Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-11-27
M|STAKE.
Demon Of Jealousy Drove a Train
Dispatcher to Risk Two Hun.
bred Lives.
BY ARTHUR OFT.

BY ARTHUR OFT.
Carleton awoke with q start. 1t
seemed that he must have oversight.
y eaping from his bed he, crossed to
the dresser on which hls watch lay,
and. seeing that It was I'VE O'Clock. he
heaved a sigh Of relief. He was not
due in the dispatcher's room until
seven.
He was 90 wideawake, however, that
he decided to dress and proceeded to
do so. calling Justify for his wife mean
while. There was no answer to the
call and he shouted again. Still no
answer. He sat and listened for q
moment. No one was moving about
the house.
Then suddenly he remembered. That
morning, when he had returned from
work. there had been a quarrel. As
usual he had been to blame. 1t was
his overmastering jealousy that had
caused it. One Of the train hands had
spoken carelessly Of having seen his
wife and Bob Munro talking while he
was on duty.
He had come home in a towering
rage and had accused his wife bitterly
Of many things-things Of which he
was now sure that she was guiltless,
but in his temper he was blind. Natur-
ally she had resented his attitude and
had declared that she would leave
him. In his madness he had told hef
that he wished that she would.
And now he awoke in deserted
house. Had she really gone, he won
dered. The thought set him In panic.
In a rush of memory all her little
ways, her many thoughtful tender
nesses, all that she had been to him.
flooded his mind.
With the utmost haste he dressed
and walked through the house. 1t was
empty. Everything was in order, ev-
erything in its place, but there was no
sign Of her. He sank down weakly IN
a chair in the kitchen.
After all, it was his own fault. He
had not tried to control himself He
had acted so like beast to her, and
now-well, he would have to reap the
harvest of bitterness which he had
sown, and, what hurt more, she, too,
would have to reap; she who was inno-
cent.
1t sent a pang through him to think
that today she might even wish that
she had chosen Bob Munro instead Of
him. Two years ago they had been
rivals for her hand. Carleton, jeal-
Gus of all men, was especially Jealous
of Munro.
Suddenly q thought occurred to him.
II she had left him for good she would
surely have left him some word, q
note, or something. He arose, and,
crossing the hallway, made his way to
the parlor where she had her desk.
At first he could not open 1t, his fin
gers trembled. so,, but at last he sue
ceeded. " ."
Lying on the top Of her papers was
q note without an envelope. He seized
and eagerly unfolded 1t. Then he
stepped back with cry. The writing
was not that Of Helen; 1t was Bob
Munro,s.
Carleton read:
Dearest Helen:
Why put up with your life any longer7
Why suffer as you are suffering when
happiness awaits you? Come away from
II all with me- We can catch the flve
nfty westbound and tomorrow begin a
new life in a new world. I will wait Tor
YOU at the old place. Come in time.
BOB.
That was all. For moment Garlic
ton scarcely realized the meaning OF
the note. He stared at 1t helplessly.
carefully studying the words. Like a
fash their full import came to him.
Then once again his wild, passion
ate rage possessed him. He resolved
IN intercept and kill them both. The
five fifty westbound! That was train
No. 70. It was usually late.
He pulled his watch from his peck
ct. It was five fifty-five. He was too
late, The train had gone. No, it
might be late. There might still be a
chance. Selling his hat, he crushed
Il on his head, and, rushing out, ran
swiftly toward the depot.
In ten minutes he had reached the
station. AS he darted into the waiting
room he met the division superinten.
dent, John Gardner, who greeted him
with a yelp OF Joy.
"By George, Carleton" he ex.
claimed. you are the very man / most
need. / was going to send for you"
"seventy-three," gasped Carleton
has she arrived"
"she's come and gone," answered
Gardner, right on time tonight and !
want her to stay so"
Carleton leaned against the wall,
weak and faint. So, after all. he was
robbed of his vengeance. A sicken-
ing revulsion swept over him.
Now, what Gardner wished, he ex-
p,ained, was that Carleton should
stand the rest of Brunt's trick as we'll
al his own, and get seventy'three on
the division on time.
The click of the telegraph instru-
rent a sound so familiar and home.
like to his ears, restored him consid-
orablv as he entered the office. Briefly
~,1o,rod tn Rrunt that he had