The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-02-07
Selett Stntp.
A TRAGEDY IN A TUNNEL


The night express was making it, Gus
tomary pause at Grantham station while
the engines were changed for the next long
run. 100 miles To York.
1t was not a crowded train, as easily
perceived when | alIghted with the rest to
stretch my legs. Most Of the passengers
had turned out. too, and We lounged about,
staring at each other without keen interest
until time was up aud the sharp crles Of
Take your seats, - Now for the North.
sen, Us back to cur carriages.
had compartment to myself, and |
regained it without paying particular a.,
teutiou to those nearest me, save in the
vague. unconscious fashion that would
hardly serve for later recognition one
mau noticed in the next carnage be
aud alone were travelling first, at any
rate. in that part Of the ,rain--bu; DO rst
think | should have known him again bat
for hi strAvelin. cap wiih the laPPets tied
under his chin and his losse ulster with a
cape-dlstinct facts in his appearance al
though they made little impression On me
al the ;ime
Then auo,hey matter claimed ny notice
There werc sudden rTies. Now, s,r. noe +.
lf YOU r. soluE on. book sharp, s'r. please.
| saw han, lagsAri, harrying down
the platform. putting breashlessly IA svi-
dent distress, as though the pacc Sas too
great fer him.
He made straight f,T vherc sat bu,
stopped one compartment short % msnc
and as the train vas already moving they
hu,slei him 10 neck aud crop the ,isual
vas given, Right. ,hs whistle sounded,
the engine driver blew = response and NC
steamed ahead full ,Pe,-i.
I fslt rather concerned ab-oat this neigh
tor aud late arrival HIS white face, hi,
staring eyeballs and hanging tonEae told
of grca. physical eKhaasstou, aud ianesei
tha; heard groan a. he sumblei into
his carnage EVidenily be had run It very
clo.s,-hai come upon the platform a. the
very last moment, aud had all bot MISSED hls
train He had only Jus, lolned it, q that
fclt sure. Ter had not observed him on
our departure fron King CfOs- oor here
=, Granthan Why bad be been - aux
ious 20 save BIS passage and such peril 10
hiu.-~lfa For he "a. i'll u,ade sure be
va, II - sure ths, ,hrev down "a,
windov aud. leaning out shouted to the
next compartment asking II anything Eas
wrong
Ne answer came. OF i vas lo,i 10 the
rat,le aud turmoil Of the express Once
again called. having no certainty that |
could be heard, bat yvrtAin At la, | heard
no rcrly. Why should | WorTy further
The next eompartmea, was no, emPty. that
knew Ii the neaeomer Was really III
and wanted help be could ge, it from his
travelling cumpanion, the man IN the loose
ulster and cap tied under his chin whom I
believed TO be in the carriage with him.
50 dismissed the matter from my mind
and sank back among the cushions Of my
seat 10 rest and BE- satisfied
must have doEed of. but only for a
minute oy two as | thought, and seemed
to be still asleep aud dreaming when again
| heard a groan in the next carriage 1t
was a perfectly vivid aud distinct impres,
sion, as half waking dreams ~ often are
| could not at the moment say whether
what followed was reality or a fgmeut also
Of my drowsy brain What | heard |
have said WAS groan fraught with keen
anguish what | saw was quite as clear,
but still more extraordinary and unaeeount
able.
The train had slowed down and was
almost at a staudstill We were in tun,
mel the lamps in the carriages threw a
strong light upon the brick walls and re
hected all that was going on in the com.
partment next mine (none of the other
near had any occupant
But in this the adjoining compartmea
two figures stood out plainly--men ig
ures, and one held the other closely in hi
arms More than this | could not max,
out. | saw it clearly, although but brie
space only, few seconds Of time, for nov
the train moved on rapidly with increasing
speed, and we ran out Of the tunnel. Tht
reflected scene of course disappeared a
once as completely as though wiped off
slate
There was trouble next door, of wha
nature it was impossible to guess, but
felt that it must be aseertained forthwith
If it was a case of serious illness then tn,
one hale man would surely ring the alarm
bell and seek assistance for the other; if i
was foul play he would make no sign, an,
it then became my bounden duty to inter
pose without delay.
These thoughts flashed quickly through
my mind, and it seemed an age while
| waited to resolve my doubts. Probably NJ