The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-09-08
seuoh 81 % Eeneral lmpressIon.

can, bring, to- me the station master
' or some person In authority before
the train starts. again, you will prob
! ably save his life"
I believe that I enjoyed the mans
look Of amazement, though I he'd
before been under the impression
that the capacity to enjoy anything
had passed from nue.. For a moment
he stood regarding me with a look
which I did not then understand
1t has since occurred to me that he
thought l was mad-then he darted
away down the platform.
Though l had spoken stoicslly.
had done scat ansimmense effort: to
IsCoVer a state OF mind of the most
lively agitation. While | Gaited the
return Of my messenger l suffered a
distress go extreme that I had rattle.
go through once more the most pain
full portions Of my racking life than
endure 1t again. Each moment
dreaded to feel the motion Of the
train under me, and ! held the fate
full note in my hand, ready to toss
upon the platform should my ennis
sary come back too late.
At last In the dim light, I distln-
guished my porter among the peo-
pie on the platform. He was hurry
toward me, and by his side there
walked a a in top hat and frock
coat who seemed anxious above all
things to preserve his dignity.
You are the station master, I pre-
sume?" said, when he reached me.
No." he replied, II am the traffic
superintendent. The station master
is in bed"
mo matter. You are a man, evil
IDENTIFY who Is used to carrying re-
sponsibilities?"
He bowed stifly.
II am going to give you as
weighty a one as you are ever likely
10 have. Read that" I passed him
the note in my hand. ut was thrown
into this carriage as we we're passing
Il station about an hour out OF Lon
dom"
The superintendent held the paper
beneath the light Of a lamp, and
read 1t.
How do | know this is genuine?"
he said.
$50 far as I am concerned. you
have evidence enough. You can see
the broken window"
But this other man? 1t may be
a hoax"
You know as much as l do. Per-
sonally, believe In 1t. | think the
man will come"
ut would. be better that you
should see the governor yourself"
ut is impossible"
MAY | ask why?"
81 have taken a berth on board a
steamer which leaves Liverpool in
the morning. 1t is of the utmost i'm
portance that l should catch It,"
Surely, for such a cause"
81 cannot"
The superintendent was evidently
perplexed.
"You put me in a difficult posi-
tion," he said.
You mean there Is the chance Of
saving a mans life on the n side,
the chance of making a fool Of your
self on the other?"
l spoke cynically. The superin-
tendent seemed to question my right,
for he looked put out.
do as you please" I said, coolly.
II am clear of the matter. The re-
sponsibility is now yours"
He twisted the note In his hands,
and for a few moments did not
speak.
"Well?" l. asked.
The paper shall be handed to the
governor"
The guard blew his whistle, there
was INC SIlOIAIh5 VI pGOpIG Ol (IIS
platform, a snort from the engine,
and sank back upon the seat of the
carriage. The train had started.
Before I sailed on the following
day a telegram was received in
Liverpool to say that the condemned
man was rcprieved. The missing
witness had appeared at the last mo-
moment.
So I had saved the life of a fellow
creature-and at that I drew a
breath Of relief. You may believe 1t
or not, as you will. 1t is true.
But what of me? Shall I reach
my destination in safety? What OF
me? What Of the actual murderer?
For l am that man!
A Coffin as a Boat.