The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-04-03
ESTABLISHED 1879.

rnar he was an expert operator and
preferred telegraphing his messages to
writing them.
AS / watched him ] remembered
hearing the strange story of his rise;
how from an operator on distant road
he had suddenly become stakeholder,
director and finally the president Of
the road, and how his wealth and hold
ings were 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 bus
unusual 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 l often
took myself.
Scarcely realizing what was doing,
pulled my cap over my eyes and
started after him. What excuse l
would make If he turned and saw me
knew not. l only understood that some
force was pulling me onward and that
same force was taking me over the
same road and in the very footprints
of President Croydon of the Lakeville
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.
Noiselessly l followed him. Through
the narrow paths we went, he the sub
stance, l the shadow close after him.
But, horror Of horrors, he stopped
And, my God, he bent over Dick Ram
sey's grave! Lower and lower he sank
until he was upon his knees and his
hands were spread out upon the sod.
In the uncertain light of the rising
moon could see that he threw back
his head, that his face was drawn and
deadly white and that his lips were
moving.
I must have stepped upon twig, for
a sound betrayed me. Springing to his
feet, he turned and faced me, not ten
feet away.
With cry of rage he sprapg toward
me. $50 you followed mep he cried
fiercely between his teeth. "You dog
ged my stepsP
He was powerful man, but in the
struggle which followed l easily mas
tered him and had him pinioned, white
and painting. "Do not add another
murder" said fierceIy, ito that of
Dick Ramsey"
''How do you known he whispered.
81 recognized your hand upon the
wire. / was the agent at the next sta
ton when you-took Dicks place you
remember-fve years ago-today!"
"Oh, God, yesy' he cried. "Shal l
ever forget? When 1 had to come to
this cursed place to live, thought it
might disappear after awhile. But it
grows stronger every day. live with
it, see it, hear it--that poor fellow-an
the timel Yet 1 had to do it or be kill
ed. There was gang Of u.s. Oh, ohl'
he cried, and, breaking down utterly,
the proud president Of the road buried
his face in his hands.
1t was a strange scene, we two there
in the moonlight, accuser and accused,
he trembling, revengeful. :
81 tried to lead better life" he con-
tinued, land on my gains succeeded
well. But, oh, the misery of these
years! thought tonight If could see
his grave and pray upon it might be
forgiven and 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 up now, suppose"
said he. ''There is no other way"
The next day the whole country was
dnging with the strange confession of
President Croydon. He made clean
breast Of it and was so manly and sin
cere in his repentance that nobody was
sorry when his sentence was placed at
a term of imprisonment instead Of the
death penalty, which is so summarily
dealt out to criminals in the newest of
the western towns. = Columbus Dis
patch.