The Portland daily press., 1878-08-24

down metals with superior force. But
fate was drawing the fugitives to destruction.
The up line was cut at the bridge.
LEND a hand, mate, Pm drowndin' !"
This is what Tom heard as he crawled rather
than walked across the metals to seek assist.
ance.
"Seth Seth Martin; what's happened to
you?'
"Them varmints tossed me in here when I
was half stupid, but the water has done me
good. Help me out, Tom, and We'll fix
them yet"
Tom, who was rapidly recovering, lent all
the assistance he could; and, then the drip
ping driver, quickly wringing the water from
his clothes, said, when his mate had told him
what he had done
"Don't breathe syllable to mortal man.
know Bob Franklin's engine is in steam by
now for the cross traffic. Well fire her up
and run them down. We may save thespecie
yet. Hurry down to the signal box while I
get out the engine"
Tom fastened away as desired, but soon
came back with the intelligence that the box
was empty and the wire cut.
1--WE darsen't say word now" said Seth.
what fools we were to take them drinks
Now Tom, shove in some wood while Oil
the cranks. I'll leave word for the foreman;
we must trust him."
All these preparations were made almost as
quickly as they are described. In ten MIN
ntes the engine was ready, and as noiselessly
as possible the great locomotive was brought
out of the shed, but tender first.
"Never mind" said Seth, when Tom OBJ
jected. "We can run about as quick. Now
are 70 ready?"
The foreman came up at that moment.
eff ye do succeed" he said, ''your fortunes
are made. If you fail I wouldn't answer for
your lives: Take my revolver" he added,
sand be off,
Seth thanked him, adding gloomily, "If
we fail, we'll never come back alive. For us
to be hocused with Bourbon is disgrace
enough"
A whistle! The foreman opened the
points and the engine sped away on the down
line in full pursuit of the desperadoes, to save
the specie train, if possible.
'We've no head lampw exclaimed Tom,
suddenly.
$50 much the better; we don't want to
advertise ourselves tonight. There is
flash of something; guess we'll have a
storm"
The remark was not uncalled for. The
CLEAN of lightning every now and then ap.
peared to rest upon the steel handles and
CLINT along the rails. There was moaning
sound in the air, feeling of oppression,
while occasionally heavy plash of rain
would drop upon the roof of the "cab" in
which the men journeyed.
They absolutely flew along the track.
Over the apparently boundless prairie the
line was laid. Not station for miles. A
few watering places at intervals alone broke
the level character of the prospect when the
fitful lightning lit up the surroundings.
Pitch dark overhead except when the flashes
came; and the only light below the rapidly
moving glare of the furnace fire on the
''road."
sits past H." said the driver. 'We ought
to have pulled them up. We've run this
thirty miles in the half hour. There's Buffa-
10 Creek" he added as they skinned past.
''Well, then hartford is only another
thirty, and the trestle siding on the top Of the
cutting is only twenty-five"
''We must pass them at the curve below.
Halo! look out, mind that hand lamp"
Tom turned the slide and looked ahead.
Seth shut off the steam.
"There they arel Lucky we are runnin e
tender foremost, or they would have seen our
fire. Well wait on them gently till they get
on to the trestle curve. Then we'll wire in
and drop them. Steady, mateF'
The engine came silently to stand still.
The gentle hiss of the steam, which was just
raising the valves, was the only audible
sound. Broad flashes of sheet lightning lit
up the heavy masses of cloud, but no thun-
der followed. Seth looked to his revolver.
Tom fed the fire and they waited; it was
their only chance-a surprise.
For quite twenty minutes the men waited !;
the engine in front had long ago disappeare
At last Seth said, "Now, Tom, is our time
I'll run them a race to hartford City, and If
get there first there'll be scalps to sell to-
morrow. Well round that curve before they
600 11s md oomo in oil HoipO non
ready?"
Tom signified his consent, and away darted
the ponderous engine across the boundless
prairie at top speed. On on! never mind the
rough track; it's death if you leave it; it's
death, most likely, if you remain. There is
one chance, and only one-it you reach Dart
ford City and give the alarm.
''Press Oh. Seth, it's nigh midnight" So
whispered Tom, as the engine swung around
the sharp curve. There, seemingly notion
less, was the other engine. Faster and faster
ratified the purtner They were seen at last.
The men were visible through the glass for
an instant.
ellie downw roared Seth.
Only just in time. Two bullets came
crashing over head; another hit the handle of
the steam whistle and sent out a scream of de-
fiance into the night. Seth arose slowly,
and, pistol in hand, watched the foe.
"He's gon' to race US, but he don't know
the trick of firm No. 200, Tom. Well pass
him, and them
Seth's face, as he spoke and clutched his
revolver, was sufficient to explain his mean
ing without words.
On, on, speeding across the prairie! Now
Seth was gaining, now the other shot ahead.
"More wood into the furnace; pile it in,
Tom," cried Seth-s'that's it-noW."
A bullet from Seth's steady hand passed
through the glass of the other engine, and
shattered the driving arm of the man who
held the regulator.
"Bullyv' exclaimed the delighted Seth.
Snow for another log. The fire was blown
up, and like an arrow the engines flew along !;
but no more shots were exchanged, for as
they were running neck and neck for one in
slant Seth perceived light on the line ahead,
and before his companion was aware of his
CINE fed away into the darkness, leaving Seth
and Tom far behind.
''What did you shut off for ?" cried Tom in
amazement.
.'Look ahead and you'll know" was the
grim reply.
Tom looked ahead. A weird light was
playing on the track, halo of unearthly an.
pearance. 1t shimmered and moved like a
will-o'-the wisp. 1t was CHASTITY white mist
"a ghostly warning.
"What can it be?" said Tom, his supersti-
tious terrors being now excited. "What is
it?"
"Irs light, that's ALL" said Seth with a
fiendish grin. 81 know it though; I've seen
it before. There's somebody underneath the
rails in the bridge, and, you bet, they're cut
ting the track for the specie trainp'
"Gracious heaven, and that enginep'
''That engine will be in the river in TWO
minutes" said Seth Martin.
"Oh! hurry up and save them if we can"
exclaimed Tom. go ahead!''
"Gently, mate, gently; let them get on a
bit" He turned on steam, but ere they had
passed half the distance in the direction of
the light loud crash was heard, and amid
screams of human agony the trestle bridge
sank down-down-gently, slowly, but sure
ly to the stream below. The ponderous en-
CINE dipped forward, gave one heavy roll,
righted again, and then turning completely
over, fell with laundering noise into the
canyon below.
The lights were suddenly extinguished,
and the piercing screams of wounded and
scalded men arose, mingled with the Kissing
steam and the dull roar of thunder. The
storm had burst.