The Savannah morning news., 1901-10-13

bound, and ran rolling and swaying
on the long down grade. "Guamo's the
first stop" laughed the superintendent
I'VE go by there kiting, usually, but
tonight We'll tackle the stretch sorter
slow. 1 guess you'd better cut her
down to half speed, Bill'-this to the
engineer-"when we leave the Mill l
shouldn't wonder but they've arranged
to chuck us off the iron, and 1t
wouldn't do this brand new engine a
bit of good to flop over in the ditch"
In the baggage car behind Piercy, all
excitement, hustled about with his or
ders. Long before they reached Haney's
Mill he had the lights out and the doors
opened. Little heaps of buckshot cart
ridges lay within easy reach, and on
the car platforms aft other deputies
guarded the weakest TANKS of the
train. Then the locomotive whistled-
first, the long yard signal then two
short boots. That's Guamo!" cried
Piercy. Get to your places, men And
mind--don't shoot the man in the white
hat!"
Ahead, in the locomotive, Tower peer
ed across the engineers shoulder into
the distance, scanning every foot of the
iron bands glittering in the shine of the
headlight. There's a curve ahead
the engineer explained. at won't show
till we've rounded the-By thunder,
there they are now!"
A black monument of railroad ties,
crested by red lantern, stood in the
middle of tie track. In the broad angle
of light they SAVIOR an instant-a
figure, ghost-like in the pale glow.
standing staring upon the approaching
train. Then it was gone; the brake
shoes bit with loud complaining upC1
! IL,
their buffers clanking, and with
heave on her springs the engine came
| to halt.
Hands up" roared a voice out of
the darkness beside the track. Hands
up"
A dim shape disclosed itself, a men
| acing figure with a Winchester point
ed at blank range into the cab. For a
moment there was no answer-no noise
save the snuffling gurgle of the air.
| pump; then a voice rang down the
| line: TITS a brown hat he wears,
| bovs!"
A stream of fire spurted from the
| cab, and the silence exploded with a
| crash. The night roared with the echo.
and a scream of anguish pierced the
| thunders of the defamation. Then the
stiffness fell again for an instant, brok-
en- only by the sobbing measure of the
| pump; the cry of anguish had died with
it's giver and peace seemed assured,
when there was sudden rush of foot
steps.
"Firel" cried a voice.
A volley ratified from the cars. The
air whistled with the questing lead,
| and cry upon cry followed. Shot, too.
| answered across the gloom-a voice
screamed a warning to flight; the
coaches in the rear resounded with a
frightened uproar, and a man in a
white hat beside the right of-way sat
waiting indifferently for the noise to
end.
die" he cautioned. "I'll scatter yer
brains from one end err the map to the
| other"
A curse answered the warning, for
the man in the white hat sat upon the
chest of the other. a pistol held to his
head. Yer hound! the outlaw cried.
''Ye've played it well-hain't yer? God
! help yer, yer dog, when I'm clear er
| this!"
But yer won't be clear, Doc" was
| the easy answer. ITS been a hot chase
to land yer, but it's did, ole man
| Easy there, now. No monkey shines,
or" He pressed the cold rim of the
revolver muzzle into the others ear.
and with n suggestive wriggle of the
weapon, made his meaning clearer.
The shots had died away, but the up
roar continued. Flanders! o, Elan
ders!" a voice roared from the engine.
Here, sir!" answered the man in the
white hat. The outlaw writhed again.
Abr, let me 60 won't yer! I'll make
it wuth while-there's a lot put by.
| Won't yer?"
What roared Flanders. LET yer
| go to be Writin' things to the papers?
Not much. Doc. Yer come near to
maxim me lose the job wunst, ole man,
and I'll not take chances agin. Lie
easy, now
Flanders! Flanders!' cried the
voice of Tower again.
Here, sir" he answered meekly.
well, come in here, them" Tower
cried testify.
Cant, sir. I've got someone with
me-"
Got what?"
Got Doc Burdle, sir"
A half-dozen lanterns came flicker
ing on a un toward him. Hello.
Chief" said Flanders. I've filled that
| hand-got a full house. too. Make yer
acquainted with Chief Tower. Doc
| Burdle-Doc-Chief: Chief-Doc. -
Then, as they clamped the handouts
on the outlaws wrists, Flanders arose
and wiped his brow. Guess l squared
myself" he muttered.
And now" said the Chief, when he
confronted Flanders in the baggage
car, perhaps you'll explain all this. f"
Amt much TO explain, Chief" Elan
Gers answered. Il JUS got next TO
the Doc, and when the shootin' played
up lively give him a clip on the ear
and sat on his chest when he come to-"
But how in thunder did you get
next to him?" demanded the Chief.
Real easy, Chief Evenin', Mr.. Pier
cN.'
For an instant the detective stared
at Flanders: then, with a menacing
gesture, leaped to his feet. The super
iatendent clutched him by the collar.
What's this mean?" he growled.
Mean roared Piercy. why il
was this blanked outlaw here that hit
me in the face at Seed City and wreck
ed all the windows in the car. Why.
I'd "a given my job to We met him
wunst out there in the bush. l reckon
then, yer'd never taken him alive"
Flanders turned to his chief, his
| face transllGIred with merriment, but
| Tower stared in establishment. out
| law-what ave mean, Piercy? This
! is no outlaw-it's Flanders, one of my
! Iaen."
Piercy's face fell. and Flanders
! laughed aloud. Yer see, Chief" he
ext lained. Il reeded a good excuse
/ 10 get off AT Seed City. II ia JUS
! dropped In there without a good reason
why, some er them guns might a rat
! tied a charge er buckshot agin my
/ throw me Off. He did his best too,
] hn haA Ia