Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1914-12-11

summit. She was still on time and the
conductor wanted his release. Me-
chanically Carleton gave It.
He was giving the orders which
we're permitting his wife to escape.
Godl how horrible It was.
Again the click. click. click of the
telegraph. It YVES Summit calling. The
fast freight waited for orders. Garlic
ton repeated 1t once to himself.
THE fast freight waited for orders"
Then he sprang to his feet with q
great cry. God had heard his prayer
and had answered 1t. Their lives lay
in his hands. The line between Sweet
water, the station that seventy-three
had Just left. and Summit was a single
track
The grade was terrific The fast
freight would come down 1t booming.
Il 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 a steady hand he answered
Summit, and ordered the freight to
make Sweetwater at once and walt
there on the siding for seventy-three.
AS be gave the order Gardner en-
tered the Office. He heard the signal
and understood It.
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 Cod" he cried excitedly.
"countermand that last order. Seven
ty-three has left Sweetwater. They
viii 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
madman. 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 be 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.
II was over then. the accident. and
she had come 10 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.
John" she said. what is IL? Why
do you look at me sol"
AS he heard her voice he gave
great heaying sob She was not dead.
I've been looking all over for you"
she went on. This afternoon left
you asleep and went 20 make 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 II 10 her
THAT letter" he murmured thickiy.
She glanced at II 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
a fuss resolved to burn them. got
them all out and was waiting 10 let
you see me do f."
A great light. the light OF a 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.
THE train. the train. for Gods sake
save the train,"
Carleton flung his arms above his
head with dreadful writhing gesture
and sank Imply into chair.
What have done?" he whispered.
"Oh, what have done?"
You have killed them" said Gard
ner weakly. as he staggered to bis feet.
two hundred people. You have killed
them" He fell weakly on a table. his
head In his arms. and sobbed like
little child
The woman rushed to her husbands
side
"John," she said. what is TT"
Il thought you and he were on sew
enty-three." he answered her duly,
"and / have wrecked t."
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