Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-08

prideful emotions. The plan OF embark
alton had been mine.
Blenkinsop pointed to a horseman in a
wide, tapping eombrero galloping break
neck down the wagon road. which led by q
short cut to the foot OF the mountain.
That remains TO be seen" he said
doubtfully. How far is it to Mountsfooi
by the railroad?"
1T is a grade loop" said /; flour miles
and a fraction, / believe"
And by the wagon road?"
"A little more than one"
Precisely. So IL that fellow should hap
pen to be gaIloping to head US on he can
DO It easily"
"Heavensi" l gasped. you dom
think"
mo, / don't think know. Five minutes
ago that fellow in overalls and a battered
derby hat was helping the driver Of the
g~rocer's wagon to unload the-vegetables.'
1t was a moment for action, prompt and
decisive, and my hand was on the bell cord
to give the signal which should call Savage
back to us when the car gave q great lungs
and a leap and the flight down the steer
grade became q mad race.
You needn't mind" said Blenkinsop
cooliy; Savage has seen him"
With the superintendent on the engine
and In command there was nothing for us
I TO do. But when we rushed down the last
incline into the Mountsfoot yards we were
both hanging of by the hand rails to set
what ~portended.
The gaIloping horseman had beaten US
but only by the narrowest margin. We saw
him race down to the station and fling him
self from the saddle. A moment later We
were laundering over the switches and al
the lurching treasure car spun around the
curve below the station we OF the rear
guard had a vanishing glimpse OF a crowd
OF men swarming upon the engine of q
waiting freight train.
Blenkinsop stepped inside and came oui
with a repeating rife.
You may ring up Savage now. II yoV
want TO; the fight will be at our end Of ths
string from this on"
What do you maenf" l asked.
That" said he, pointing backward.
We had trailed out on a bit OF straight
track-the only one Of any consequence be-
tween Gold hill and Whisky mountain. Fol,
lowing his gesture the freight engine. fret
Of its train and black with clustering men
tore around the curve In chase.
A mile farther on Savage and the pay
master Joined US. the superintendent COO
and grim and Bossuet pale 10 the ears will
very natural alarm.
Dear mel" he said. striving like the
brave little man he was to speak calmly
Il am very much afraid We are In for It,"
ut looks that way" said Savage. Il
means q race ~straightaway TO the junction
There isn't a station this side Of the mali
line where we could stop and raise
oorpOral's guard to fight them"
you know both engines" said !. "cai
the 25s do itG"
He shook his head. with simmons a
the throttle and a chance to take waite
at Tyree II might. As II Is the $40 car
ries two gallons OF water to our one an
our tank will go dry somewhere on tn
whisky mountain hill"
But the wiresi'' / broke IN. THE alarr
will so down he line. and surely somebod
will have wit enough TO throw a switch an
ditch them"
The superintendent shook his head again
w may as well look II fairly in the face
Those fellows are bigger fools than ! TAX
them TO be II they haven't dropped a maj
on to cut the wires long before this. 70
/ have given Simmons his orders. II hi
water hoids out ne is 10 run 70 SUNNI
siding on Whisky mountain. Then, n moth
ing has happened 20 change the situation
We shall put the women on the engine. lie
simmons drop dow the farther grade wit
them out Of harms way. and Wen sta,
BY the carat least. I shall"
There were three more alternatives Z
that vote. and little Mr.. BOssuet stumble
into the car 10 bring out more rifles. 1
those hard money days the pay car wen
we'll provided with arms.
Notwithstanding its great weight and Ii
smailness Of its driving wheels. the freigh
engine was holding u we'll in leash. curv