The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-10-30
HIS OR E R S.
"Gracious. Will! What is that light
ahead!"

~ Noii I ~ -NS
Tom took from his pocket in less time
than it takes you to read n grimy vel
low paper.
See. WILL" he said. Il have followed
out the directions exactly"
Will took the order and read. AS he
handed the paper back Tom lost his
grasp. and the paper few out of the
cab window.
Tom whistled frantically for brakes
and turned off the steam, but too late.
They jumped Just before the crash
came. There lay Il fearful wreck
iron, wood. freight. humanity.
Those who saw it will never forget.
Tom WIS terribly burned. He hunted
about looking for viii. but found him
dead. The other engineer, too, was IA
tally injured.
The matter was sifted. and Tom was
placed under arrest for ~manslaughter.
He was i young engineer, as brave
and popular rs any on the linz; a tall.
handsome fellow. a friend to all. a
noble fellow clear through.
His closest friend visited him the
night before his trial.
Tom" he said. '~everything is
against YOU"
Il followed out the directions explic-
lilly. Horace" he said. There must be
some explanation
There is some terrible mistake some
place. johnson says he CAV you the
exact orders. and Bates says he tele-
grapled them to Johnson. Could we
only find the paper
But il flew from the window, and
Will. the only one who saw it, is dead,
and | am doomed"
Cheer up. cd man" Horace said rs
he patt"l Tom on the back. Il have a
message from Bessie t0- YOU. Tell
him. ST. says. that whichever way it
goes l snail believe III Llm and wait
for him forever if needs be-"
Tom and Ecssie-a sweet, brown
eyed girl-werc TO be married in the
fall. Ii was all bitter Indeed. When
he thought Of Bessie The bitterness
deepened into despair. Sad and dis.
heartencd, Horace left his friend. The
trial came. Tom was convicted and
received a sentence of ten years.
| 1t was in Il farmhouse in, Illinois that
Bessie Keith was spending the autumn.
1t was on the 10th day of October, the
day set for her wedding. Her sweet
face had grown thin, and in the brown
eyes q wiStful look had crept. About
the mouth 4 pathetic curve was apt to
creep and linger. No n ever heard
an audible moan. Horace ran down for
q brief spell to see his only sister. AS
he took her in his arms she drew her
breath hard. That was all, but Horace
understood. She wandered that after
moor down to the woods. where the
railroad track was laid. A piece of
| coal INSTRUCTED her path. Impatiently
she kicked it from her. A. soiled piece
of paper caught her eye. Listlessly
STOPPING, she picked it up and read tho
blurred lines. There was a startled
exclamation. Then she turned and
fairly flew up the road to the farm
house.
Horace. Oh. Horace" she cried
frantically.
Horace turned to meet her. why,
Bess, what is the matter:'
"Read. Read she exclaimed. her
breath coming in gasps.
He took the paper and read. NO. 81
proceed to Galena. switch there and
ouroit No 1n' Tha 1n11icinr on1 itS
terrible results for which his friend
IA suffering happened twenty miles
this side of Galena. He held the proof
in his hand. Horace caught the mex
train to Chicago. 1t did not take Ions
to arrange the preliminaries and sci
to work to find the one who made the
fatal mistake. They gave Horace tho
release and sent him to Joliet to ge'
Tom. Weary and heartsore hat no
October day. Tom had leaned his heaG
for a moment against the machinery
The door opened. but he still ga
there.
So detected, so weary and heartsicl
did he look that Horace turned hi
head to hide the moisture that gath
cred in his eyes.
He put his hand on the bowed heat
and softly said. TOM
The first thing Tom saw was tile let
ter.
He sprang up.
Horace! A %release!" he cried.
Putting his arms about his friend
shoulders, he laid his head on the all
pie bosom. 1t seemed that all tn
pent up feelings Of those miser
freighted months burst forth in a pei
feet torrent of tears-tears such a
strong men seldom shed.
Free, free, free! And proved innt
cent. Great God, thank tlee.."
While Tom lay in prison a resolutio
had been formed. He said nothing {
it until he held the loved form OF Be:
sic in his arms and read approval an
pride in the sweet brown eyes.
Together BESSIE and Tom had el
tered the law school. Together the
:, practice, Bessie, with her gentle il