Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1902-12-26
A TRAGEDY IN A TUNNEL

speed, and we ran out of the tunnel.
The reflected scene of course disap-
peared at once as completely as though
wiped off slate.
There was trouble next door, of what
nature it was impossible to guess. but
felt that it must be ascertained forth
with. II 1t was case of serious ILL
ness then the one hale man would
surely ring the alarm bell and seek
assistance for the other; If it was foul
play he would make no sign, and it
then became my ;,ounden duty to in
terpose without delay.
These thoughts flashed quickly
through my mind. and it seemed an
age while waited to resolve my
doubts. Probably no more than few
seconds elapsed before put my hand
to the signal and stopped the train.
was first to get out, and hardly wait
ing the stoppage I clanbered along the
footboard and stood upon it, looking
into the carriage
No one was to be seen within.
Quick, quick!' cried to the guard
when he came up. "In here. Some
thing has happened. There is a man
sick; l fear he has tainted. He wasn't
alone. but cannot see the other man."
Now the carriage door was opened
and disclosed a body lying recumbent,
inert, in strangely stiff, haphazard
fashion on the floor. The guard
stopped down, waving his lantern over
The white, drawn face and moving the
body gently on one side.
"All up with him, / expect Run,
somebody. along the train and see il
there's doctor aboard. And you, sir,
what do you know of this?''
described what I had heard OF
though had heard and seen, including
the glimpse reflected in the tunnel.
sYou must have been dreaming or
you're inventing." was tie guards
rather abrupt comment Couldn't
have seen anything like that faint
possible. And how comes itiyou know
such a lot about it: You tell us, too,
there was another man in the carriage
what's become of him: A fine
story
l was Implicated in any way?" I an
swered hotly. Don't be fool,
guard
The gunrd would have answered me
rudely. no doubt, but at that moment
doctor appeared upon the scene.
The man is dead-beyond all Ques-
ton dead he said at The very first
giance
And the cause of deHtli:" | asked
eagerly. while the guard frowned at
me as though l were making myself
too busy. Are there any marks of
foul play?"
None visible. replied the doctor
after brief examination. II should
say it was heart, but I cannot be
certain till have looked further"
(which you can do somewhere else
and better than here" interposed the
guard. We've lost too much time
already. I must push on to York and
report there. This is TOO big job for
me-"
you had better go back to Grant
ham," I protested. Its quite close
not half dozen miles,
Il don't want you TO teach ME my
duty, and I'm not going. I've got first
of all to keep time. Why should 1 go
back s
"Td'identify the dead man--he got
in at Granthdln TO give informa.
ton as to the man who got out"
"Oh. boshr cried the guard. There
was no man-no one but yourself, and
you've got to come along with me. and
-that'-he pointed to the corpse-'.on
to York
Il certainly shall MOI go on with the
train. shall go back 10 Grantham
alone. There is no time to be lost
The other man.
I thought the guard would have
struck me, He was obviously ready
to lay violent hands on me, and he re-
peated that he meant to take me on
tn York. if necessary by force.
you've no authority. You're NOT n
police officer. and am, or as good. for
am a government official. Here is
my card. Let there bean end of this.
think you are wrong in: going on. but
at any rate shall walk back to Grant
ham by the, line. Re so gocl as to
lock after my things in the next com.
pactment," and with that allghted