Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1921-07-14
TRAIN LEAVES TRACK.

| TRAIN LEAVES TRACK.
Engineer McCallister Killed-Fireman
Duncan Fatally Injured.
| Carter buried his face In his hands
| 1t seemed as IL his overstrained mind
would snap.
81 am a murderer" ne groaned-"a
murderer and Friday is my wedding
day. Oh, my God, what shall / dor
He thought of the revolver in his
desk. With trembling fingers he took
| the weapon from the drawer.
May God forgive me- he whis-
| pered hoarsely as he filled the cylin-
| der. He wet his parched lips with his
tongue and pressed the little muzzle
to his temple; then he paused ~
must write letter to Ellen" he NUT
tered.
He picked up his pen ami had be
gun to write when the door opened
and Keene entered with uncertain
step. Carter turned in his chair and
saw the senior partners face, white
and CHASTITY. In his hand he carried =
revolver.
Carter motioned him 10 chair.
"Keene," he said unsteadily. 81 am
going to confess | am a murderer
a murderer !" ne shri1ked.
Garter, my boy, II" stammered
Keene the same horn fed look in his
face
LET me finish" cried Carter hosrse-
ly. ~ never thought of committing
crime. Oh my God. no." and Carter
pressed his hands TO his throbbine
temples Yesterday" he continued,
81 read of a discharged employee de-
railing train and stopping traffic
for several hours. The fiendish idea
occurred 10 me that | could deraiI the
Southern's cotton train, and thai we
could get the contract-but 7 am
murderer :"
Keene was gripping the arms Of his
chair. "You-you did thatr" he cried.
yes" replied Carter miserably, 81
did, and I will not live to face the law.
Tell--tell Ellen, Keene," and he picked
up Inc AENblNtls
STOP cried Keene, his eyes star
ing from their sockets. 1--WE both can't
be guilty OF the same crime"
Both gailty of the same crime1"
Carter repeated in bewilderment.
Garter" Keene cried, II, too, de
rallied that train"
what" demanded Carter numbly.
you derailed the train7'
Yes. I went to the switch, turned
1t and reversed the light. Now, which
of MS Is guilty?n
81 went TO the yards about fifteen
minutes before nine" said Carter,
land there was lock on the switch"
"And ] about fifteen minutes after.
There was no lock on the switch"
groaned Keene. II am the murderer"
and the senior partners nervous fin
gers gripped the handle of his re-
yolver
Carter grasped his arm. 'Keene,"
he yelled, I'VE are the biggest asses
Neither of Us is guilty =
III don't understand" stammered
Keene wiping the beads Of perspira-
tion from his brow
Don't YOU see Carter laughed ~
turned the switch TO derail the train,
and in half an hour you went and
turned II back Neither you nor
deralled that train"
Can it-can IL be true7' Easped
Keene, staggering to his feet. But
no" ne continued despondently, "the
paper says there was wreck"
Carter picked up the paper and
read
Train leaves track--Engineer Nc
t'allister killed-Fireman Duncan IA
tally iniured--The Southern Cotton
company's train Of cotton en- route for
New York left the track two MILES
north Of Bennington"
Carter dropped the paper Thank
God he cried THE wreck occurred
At Bennington. one hundred miles
from here"
The senior partner looked at the
pistol on Carriers desk, then at his
own
Carter" he cried weakly, think
what nearly happened"
Forget IT, commanded Carter
with a shudder 'Keenc, don't whis-
pcr word OF this TO anyone"
Then, laughing nervously, he con
finued
BY the way Keene, do you know
where 10 get hair dye. ] fancy | shall
wsnt TO use bottle or 90"