The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-09

know of the existence of Martin. The
quick-witted boy decided that the sur
est way to help his father would be to
leave him and go for help. One 16-
year-old boy with a light shotgun has
no chance against three men. His only
way was to alarm Carson before the
train left. and the train would leave
In forty minutes.
Carefully he made his way from the
window to the friendly shelter of
ledge. He could not, he knew, walk
to Carson in time, and there was no
way of cutting the telegraph wire.
Suddenly the thought of the handcar
flashed across his mind. From what
the men had said, it must be on the
gravel siding below the station on the
Carson side, for they had spoken of
getting it up. The pit was a quarter
of a mile below. He was a safe dis
lance from the house now. and he
went tearing down the track.
His heart gave a great leap as he
saw the handcar. It was not one of
nat sort used to carry rails. That
made 1t easier for his plan Feverish-
ly he tore the lamp off the switch. 1t
had not been lighted and was half full
of thick sperm oil. This he smeared
over the journals and carefully he
lifted the car over to the main track.
He threw himself fiat upon the floor of
the car. and a moment later he had
began a five mile coast.
1t was a fortunate thing for him
that he knew the track well. He made
trips to Carson frequently on the
pusher, and he knew just where to
ease up and where II was safe to let
go. There was no way Of putting on
a brake but even in the dark he could
tell the road and when to swing. to
the inside of a curve that the wheels
might stay on the track.
A hundred times 1t seemed that he
must jump the track, for the curves
were taken on the inside wheels alone,
but each time the outer -fanges settled
back.
He was going faster than fifty miles
an hour now and the rushing wind
seemed to drive his breath back in his
noStrils while his eyes were stream
ing. 1t was an ordeal that would have
daunted a man, but 1t was for father
and Martin never fiinched even when
Death Curve rose before him.
This was the final sharpe curve. The
train, rounding the side of the noun
tan, struck the level track that led
down to the L. s. M. yards. If he took
the curve the rest was easy. II he
ldlltu. IlG bhAe inv -
freight had run over and two days la
ter they found the engineer 300 feet
below. 1t was a clear drop and at the
speed he was going 1t was a question
whether the car would not climb over
| the rails and leap out into space.
1t was but a second before he struck
| the curve. There was a shrill Shrek
of grinding steel, the car lifted omi-
nously and then with a jolt settled
back on the rails. and there, a mile be-
low, he saw the lights of Carson.
After that he did not remember any
thing till he woke up In the dispatch
er's Office in the yard. His face was
wet and there was a serious-looking
man holding ammonia under his nos
trils. Gasping, he told his tale. and
when he was assured that they would
save his father, he fell off to sleep
| again. When he awoke a second time
! his father sat beside him and they told
him that the men were safely lodged
| in Jail. The robbers had been sur
prised and easily overcome by the rush
| of the sheriff's posse the moment the
| engine had been halted.
Two days later there came train
| letter for Martin and in 1t were $500
and pass to Denver Casey had told
the dispatcher, and headquarters had
responded; and. as Casey declared, 1t
was worth 1t.