Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-07-26

Saw NtlN SbVNlt NCA iiuIlN utNu u
the signal-hoN while | get ont the en
gine.
Tom FASTENED away us desired, but
soon came back With the intelligence,
that the box was empty and the wiz,
cut.
I'VE darScn't say , word nov. Sait
Seth. What fools we We're 10 tak,
them drinks. Now Tom. shove ii
some wood while | oil the eranks. II
leave word for the foreman; We mus
trust him
All these preparations were made nj
most rs quickly as they are here DC
Scmbcd. In ten minutes the inginc wa,
ready, and MS noiscleSly rs possible the
great locomotive was brought out Of the
shed, but tender first.
"Never mind" said Seth when Tom
objected. 1--WE can rim about as quick
Now, are We ready -
The foreman came up ut that mo
mcnt. "lf We do succeed he said
your fortunes are made. If YOU fail
| won't answer for your lives Take
my revolver, he addol, "and be OIL.
Seth thanked him, adding gloomily,
=" II we fail, we'll never comeback alive.
For us 10 he hocussed with bourbon is
disgrace enough
\ whistle, The foreman opened the
points and the engine sped away on the
down line i'll lull pursuit of the desperu-
does to save the specie train il possible
We've no head lamp! exclaimed
Tom, suddenly.
SO much the better; We don't want
to advertise oursclvesto-night There's
a flash Of something; guess We'll have 4
storm
The remark was hot mcaIed for.
The gleam Of lightning every now and
then appeared rs r8t upon the steel
handles and CLINT along the rails. There
was 4 moaning soundln tive air, i feel
ing Of oppression, whie occasionally Il
heavy splash Of RAIN Would drop upon
the roof of the cab" Ii which tile men
ourncyed.
They absolutely tieN along the track.
Over the apparently toundleSs prairie
the line was laid Mt u station for
miles \ few water plAes IN intervals
alone broke the levei @aractcr of the
when the iitfal Gghtning lit up
the surroundings lftcA datk over
head, except when the tlashus came,
and the only light before the an;dl,
MOVING sla,r of the furnace iircon the
g road.
Its past IL said the driver. I'VE
ought to have pulled them up. We've
ran this thirty miles il the half hour.
There's Buffalo Crock, he added, Us
they SKINNED past,
Well. then, hartford isnnly another
thirty, and the trcstle siding on the top
Of the cutting in only twety-nve.'
We must pass thcm At the curve
below. Halo look on, mind that
hand-l lamp.
Tom turned the slide and looked
ahead. Seth shut off steam.
There they are Lucky we are run
ming tender foremost u they would
have seen our fire. Wei wait on item
gently till they get on u the trcstle
curve. Then we'll .wire in and drop
them. Steady, mate I"
The engine came silently 10 i stand
still. The gentle hiss 5f the steam,
which was Just raising the valves, was
the only audible sound Broad flashes
Of sheet-'ightning lt NJ the heavy
masses Of cloud, but no thunder follow
ed Seth looked 10 his revolver.
Tom fed the fire and they waited; il
was their only chance a surprise.
For quite twenty minutes the men
waited; the engine IN ronthad long ago
AT last Setn said; !" Now,
Tom, is om time Ill run them race
down to hartford City, and, if get there
first, there'll be scalps oall tomorrow.
Wen round that curve before they see
us, aud come in all lying. Are you
ready n
Tom signiiied his consent, and away
dartcd the pcndcrous engine across the
prairie III Tor speed On ]!
ON never mind the rough track; its
death if you leave il; il. death, most
likely, If you remain. There i one
chance, and only onef you reach
Darlford City and give the alarm
Press on, Seth, it's nigh midnight
30 whispered Tom, rs the engine swung
round the sharp curve. There, seem
ingly motionless, Wis the other engine.
Faster and faster ratified the pur.ucr.
They We're seen at last The men were
visible through the glass (dr M instant.
Lie down Y roarci -ttiL
Only Just in time Two bullets came
overhead, another bit the
handle of lie steam whistle and seni
out a scream Of defiance INTO the night.
Seth TO-, slowly, and, pistol II hand
the foe
Hes goin' 70 face VI. hut a. don't
know tie trick ~ firm @N Tom
Well pass him and tlcH
scth'- lace, i'll he pA and eliltched
his revolver, va satii Ht ~ eNpIaln
his meaning With1u' Nnft.