Middletown transcript., 1910-04-30

corner, where he caught a cross
town car. At the ferry house he
boughta ticket for Buffalo. He
was fortunate enough to get
berth, as the train was al
ready made up. It was unbear-
ably hot in the close, glass-cover-
ed station, and the inclosure of
the stuffy Pullman made it doub-
ly so. Leaving his bat, he walked
on back through the next car, an
observation buffet. He found a
chair, helped himself to an even.
ing paper, aud fumbled in his
pocket for a cigarette. Present
| " the train drew out. And after
the station was cleared he turned
and gazed dumbly out upon the
great, glittering sea lights across
| the wide river. He was leaving
it behind ! It was slipping softly
away from him. Somewhere
among that cluster of crowding
| lights was his Office; and some
where, beyond that, on the Drive,
was the little fat-and Molly.
The train swayed into a cut,
blotting out the view. He sank
bank into the chair. The steady
click of the wheels became con-
stant roar and the train seemed
to be fairly whirling itself through
the gloom. With a sudden de-
liberation he Strengthened and
had the attendant bring him a
highball. 1t had the desired eff.
feet and he began to reason
things out more clearly. How
had Palmer gotten hold Of the
papers that concerned him in that
Electric deal? He fancied that all
the evidence had long since been
buried. Not that it was such a
crooked deal. AS a lawyer for
the city, he had merely agreed to
the proposition offered by the
corporation, and on the mere
strength of his word the council
passed the franchise. By this
action he profited ten thousand
dollars and won the goodwill of
prominent, influential men.
From that day his advance had
been rapid. And soon after that
Molly came into his life,
and the five brief years of their
marriage glided by quietly, con-
tentedly. The final election
brought him from the dim, outer
circle into the strong, white glare
of publicity. In the face of stub
born, unclean opposition, he won.
One by one the occupants of the
car went up ahead to their berths.
Abruptly arousing himself,
Reeves found himself alone,
save for nodding porter huddled
on the divan. He started up the
aisle that ran beside the inclosed
buffet. Reaching the door at the
farther end, he stopped, rigid,
too amazed for speech. For just
entering, smoking a big, black
cigar, came Mr.. Palmer. For
the moment they stared steadily
into one another's eyes. Then,
above the roar Of the train,
Palmer made himself heard.
What you doing, Reeves ? he
exclaimed, with a sneer. Running
away?
Reeves clinched his fists. The
man that stood in the doorway,
with the sneer upon his lips, was
the man who was running him.
| i Afraid to face the music, eh /?
oalmer's mocking voice came
once more. With a cry that half
choked in his throat, Reeves leap.
ed forward, his clinched hand lift
ed. He felt rather than saw the
impact of the blow, for at that
instant the whole car lurched
suddenly, trembled for the Sec
ond in a balance, then, with a snap
ping Of wood, crumpled in like a
bit of cardboard. The lights
went out like a puffed candle. and
Reeves felt himself lifted and
tossed bodily against the wide,
low window. There followed a
crash Of broken glass, a puff Ct
cool air, and he found himself
sprawling on hands and knees on
a wet grass-c covered EN- bankment.
He scrambled to his feet and
| STUN 0leQ au6au. a sudden CRY
came abruptly in the silence.
At the same time. a thin, red
fame shot into life, lighting
| up the overturned coach and the
surroundings. The full signifi-
canoe dawned upon Reeves's
muddIed brain. The buffet car
had, in some unexplainable man
ner, been twisted from the end of
the train at the identical moment
ho leaned uDon Palmer. And