n Street."

"When did you return home?"

"I started before day, Friday mornin', as soon as the rain hilt up."

"At what hour, do you think?"

"The town clock was a strikin' two, jes as I passed the express office,
at the station."

"Now, Isam, tell the Court whom you saw, and what happened; and be very
careful in all you say, remembering you are on your oath."

"I was atoting a bundle so--slung on to a stick, and it gaided my
shoulder, 'cause amongst a whole passel of plunder I had bought, ther
was a bag of shot inside, what had slewed 'round oft the balance, and I
sot down, close to a lamp-post nigh the station, to shift the heft of
the shot bag. Whilst I were a squatting, tying up my bundle, I heered
all of a suddent--somebody runnin', brip--brap--! and up kern a man
from round the corner of the stationhouse, a runnin' full tilt; and he
would a run over me, but I grabbed my bundle and riz up. Sez I: 'Hello!
what's to pay?' He was most out of breath, but sez he: 'Is the train in
yet?' Sez I: 'There ain't no train till daylight, 'cepting it be the
through freight.' Then he axed me: 'When is that due?' and I tole him:
'Pretty soon, I reckon, but it don't stop here; it only slows up at the
water tank, whar it blows for the Bridge.' Sez he: 'How fur is that
bridge?' Sez I: 'Only a short piece down the track, after you pass the
tank.' He tuck a long breath, and kinder whistled, and with that he
turned and heeled it down the middle of the track. I thought it mighty
curus, and my mind misgive me thar was somethin' crooked; but I always
pintedly dodges; 'lie-lows to ketch meddlers,' and I went on my way.
When I got nigh the next corner whar I had to turn to cross the river,
I looked back and I seen a 'oman standin' on the track, in front of the
station-house; but I parsed on, and soon kem to the bridge (not the
railroad bridge), Boss. I had got on the top of the hill to the left of
the Pentenchry, when I hearn ole 'Bory' blow. You see I knowed the
runnin' of the kyars, 'cause that through freight was my ole
stormpin-ground, and I love the sound of that ingine's whistle more 'an
I do my gran'childun's hymn chunes. She blowed long and vicious like,
and I seen her sparks fly, as she lit out through town; and then I
footed it home."

"You think the train was on time?"

"Bound to be; she never was cotched behind time, not while I stuffed
her with coal and lightwood knots. She was plum punctchul."

"Was the lamp lighted w