The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-09-28
A Pull at
the Switch
(Copyrieht. by Daily Story Pub. COP
BY ELLIOTT WALKER

tCopyright. by Daily Story Pub. COP
"Let 60 my arm, Annie Tuckett.
/ don't want to hurt you, but tell
you once for all to let gor The
discharged switchman glared fiercely
down ct the clisging girls appealing
face, struggling meanwhile to shake
off her clutch.
"Abner Bills, you're insane.
Come with me, Alb. Oh! Alb, dear
Alb, do listen" The frightened
whisper sibilated tearfully in the
shadow behind the unused tool
house.
A ray of faint moonlight stole
around the crumbling roof of the
little shed. 1t fingered upon the
woman's pale features, disclosing
the agony of her eyes, the strained,
parted lips, the colorless cheeks.
The man hesitated. His jaw
worked, uglily.
'I've come to do this thing" he
muttered. "I'll fix 'em. Suspect
me, will they? Fire me on a lying
hint. I'll make someone pay. Go
home! Tell on mel Then let them
find my tracks. It'll be a dusty
hunt"
cit isn't you talking, Alb, dear.
You're not in your mind. Think
| of me, Of your mother. Hark
Some one whistled, up the track.
Get out of sight, quick" She pulled
at him with nervous violence.
Yes, that soft whistle was no be-
lated bird. Neither did it seem a
signal. Yet the sound startled the
man to a sudden apprehension Of
danger, cooled him to wariness
Gently, he laid down the crowber IL
his hand. A moment more and The
thick bushes screened them, hi
kneeling, the girl bending close, hel
arm about his corded neck.
"I'll take you home, child" h
murmured, huskily. 'SThis job car
wait. 1 won't promise anything
You'll ask nothing"
She was too wise to reply, bu
pressed him closer, knowing will
feminine tact that a wrong wore
might fan the smothering flame t.
renewed fury.
Before them glimmered tn
switch; that suspected switch, o
late twice tempered with. Forum
ately, the mischief had been discov
cred by the track walker before dis
sister ensued. Now, the track walk
er had tested it and passed. Abne
Bills watched him go. 1t was
grim watching. The fast mail woul
rip into the ditch very nicely
The company should have tanglt
all right Not bad accident, pei
!. haps, but, of course, people too
chances. Trains slowed on thi
curve because of the trestle beyond
Once, however, nasty smash ha
occurred at the spot. Long ago, ths
was, and a careless ice man, rur
|, ming to set the switch had bee
killed. The short spur track to tn
ice house by Laurel Pond was use
a good deal. 1t was unfortunate fe
Abner Bills that his homeward wal
took him by the ice house, wors
that he had been seen frequently
examine the switch.
,, Two men possessed no love fl
t Abner. They entertained more fl
his bright-faced girl. A fight ha
taken place at the yards where NJ
|. Bills worked. Abner BACKED fol-
eyes in good shape and went abo'
] his business, unscathed. Possibl
+ this had to do with rumors reachir
|. the management and the disposal I
!. Abner's services. Anyway, he g
J. paid off, with warning, a shal
y one, to make himself scarce.
When he understood the meanin
the man was well-nigh crazed wit
! wrath. Bills had worked ten yea
for the road. There was a way
e get even. Savage resolutions fc
l. lowed bitter thought. And Ann
! followed him.
h Even now, the girl, terrified
/ his intention, shrank from urgil