The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-09-13

bubbling TO .Judsons lips when he real |
lied his utter helpiessness and the con |
sequences menacing the superintend- |
ents special. True. he did not know |
what the consequences were to be. but |
he had overheard enough to be sure |
that Lidgerwood's life was threatened |
Then at the climax of despairing help |
leSsness he remembered that there was
a telephone in the mine owners Office. |
a telephone that connected with Good |
loe's station at Little Rutte Here was
a last slender chance of getting a
warning to Goodloe. and through him.
by MEAS Of the railroad wire. TO the
superintendent special Instantly
Judson forgot his WEAKNESS and raced
away down the western slope of the
mountain. prepared to fight his way
to the telephone If the entire night
shift of the Wire Silver should try to
stop him.
1t cost ten of the precious fifty min
utes to retrace his steps down the
mountain side. and five more were lost
in lodging the mine Waterman. After
the Waterman was out of the way five
other minutes went to the cautious pry-
ing open Of the window least likely
to attract attention-the window upon
whose drawn shade the convincing
profile had been projected. Judson's
lips were dry and his hands were shak
ing again when he crept through the
opening and dropped into the unfa
miliar interior, where the darkness
was but thnly diluted by the moon
light filtering through the small dingy
squares of the opposite window.
The precious minutes were flying,
and he knew that by this time the two
men on the handcar must have reach
ed the main line at Silver Switch.
Whatever helpful chain of events
might be set in motion by commune
eating with Goodloe must be linked
up quickly.
He found the telephone without diff
Guilty. 1t was an old fashioned set,
with a crank and bell for ringing up
the call at the other end of the line.
A single turn of the crank told him
that it was cut off somewhere, doubt
less by switch in the office wiring.
In a fresh fever of excitement he be-
gan a search for the switch, tracing
with his fingers the wires which led
| from the instrument and following
| where they ran around the end Of the
room on the wainscoting. In the cor
ner farthest from his window of in
| gress he found the switch and felt it
| out. 1t was simple cut-out designed
| to connect either the Office instrument
| or the mine telephones with the main
F., wire, as might be desired Under the
| switch stood a corner cupboard and in
| feeling for the wire connections Oh
top of the cupboard Judson found his
fingers running lightly over the bound
| ing surfaces of an object with which
he was unhappily, only too familiar
a long necked bottle with the seal
blown in the glass. The corner cup
board was evidently Flemister's side
board
Almost before he knew what he was
doing JudSOn had grasped the bottle
and had removed the cork. Here were
renewed strength and courage and a
swift clearing of the brain to be had
for the taking. At the drawing of the
cork the fine bouquet of the liquor
seemed instantly to fill the room with
its subtle and intoxicating essence.
/ With the smell of the whisky in his
nostrils he had the bottle halfway to
his lips before he realized that the de-
mon Of appetite had sprung W On him
out Of the darkness. taking him make
and unawares. Twice be put the bo>
tie down, only to take 1t up again.
His lips were parched. his tongue rat
tied in his mouth. and within there
were cravings like the fires Of hell,
threatening torments unutterable if
they should not be assuaged.
God. have mercy!'' he mumbled and
then in voice which the rising fires
had scorched to a hoarse whisper. If
| drink I'm damned to all eternity.
and if | don't take just one swallow
I'll never be able TO talk so as to make
Goodloe understand me-"
1t was the supreme test Of the man,
Somewhere deep down in the soul
abyss of the tempted one thing stir
red. took shape and arose to help him
to fight the devil of appetite. Slowly
the fierce thirst burned itself out, the
invisible hand at his throat relaxed its
cruel grip. and fine dew of perspfra
ton broke out thickly on his forehead
At the sweating instant the newly
arisen soul captain within him whis-
pered, Nov. John Judson. once for
J ALP and. staggering to the open win
dow. he flung the tempting bottle afar
among the scattered powders. wait.
ing until he hid heard the tinkling
crash Of broken glass before he turn
ed back to his appointed task
His hands We're no longer trembling
when he once more wound the crank
of the telephone and held the receiver
to his ear, There was an answering
skiri of the bell. and then voice said
Hello. This is Goodloe What's
wanted?'
Judson wasted no time in explana
lions. This is Judson-John Judson
Get Timanyoni on your wire. quick
and catch Mr.. Lidgerwood's special
Tell Bradford and Williams to rur
= slow. looking for trouble, Do you sc
that?"
= A confused medley of rumblings ant
clankings crashed in over the wire
and in the midst Of the interruption
| Judson heard Goodloe put down the re
] ceiver. In fash be knew what wa
| happening at Little Butte station. Th
- della we'd nasSenrer train from tho uas