The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-01-01
mo" said 1. What about it,"

morni4g. for it was three lock as
+ No. l. stopped at the tam someone
quietly cut loose the engine. He was
evidently waiting at the tank CT haj
been riding between the tender and
the express car. which was next TO
the engine. After getting water the
engineer states that he had cone at
least five miles before he discovered
that he had lost his train. You see,
going west, it is all doWL-grade for
eight miles to this station, which ac-
counts for II. OF course he stopped
Immediately and backed up, slowly
and carefully. not knowing where the
train was, with his fireman going
ahead with a lantern. In the mean
time. the highWaymen. for il seems
there were two, ordered the messen-
ger to open the door. Hardly had the
words been spoken when Johnson. the
messenger. and a game one, threw
open the door and opened up at once
with his "A. As he leaned out of the
door he says he saw one man running
towards the rear of the train and an
other towards the front, their courage
having evidently failed them. He fir
I ed four times at the man going to-
wards the rear, and is confident he hit
him. but both left the track, and took
to the mountain. Tom Jackson now
has a posse and is in hot pursuit"
II was then nine O'Clock. and [ felt
certain that our good sheriff. Jackson.
would capture the men. as I knew him
to be a regular sleuth to follow a trail.
and | said as much to Jack as he went
out
About four miles from the town, in
an almost inaccessible gorge in the
mountain lived a man l had never
! seen. He had lived there nearly a
year. AID willie reputed to be from the
east, and wealthy. had the reputation
of being a nermit-never mixing with
the citizens, and only coming into
town when compelled to purchase
supplies. However. all who had seen
him. agreed that he was a gentleman
of culture. refinement, and wealth.
His name was Green, and now, as
Jack left my office, a man entered, and
in a hurried manner asked if | were
Doctor Goodwin. Upon my assuring
l,;~, +bor I NOS no said.
You are wanted at once, Doctor,
by Mr.. GrUy4. and | have brought an
extra horse for you. 1t is a most ur-
! gent matter. and you must come at
once"
, Hastily closing my desk and lock
, ing away Kitty's unanswered letter.
/ seized my case of medicines and in
r struments and announced my readi,
: ness to accompany him.
/ We mounted at once, and as my
: guide did not spare his horse. and
= kept pace with him, We were soon at
our journeys end. the little house in
[ the gorge, the home of the eccentric
Mr.. Green, who greeted me in a digni
p fed and solemn manner as | entered
5 the door. But before l could express
! nv establishment in finding him in
= apparent health. he dismissed the
2 guide. closed the door and showed me
] a most commOdiOus and comfortable
= cushioned chair. The room was large
I and furnished with the utmost taste
: The floor was covered with a velvet
1 carpet. whose thickness completely
2 deadened every sound. Around the
l walls on two sides OF the room were
r arranged handsome oaken bool
shelves, lined with books, whose ele
CANT bindings bespoke editions d.
d luxe, and above them, as well as from
e the other two walls, hung beautiful
pictures, which even my inexperienced
t eyes recognized at once as works o
r art In fact the whole room showed
/ that its owner was a man of tast,
n and refinement. Seating himself op
/ posite. he said:
A OF course you are surprised, Doc
d tor, after receiving my urgent mes
> sage, TO find me in no need of a ply
II sician'S services. However. l have
s patient for you. but before take yOr
n 20 him l owe it both TO myself and yOl
4 10 give you some explanation.
It ITO begin with, must tell you tina
s l am a man of means: in fact. | ma
n say that [ am wealthy. so you ma.
n rest assured that your fee is secure.
It | FASTENED 10 interrupt him with tn
e assurance that | had no doubt of that
y but with a wave Of his hand he re
+ Quested me to Lex him finish. and cor
J. tinUed:
p Just twenty-five years ago. o.
J. Christmas day. my life was crowne
'T with its sweetest iOv. for on thai da