The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1897-05-13

| we crossed first, we would be beyond
| their jurisdiction, and they could not
servo the Attachment. One, two, four
| miles we passed over, our engine at full
speed, with an average of 80 pounds OF
steam on, and we could plainly see that
we were holding our own against them
| Eight miles we had Travelled now, and
/ was beginning to feel pretty highly
! elated over the success of our scheme,
when | heard Fisk utter cry of dis
| may.
1.-THE GOALS all gone!" he exclaimed.
1t was true, for, in the excitement,
had not noticed its rapid depletion,
until now, and not more than four or
five shovelfuls remained. This new ca
lamity almost stunned us both for
moment-perhaps we might be able to
make it hold out-but l doubted it
greatly. Ten miles-the coal was all
gone now, and emptied one of the oil
cans into the fire box to keep up the
steam, and then we began to break up
the woodwork about the tender.
Eleven miles-only one mile more
now and we would save the Comic, but
the last stick of fuel was gone even to
the last splinter, and / could see that
the speed was already beginning to
slacken down.
The sheriff seemed to notice that we
were beginning to slacken up little,
for he now laughed and rose to his feet
and stood upright in the buggy and be-
gan to urge his almost exhausted horse
on with shouts and free use of the
whip The light vehicle swayed and
plunged about from side to side as the
horse broke into headlong gallop,
willis -yo men hung desperately on
as the horse plunged frantically for
ward, still urged by the whip and the
furious shouts of the sheriff we're
RAPIDLY oyertaking us now the
Comic was lost unless weEo'id manage
in some way to keep up the few
moments longer. 1 locked and
saw that the sheriff was still coming
and was now within 100 yards of US
ard still gaining on us at the rate we
were moving. He saw me as I glanced
back, and he began to shout something
at me, but the engine made so much
noise that / was unable to understand
what it was that he said, but l could
guess almost, for I could see the look
of exultant satisfaction in his face and
hear him laugh as we began to slack
down and almost stand still-the fire
in he furnace having died down to
few smouldering embers. They were
now almost within speaking distance
and still coming nearer every moment
could plainly hear the labored breath
ing of the sheriff's exhausted horse,
and knew that he could not go much
further at that speed, and then I heard
the sheriff shout tauntingly: "Hold on
you can't get away now. We've got
you all right"
This was almost too much-especial-
ly with neutral ground not mile
ahead, and then with grim determin-
alton that would make another effort
to save the Comic in spite of them all,
| pulled off my heavy woolen coat, and,
pouring what oil there was left in the
can on it and saturating 1t thoroughly,
/ opened the fire box and showed 1t
quietly into the furnace among the
smoldering Goals.
In another moment it blaZed furious
ly up and we began to increase our fast
diminishing speed trifle. The sheriff
was now near enough to see plainly
what I was doing, and as we began to
gain headway little he began to curse
and swing the whip more furiously
than ever upon his plunging horse. In
moment the coat was consumed, but
we had held our own while it lasted,
and feeling somewhat encouraged by
our momentary success l threw in my
cap, while Fisk went me one better by
following suit with his coat and over
alls. This we did not moment too
soon, however, for us the fire died down
the sheriff had begun to gain again,
but as soon as the fire blazed up we be-
gan to make steam rapidly once more
and the sheriff barely held his own
with us now.
The coat and overalls did not last
long and I saw that something more
must go to keep up the fire, for we were
| DeSluuluS u lOSe STOuuu- Will MID
souri, half mile away straight ahead.
| took another quick look back at our
pursuers; they were still coming at a
headlong gallop. l opened the fire box
and looked in-the fire was almost
gone now-1not handful of embers re-
mained. Then, without a moments
hesitation, slipped off my own over
alls, showed them into the furnace and
shut the door. By these heroic means
we managed to keep just enough steam
to keep in motion little-just out of
the sheriff's reach--until we at last
crawled slowly over the line into Mis-
souri,, the sheriff and his party within
15O yards of us as we did so, our engis,a
barely moving as we slipped out Of
Kansas into Missouri and came to a
dead stop just beyoad the border line
We never saw anything more of rsy
third partner. -on-and all that