Evening star., 1901-06-01

| ident's car. which was standing with it's
engine coupled on, ready to follow the
treasure train eastward, paused until the
din Of the upcoming special filled all ears,
and then crept under the 'Esmeralda TO
strike a mighty blow at some part OF the
air-brake machinery. Followed instantly a
roar of escaping air, which was drowned
by the noise of the train, and the man was
out again and ready to dart under the ar
mored express car when 1t came to a stand
at the station platform.
This time Raglan saw him; saw him dive
under the and hammer fiercely at the
brake machinery. But at the critical mo-
ment his attention was distracted by his
companion. The rear platform of the ''Es-
meralda" extended the full width Of the
car, and Miss Langham standing at
the guard railing on the side nearest the
station. When she cried out and beckoned
him she was leaning over and looking for
ward.
Come here, quick! Oh. merciful heav-
ems, they are killing him.
Raglan got but tfeeting glimpse over
her shoulder, but what he saw made him
climb the railing to drop quickly to the
ground and run to the rescue. A dozen
armed men had surrounded the "EsmeraI-
da's' engine; some of them were swarming
aboard; others had overpowered the engi-
neer and fireman, dragging them from the
cab and beating them with clenched fists
and dubbed guns.
The moment was propitious for the at
| tack. The incoming locomotive Of the
treasure car had been detached and was al
ready on Its way to the coal chute. Its fe-
| low on the opposite side was heaving and
buckling under the engineers vain efforts
| to start 1t. And at the station the armored
! express car drew all eyes, while it's Win
dowless bulk screened the melee at the
| ''Esmeralda 8" engine
| The melee was over before Raglan could
run the necessary car length. The engi-
neer and fireman, bleeding and insensible,
! were flung aside; two of the armed men
| sprang to the front platform Of the presi-
dents car, while the others took their
| places on the locomotive and the next in
stant the 'Esmeralda" lunged forward as if
from the impact Of mighty projectile
If Angus Raglan had been the craven that
! Lieutenant Bisby's innuendo pretigured
| him, he would have stayed where he was on
| the safe and stable earth. But his one
thought was for the woman he loved, speed
ing to he knew not what fate at the tail of
the storming locomotive. Hence, when the
rear platform of the 'Esmeralda'' whisked
past he laid hold Of the high guard rail and
made Shift to climb aboard.
Miss Langham was clinging to the railing,
but she gave glad little cry when he
swung up beside her. The car was flying
| around the curve in the siding, careenlng
! like ship in gale and Raglan put one
| for the arbrake cord. Whereupon Miss
| Langham let go of the railing and clung to
the man.
| What is it?' she gasped; but Raglan
DIS giving LIS uuulNlueu attention the
brake cord-to no purpose. since the man
with the hammer had done his work effect
| ually,
When he desisted there was no time for
| explanations. In twinkling the "Esmer-
aida" unimpeded by the tuggings at the
| brake cord was whipped out over the
switch to the main track; in another it was
sents spinning back to the waiting treasure
car. Raglan saw what was coming, gath
| cred the girl in his arms and braced him
| self. He was none too prompt With q
! crash which was little short of a collision
| the 'Esmeralda' was hurled against the
heavy express car; the automatic couplers
| interlocked with a snap; and in the very
| rebound of the collision the two cars drawn
| by the captured locomotive, shot away from
| the station.
| Ten rail lengths of the meteor flight made
| the swaying lurching platform of the "Es-
| meralda' untenable, and Raglan retreated
| with his charge to the central compart-
ment Here they found a return to pri-
| mordial chaos.
| everything movable The three women
| We're crouchng terror stricken in a corner:
| the lieutenant and the two negro servants
were struggling to free themselves from
| the wreckage of upset furniture at the rear
| end of the compartment; and only the
| white-haired president was afoot and alert
| What has happened, Raglan?" he de-
| manded. shouting to make himself hea I'd
above the rafting clamor of the meteor
flight.
! Raglan's answer was shorn Of euphemisn.
| THE worst that could happen. Train rob-
| bers have captured our engine, and they
are running away with the 'Esmeralda' and
the specie car"
! "Wha-Whats thatp' uuayered the liert on