Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-02-23

'.send at once and be sure to date il Port
land Can't stop TO explain now: but d0as't
fail to head 1t Portland"
He was or like a shot, and coon was on
the engine again, Leroi being none the
wiser
The telegram sped and so did the express.
and Jean Louvait shortly afterwards was
delighted to see a couple of Bangor police
mon, powerful fellows, board the cars, and
emerge moment later with his great rival,
Jean Leroi- under arrest.
The latter was highly nraged and en-
deavored to explain matters, but 10 no avail.
There was nothing to do bat submit This
he did, finally, with very poor grace,
sullenly watching the train roll out Of the
depot
Louvait knew well that so clever fellow
could not fail to clear himself, and in a very
short time, too.
Then he'll hire an engine and go flying
down to the Terminus. know that he can't
retaliate upon me in the same way-at least,
between here and the Ferry-because we
ton of railroad houses, and there arc no
policemen there. The only place where he
can stop me is Bar Harbor itself, and If 1
can only get within swimming distance Of
the island, I'll defy all law and policemen.
So, I guess, Pm all right
AT the Ferry lay the elegant transfer
| steamer Sappho. She had lately been fur
nished with new propeller-wheel and was
| speedier than ever.
Going into the engine-room, Louvait en-
gagged the engineer in conversation.
"What time are you due at Bar Har-
borl"
give fifty-fve."
give ffty-fve, chi That's run Of near
| ly forty minutes. What time could you do
| it in if you let on all steam?'
"Oh, about Twenty-Five minutes"
al don't believe 1t. See here, I've heard a
great deal about this Sappho, and have come
here to look at her. If she's what they say
she is, I'm going to build one like her. Now
here's fve-dollar bill. If you can make
Bar Harbor in twenty-nine minutes from
the time we leave, this is yours
Precisely at $40 p m, twenty-five min
utes after leaving the Ferry, the Sappho
touched the wharf at Bar Harbor, and Lou
wait was five dollars poorer.
| During this time Jean Leroi had been
| achieving wonders at Bangor. He had in
| duced his captors to make immediate in
| quiries about him. A telegram from Port
| land revealing the true state of affairs, the
Bangor officials realizing that they and
| their prisoner were the victims of a cruel
| joke, not only set the latter at liberty, but
| used every effort to remedy the evil un-
Willingly done to him.
Mr. Payson Tucker, superintendent of the
road, CHANGED to be at Bangor. For mere
nominal sum he procured Leroi one of the
fieetest passenger engines on the Mt.
| Desert branch.
'sBut," inquired Leroi, show can get
across the Ferryl The transfer steamer
will not, of course, wait for me.''
| ''Oh, that's easy enough" said Mr..
Tucker. ''Of course, as you say, can't
hold the Sappho from her regular time. But
| we've another small boat there which makes
trips to neighboring mainland villages. I've
telegraphed her to wait and take you
across. don't think you'll be over hall
hour behind the Sappho in arriving"
| While awaiting the arrival of his engine,
Leroi inspected the telegram which had
! caused his arrest. 1t was dated Portland.
| Now Portland" had positively denied send
| ing any such message.
| Who did send it, theni
Just here ''Waterville, - who had accident
ally gotten an inlzling of the conversation
between Bangor and Portland" clicked
| out that he had sent it.
where did you get it?'' inquired "Ban-
gor"
'.Man riding on Vestibule express gave
| it to me.''
| Describe him.
"Can't. 1 was behind grating, writing.
| Ran in and out before could sec him"
| Leroi reflected moment
"If it is Louvait, he wasn't on the cars,
therefore he must have been on the engine.
Where's the engineer who brought the train
from Wate-ville2"
Fright outside here oiling up his en-
| CINE"
"Call him in, please
He came.
"Did any body ride with you from Water
ville?"
| ayes, French ex-engineer."
t'Won't you please describe bin"
swell, he was Of middle height, had .
Roman nose, sharp, piercing gray eyes
dark hair, moustache and heavy black side
whiszers. He wore cap and his face was
much smutted with coal-dust. He had O
large wart on the knuckle Of his right
| hand"
! no BE CONTINUED.