Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-27

Tom fastened away as desired,
but soon came back with the intel
ligence that the box was empty and
the wire cut.
"We daresn't say a word now,"
said Seth. "What fools we were to
take them drinksl Now, Tom,
shove in some wood while l oil the
oranks, III leave word for the |
foreman; we must trust him."
All these preparations were made |
almost as quickly as they are here
described. In ten minutes the en-
CINE was ready, and as noiselessly
as possible the great locomotive was
brought out of the shed, but tender
first. 4lnuo
"Never mind" said Seth, when
Tom objected. "We can run about
as quick. Now, are ye ready?"
The foreman came up at that
moment. "If ye do succeed" he
said, your fortunes are made. If
you fail l wouldn't answer for your
lives. Take my revolver" he add
ed, Sand be off"
Seth thanked him, adding, gloom
lily, elf we fail, we'll never come
back alive. For us to be hocussed
with Bourbon is disgrace enough"
| A whistlel The foreman opened
the points and the engine sped
away on the down line in full pur-
suit Of the desperadoes to save the
specie train if possible.
"We've no head lampl" exclaimed
Tom, suddenly.
$50 much the better; VIC don't
want to advertise ourselves tonight.
There's flash Of something; guess
we'll have a storm"
The remark was not uncalled
for. The CLEAN of lightning every
now and then appeared to rest upon
the steel handles and CLINT along
the rails. There was a moaning
sound in the air, q feeling of op.
preston, while occasionally a heavy
plash of rain would drop upon the
roof Of the "cab" in which tht
, men journeyed.
They absolutely flew along th,
: track. Over the apparently bound
< less prairie the line was laid. No
S a station for miles. A few waterin,
], places at intervals alone broke th
4 level character Of prospect whel
: the fitful lightning lit up the sur
a roundings. Pitch dark overhead
g except when the flashes came; an,
e the only light below was the rap
g idly moving glare Of the furnac
: fire on the road"
Sits past eleven," said the dr.
n yer. We ought to have pulle
h them up. We've run this thirt
it miles in the half-hour. There
Buffalo creek" he added, as the
d SKINNED past.
/ "Well, then, Dartrord is onl
= another thirty, and the trestle Sit
Il ing on the top of the cutting
y only twenty-five"
}, eve must pass them at the curve
below. Halo! Look out; min
:, that hand-lamp"
o Tom turned the slide and locke
ahead. Seth shutoff steam.
ID "There they are! Lucky we al
Y. running tender foremost, or the
S, would have seen our fire. We
wait on them gently till they get o
Ie the trestlc curve. Then We
d wire in and drop them. Stead.
matep'
N The engine came silently to
d standstill. The gentle hiss of Il
re steam, which was just raising ii
Is valve, was the only audible SCUM
lie Broad flashes of sheet lightning
ID up the heavy masses of cloud, bl
no thunder followed. Seth locke
at to his revolver.
3e. Tom fed the fire and they wal
i" cd; it was their only chauce-a su
10 prise.
be For quite twenty minutes I'll
lie men waited; the engine in frol
1t. had long ago disappeared. Alta
n Seth said, "Now, Tom, is OF
time! I'll run them a race dow
of TO hartford City, and, if | get the
oh first, there'll be scalps to sell t
morrow. Wen round that cur
IT. before they see us, and come in
ut flying. Are you ready?"
dy Tom signiied his consent, al
10 away darted the ponderous engil
ng across the boundless prairie at t,
k, speed. 0nl on! never mind Il
ng rough track; it's death if you lea
ITS itI it's doath most likely, if y,
,ay remain, There is ono chance, al
he only one-if you reach Dartfo
ol- City and give the alarml
"Press on, sethj it's nigh mi
w night" So whispered Tom as t
on. engine swung round the sha
&c. curve, There, seemingly motto
IN less, was the other engine. Fast
as and faster ratified the pursu
,ed They were seen at last. The m
ist- were visible through the glass
ap instant.
lp. "4iO down." rOared Seth.
Only Just in time. Two bull
in came crashing overhead! anott