Crawford avalanche., 1900-04-12

home ana whose joys anu SOfrOWs nHo
been mine for SO long.
In Dicks place mt the instrument
there sat an honest little chap and as
sisting him was another lad, for the
station ut Lakeville now boasted hall
dozen employees.
| High above the station, on blum
that commanded the finest view of the
town, was the home of the president OF
| the company, a man who had fought
his way up and now boasted his mil.
lions.
The president was tall, dark man
with stern features. but kind heart.
and often l watched him with envy as
he alighted from his private car and
entered the handsome victoria which
carried him behind hs spanking black
team up to his home on Lakevilie
heights.
Often the president did not go up to
| the city. and on these occasions he
wired me on his private line, and l
wired to the city for him.
One day, chancng to sit at the instru-
dents wire and responding l received
this message: LET me know If the
road Is clear"
A minute later called up his private
wire and tapped: THE road Is clear"
''All right" came back the answer.
1t was simple enough message but
II set my pulses throbbing. Mechani-
cally l touched the button and repeated
the message, THE road is clear" and
Immediately came back the words, 'All
right
1 sat ut the instrument like 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 l watched him | remembered
hearing the strange story of his rise.
How from an operator on distant
road, he had suddenly become stock
holder, director and finally the presi-
dent of the road; and how his wealth
and holdings 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
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
churchyard, a journey which l often
took myself.
Scarcely knowing what l was doing,
| pulled my cap over my eyes and
started after him. What excuse
would make il he turned and saw me
| knew not. l 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 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
wended his way among the graves.
Through the narrow paths we went,
he the substance, | 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 were 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 were
moving
l must have stepped upon twig, for
n sound betrayed me. Springng to his
feet, he turned and faced me, not ten
feet away.
With cry of rage, he sprang toward
me. $50 you followed me-" he cried
fiercely between his teeth; "you dog
ged my steps"
He was powerful man, but in the
struggle which followed 1 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. ] was the agent at the next sta
tiOn when yOu--took Dicks place-you
remember-five years ago-to-dayY
"Oh, God, yesr' he cried. "Shall l
ever forget? When had to come to
this cursed place to live l thought it
might disappear after while. But II
grows stronger every day. live with
It, see 1t, hear 1t; that poor fellow-all
the time. Yet I had to do 1t or be
/ kilIad Thora xyoc a svonu 80 -. ~.