Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-11-27

"The fast freight waited for orders"
Then he sprang to his feet with a
great cry. God had heard his prayer
and had answered It. Their lives lay
In his hands. The line between Sweet.
water. the station that seventy-three
had just left, and Summit was single
track. '."ir" '''
The grade was terrific. The fast
freight would come down 1t booming.
1t would meet seventy-three at about
Pine Tree crossing and utterly de.
stroy 1t, and In the destruction the two
guilty ones would perish.
With steady hand he answered 2
Summit, and ordered the freight to !
make Sweetwater at once and wait
there on the siding for seventy.three
As he gave the order Gardner en-
tered the Office. He heard the signal
and understood It. 'A.&h
HELL" he exclaimed impatiently.
what makes seventy.three so late?"
Before Carleton could prevent him
he had seized the order-book and was
looking over 1t to discover for himself
what was wrong.
Good God!" he cried excitedly.
"countermand that last order. Seven.
ty-three has left sweetwater. They
Will meet on the grade"
NO" answered Carleton, rising
slowly and facing him.
Gardner sprang forward toward the
telegraph table to send the message
himself. but the other caught him by
the throat. Then at last he under.
stood the truth; he was dealing with
a mailman. With great cry he tried
to release himself, but he was held in
a grip like wise. Vainly he struggled
to free himself. The thought of two
hundred innocent souls rushing to de.
struction gave him an almost superhu.
man strength, but even that could not
force the other to relax his hold.
Seeing that his efforts were useless
he cried aloud for help. AS he did so.
Carleton drew back and struck him
with all his force. Like log he sank
to the floor. Carleton stood over the
PROSTATE form smiling happily. His
revenge would be complete; and in his
heart was an awful Joy.
Presently he heard the door open
and turned to see who was entering.
Then his heart stood still and his
breath left him. Helen, his wife, was
crossing the threshold. He stared at
her in dumb terror
1t was over then, the accident, and
she had come to reproach him. He
wanted to hide from her and yet he
dared not turn away his head. He
could only stand and gaze fascinated.
ly upon her. His knees trembled be-
meath him.
At last she spoke.
"Jchn," she said, what is it? Why
do you look at me SOL"
As he heard her voice he gave
great heaving sob. She was not dead.
i've been looking all over for you,"
she went on. This afternoon left
you asleep and went to make q call.
When returned you were gone"
His heart was beating with terrible
violence and still he could not breathe.
With difficulty he drew Munro's letter
from his pocket. and handed 1t to her.
THAT letter." he murmured thickly.
She glanced at -t and laughed
THAT" she cried, that was one Of
the letters that Bob Munro wrote me
before we were married. saved them
all, but last night after you made such
fuss resolved to burn them. got
them all out and was waiting to let
you see me do It."
A great light. the light Of won
derful Joy, swept over his face. He
held out his arms and started toward
her. Suddenly he stopped. Gardner's
voice echoed through the room.
1.-THE train, the. train, for Gods sake
save the train!"
Carleton flung his arms above his
head with dreadful writing gesture
and sank Imply into chair.
What have | done?" he whispered.
ooh, what have done?"
"You have killed Them" said Gard
ner weakly, as he staggered to his feet,
1.-TWO hundred people. You have killed
them" He fell weakly on table, his
head in his arms, and sobbed like
little child.
The woman rushed to her husbands
side.
John" she said, what is it,"
II thought you and he were on sew
enty-three," he answered her DULY,
"and I have wrecked It,"
She did not speak, but her face went
very white.
Then followed silence while they
waited. Presently Gardner began to
pray. He stopped and there was ST.
lence again. In little while must
come the news Of the disaster.
But none of them could ever forget
the agony of the waiting there in that
silent room, sitting in strained quiet to
hear the tidings of disaster wrought
by a jealous mans mad whim.
At last 1t came. Summit called on
the telegraph Gardner CROPPED his way
to the instrument and answered.
East freight got hot'box in sta.
ton" came the message; have back
ed her on siding waiting for orders"
That was all-yet 1t meant that sew.
enty.three was safe. With a white
face Gardner turned.
THANK God" he cried to Carleton.
But the latter did not hear. He was
living on the floor In a dead faint.
Anti.Suffraostlc.
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