Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-12

make seven Do not shoot man In white
hat. That's me. FLANDERS.
p. Slower will explain sig.,"'- s- :.
The operator added to this message ct
his own. This lets me out I'm going to
scoot." Five minutes later, when the up
roar in the train dispatcher's Office had
Gained bit, the wire was almost blistered
by call for Guamo Siding. But there was
no answer; the key in the Siding station
clicked in solitude, and far down the track
handcar clattered over the fishplates, a
sweating man pumping at the levers, with
his eyes turned fearfully over his shoulder.
"Guamo Siding's dead called the dispatch
er's operator from his desk. Il can't raise
him at ALL He's lit out or they've got him,
HIM? He's cut in on the board and got
the news hot Off the wire. Guess he's rat
tied some
Nm" was Haney's Mill, the next sta
ton east of Guamo Siding. Tell him to
keep his mouth shut!' roared the dispatch
er, snatching up the message from Guamo
and rushing to the rail to meet the superin-
tendent, who had burst through the door
way. Here, read this, Boss!' The dis
patcher thrust the message into the super
intendent's hand and then was back at the
operators shoulder.
Outside in the yard the western mail lay
at the platform, a fresh engine backing
down through the switch. Hold her five
minutes" the dispatcher ordered, land tell
those deputies to hurry. Have you heard
from Tower yet? Ring up on the phone
there. We can't wait all night"
But Tower himself at this moment hustled
into the office. IT'S all right!' he cried.
FLANDERS is one of my men. He's daisy.
1 thought they'd stretched him out. Your
men ready?. I'm going, too.
The dispatcher jumped from his chair
and strobe down the room Where's that
idiot Percy 3, , he demanded. Amt he
ready YETI" Hes coming, sir was the
answer Coming, is her growled the dis
he don't ever seem to get anywhere. Oh,
here you are, are you, Piercy?"
The road detective hustled in, a crowd of
deputies his shoulder. What's the or
ders?" he asked. The dispatcher thrust
the message into his hand, and then pushed
he cried The old man and Towers going,
too They'll tell you what to do
The armed men at Piercy's back turned
right about and the company trooped down
the stairs. "Therell be hot time in Gu
amo tonight, all right unused the dispatch
er. wish 1 was with en-
Night had fallen and the yard cleaned
with switch lights like a field of frefies
when the western mail drove out into the
open. Tower and superintendent armed
with short-barreled riot guns, sat in the
cab with the engineer. Don't keep 'em
waiting" the superintendent cautioned the
oily man at the levers Il wouldn't disap-
point them for the world The engineer
nodded, and the locomotive, toiling with
harsh breath up the long ascent cleared
the summit with a bound and ran rolling
and swaying on the long down grade Gu
amos the first STOP" laughed the superin-
tendent. I'VE go by there kiting usually
but tonight Wen tackle the stretch sorter
slow. / guess you'd better cut her down
to half speed, Bilr'-this to the engineer
when we leave the mill. 1 shouldn't won
der but they've arranged to chuck US
off the iron. and 1t wouldn't do this brand
new engine bit Of good to flop over in
the ditch"
In the baggage car behind Piercy all
excitement, hustled about with his orders.
Long before they reached Haney's Mill he
had the lights out and the doors opened
Little heaps of buckshot cartridges Law
within easy reach and on the car platforms
aft other deputies guarded the weakest
tanks of the train. Then the Locomotives
whistled-first, the long yard signal. then
Piercy. Get to your places, men! And
| mind-don't shoot the man in the white
hatr'
Ahead, In the locomotive, Tower peered
across the engineers shoulder into the dis
lance, scanning every foot of the iron
bands glittering in the shine of the mead
light. There's curve ahead" the enRi-
neer explained. 1T won't show till we've
| rounded the-By thunder, there they are
now!'
black monument of railroad ties cresf-
| ed by red lantern stood in the middle Of
| the track. In the broad angle of light thew
| savior an instant-a figure, ghost-iike in
| the pale glow, standing staring. upon the
| approaching train. Then 1t was some: NE
| brake shoes bit with loud complaining upon
| the wheels. the cars shocked together
| on her springs the engine came to a halt.
| Hands up!' roared voice out OF the
| darkness beside the track. Hands up!''
dim shape disclosed itself, menacinR