Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-16

with difficulty to his feet, shaking on his
cramped limbs. q
II might ask you the same ,iTwas the re-
ply. us the lion dead?-
yes; I put three ballsiLi into lit. Where
did the creature come frofn?'5Ie
Its yours.
my lion! What do you mean?"
ITS true enough, sir.n Carruthers ex-
planned. when the train pulled up here
yesterday the lion ESCAPED. So 1 stopped
over. taking the cage with me, and after
lively chase l cornered- the-brute in
Dutch farmhouse back of the village.
and some others drove itGinto the cage and
in the evening then, and therenwas no train
till the middle of the next day. So / set
tied down to make a night of 1t with tbs
telegraph operator. Fontein.- That's him
up yonder."
Yes, I understand Q6in replied, CURLY.
He glanced at the Boer,, who was strug-
Cling hard to extricate himself from his um n,
comfortable perch. What happened thenf'
he added. Go on quick! message came
over the wires from Johannesburg
How did you know that?" exclaimed
Carruthers. But you are right. mes
sage came from somewhere about an hour
ago Fontein put it down on paper and
pulled the handle of that signal yonder
Then he rushed for the door. but before ne
make a spring and break loose the second
time The joltng of the train must nave
weakened the cage. The brute was IN
fearful temper, not having been fed prop
erly and he nearly got US. 1t was a close
cali, but we scrambled On top of the closet,
and from there to the beams. And a nice
time we've had of it since, with the hungry
brute waiting below for us to drop. II was
no use to shout, for the village was too !ar
away And if you hadn't come along
.That will do" Quin interrupted
where the paper the fellow copied the
message on?'
Ouin picked it up-first closing the door
and with grim smile he read the folio"-
ing: . 20
sion Have armed men in waiting. Arrest
Englishman, and send him back under es-
cort to Johannesburg.
Crash! The operator, free at last, hao
dropped from the beams. He staggered to
his feet. looked about him with a frighten-
ed countenance and made a bolt for the
window.
Quin instantly leveled his revolver.
mo, you don't" he cried. stop, or II
put a bullet through your
The Boer was a plucky fellow, but ne
saw that he was cornered. He made viz
tue of necessity and confronted Quin with
a savage look.
you'll be sorry for this!" he snarled
Have you a weapon?' Quin demanded.
mo, or you wouldn't have taken me-"
was the reply.
Just then a shout was heard, evidently
from d point nearer than the engine. Quin
realized the danger and formed a plan at
once.
Sit down, sFontein, or whatever your
name is" he commanded, pointing to the
chair at the operators table. The driver
is coming in, and you will agree to every
word l tell him. Disobey, and l swear I'll
shoot you en- the spot. Do you under
stand?'
The Roer nodded and took his seat.
Your part will be to keep quiet" he
added to the mystified Carruthers.
AS he spoke footsteps were heard on the
platform. He stood over the Boer. with
the hand holding the revolver thrust care
lessly into his side pocket. The next in
slant the door opened and the driver APP
peared on the threshold of the room.
Whats wrong here?" he demanded.
Has the lion yonder been trying to run the
place Fontein?"
You've hit it, my man. Quin spoke up.
1.-The lion had the operator and this other
chap freed on the rafters. That's why you
now, since l settled the brute. Go back to
your engine, and I'll join you in a few
minutes. I'm going to send dispatch to
Johannesburg.
"The line is clear. then, Fontein?'' the
driver asked, looking at him in doubtful
and puzzled manner.
Yes. it's clear the operator answered
huskily
The driver backed out of. the station and
closed the door. He crossed The platform
and stepped to the ground. Qain drew a
deep breath of relief.
No time to lose,'' he said. ''Don't ask
questions now, Carruthers.= I'll explain lat
er. Here, take the pistol and put a bail
through this fellow if he sffrs or cries out"
Carruthers obeyed, and Quinr bent over
the table. By a lucky chance he knew the
Geographic code and how to use4the instru-
ment, and that information was now to be
of the greatest service to him. He called
Johannesburg, received a signal from that
end and at once licked off the following
message:
Engine stopped and Englishman arrest
ed. VIII send him back in custody. Am
just closing office. Fontein.'
Unless I am much mistaken, there will
be no stoppage signals further along the
line" Quin muttered he turned away.
He looked about for moment and found
pair of sharp nippers. Take these and
give me the revolver" he said to Carruth-
ers. Now get out of the rear window and
go up the line till you can't be seen from
the engine. Shin up one of the poles-youre
a good Cumberland cut the wires Be as
quick as you can
Carruthers was out of the window in a
trice and for ten anxious minutes-for he
dreaded the return of the driver or stoker
-Quin kept guard over the BOer, who vent
ed his rage in low-spoken threats and pro-
family. Then Carruthers climbed into the
room as he had left it, breathing hard
It's all right" he painted. THE wires
are down."
Good exclaimed Quin. Now give
me hand with this fellow
In two minutes the operator was gag
ged with a strip of his own shirt, and
his arms were bound behind him Then
he was thrust into the closet and the door
locked upon him.
IF you do any kicking I'll come back
and kill you" Quin called through the
keyhole. Remember that
The two Englishmen calmly left the sta
ton. shouting goodbye to Fontein as they
closed the door.
This man is going on with me-" Qun
said, he mounted the engine, followed
by Carruthers.
The stoker looked questioningly at the
driver, and the latter, after an instant
of hesitation, pulled the lever The en-
CINE bounded forward into the night, and
the station of New Rotterdam faded in
the distance.
Lorenzo Marquee was about eighty miles
distant, and forty miles OF the Journey lay
within Transvaal territory, where the
engine was likely to be stopped if the
operator should effect an early escape
and reopen Geographic communication
This was the only contingency that Quin
feared, for he believed that the message
he had sent would prevent further action
on the part of the Johannesburg police
But all went well. The driver and stok-
er, though they probably suspected that
something was wrong, were 100 prudent
to Shirk their duty or to try to Overpowar