The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-03-25

l AKAACN AohOrOON . OOAI 11ll11EaALL1 WENT UP
| IN SMOKE
q huge bridge spanned the stream
where the L. and W. crossed to the
town. Below this the road ran several
miles toward Digby. At Z o'clock
Bronson strapped on the long bladed
racing skates and with the wind at
his back shot past the railroad track
toward the bridge. Just as he reached
this point snap sounded and he fell.
The strap holding the heel Of the right
skate had rotted during the summers
inactivity.
He sat down on the stone pier of a
span and adjusted an extra strap. A
ring on the ice caught his attention.
Two men approached, and, drawing
the slide over his skating lamp, he
crouched, listening. Quickly he recog-
nized the voices as those of Harrity and
Stevens, two yardmen who had been
dismissed by Bascom. They were
grumbling because switchmen had
been stationed at either end of the
bridge and they were obliged to climb
one of the piers.
"We'll fix him good this time!" growl-
ed Harrity. He's due at Solent in his
special at 500"
Il don't see why you have to pick
out climb like this" snarled Stevens.
I'VE could drop down the road and
pull out rail easier than this job"
bah! What's climb to dumping
the supe In the river? The plunge will
send the train through the ice, with
water twenty feet deep. Put out the
old men, will he? Well, the last ones
gone by his orders"
AS soon as the ruffians were safe on
the bridge Harry skated noiselessly to
the Solent side of the river, where the
hadows were deepest. AS he reached
the shore something heavy shot
through the air and struck the ice with
crash. 1t was the rail. Later came
the sound Of saws. They were cutting
the timber guard rails.
Rapidly the Mortified young fellow
reviewed the chances. To return to
Solent would be too slow a process.
No telegram could now reach the
special. lie must warn the superin-
tendent for to inform the switchmen
al either end Of the bridge might pre-
cipitate fight. Harrity and Stevens
were desperate. Down the river he
sped to meet the train, lifting his feet
SO the blade would not click as it left
the ice. He had won the racing cham
pionship the year before, but never had
he attained the present speed. AS he
shot by the willows jutting out from
the Millar farm he saw slender fig
ure marching resolutely back and
forth on the bank. A faint "HeIloy'
reached his ears, but lie could only
miles beyond he heard the faint whis-
tie of the special, sounded for a grade
crossing. 1t must be at Hollis, two
miles below.
he swung in shore and clambered up
the steep bank, not stopping even to
remove his skates. Reaching the track.
he hastily jerked off his coat, saturat-
ed 1t with oil from his skating lamp,
then with matchbox in hand awaited
the appearance of the special around
the bend. A sharp whistle and a flash
OF light then Bronson's coat literally
went up in smoke. The warning was
so sudden that the train rolled past
him before the engineer could bring
it to stop.
With Bascom came the president of
the road, Mr.. Harding, and the two Of
ficials listened in amazement to Bron-
sons tale. The president spoke deci-
sively:
There must be no mistake this time.
We must get those two men. Well
run up as far as the bridge and then
send Oh to town.
Harry glanced up quickly.
Excuse my making the suggestion,
but If you'll give me note to the
sheriff think we can land them all
right. You hold the train here, so their
suspicious win not be reused. and