it l might
be forgiven ana have rest" His eyes
sought the spot where poor Dick lay
with crushed skull.
What are You going to do?" asked
after we had stood there in silence.
Give myself mp, now. l suppose. "
said he; there is no other way"
The next day the whole country was
ringing with the strange confession OF
President Croydon. He made clean
breast of II and was so manly and sin
cere in his repentance that nobody was
sorry when his sentence was placed al
a term of Imprisonment instead of the
death penalty which is summarily
dealt out TO criminals in the newest OF
the Western towns, -Columbus Dis
patch.
An author Ia "a Unexpected Place.
OF Miss Gordon Cumming. the trav
eller and author. story comes from
London illustrating how closely the
world is bound together nowadays
/ While visiting the Fusan temple. 4 IA