Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-04
harrison was coolly disregarding the con-

got against your father?"
"A charge of murder. But he Is innocent.
and-Oh, Mr. Larrison you must help me.
He will never tell and he will be lynched
If they get him back to Bledso county,
I'm yours to command; same as ever,
said Teddy laconically. What's your no.
tion?"
ITO go to Black Canyon on this train
and head them off,
''What'n you dor
It'll tell Mr. Pettijoe who killed John
Barnweli."
WHO was it?'
1t is hard thing for woman to say
to the man she loves that which she has
reason to believe will STAY his love for her.
But she did 1t.
1T vast was my cousin. We've were
engaged and father tried to hush 1t up for
my sake. When he found he couldn't do
it, he let them think he was the guilty one
and ran away. Now you know why you
must help me this once. and then try to
forget me-
Teddy fought his battle between two
suffering beats of the air pump.
Tell me. Miss Mary; did you love that
other fellow?" he said.
II thought 1 did; and father thinks SO
yet. He will go to his death shielding Bud
Parker for my sake. But know now that
didn't never did"
Teddy's rejoinder was not In words.
Reaching out of the cab window he swung
her clear of the pinto's back and drew her
up to the cushioned cab seat. Then he
dropped from the gangway and collared
me just as was coming uOWH IIOul Lie
superintendent office.
What Theodore had to say to me was
said in the cab Of the 619, after he had
chucked me upon the fireman's box and
was snatching the Fast Mail out over the
switches. Mary Howison's story was
shouted into my ear, and this was the de-
ductiOn from it:
'You p'rade round here as the compny
lawyer; you're going to Black Canyon to
find something wrong with this here sher-
iffs papers, See?"
1 saw" saw I was in for anything from
picking a pocket to committing high trea-
son. But not being Mary Howisons lover,
had hopes.
There was a blind siding three miles east
of Black Canyon. Unless l mistook my
man, Dispatcher Perkins would order No.
her at the rate of sixty miles an hour, and
should be we'll out of a bad business
But my thinking mechanism ran no
swifter than Theodore's. In a very few
moments 1t became evident that he had
sized the situation up to the same con-
clusion; and what steam and steel could
do to forestall Perkins was going to be
done in the racing interval.
Across the cab, lighted now by the bot
tlegreen glow of the gauge lamp and now
by the fierce glare from the open fire
door, was a picture to stir the genius of
Holbein Harrison stood on the narrow
running step, bracing himself against the
lurch Of the great engine by his grip on the
throttle statuesque, immovable, like life
sized figure done in ruddy bronze. Beyond
him, her shoulder touching his, sat the
girl. her hands ttght-clasped over her knees
and the straining eagerness in her face
matching Teddy's knitted brows.
Mile after mile shot backward beneath
us. The powerful machine seemed to be
doing it's utmost, yet harrison was still
twitching nervously at the throttle.
I knew his purpose. There was but one
night telegraph station between the Butte
and Black Canyon. Once safely past Nav
Toto 1y,I
might make sure of finding No. on the
siding at Black Canyon.
Harrison strained every nerve. but the
fates were against him. When we surged
ern approach to Maverick Junction, we
all saw the red light signal, Stop for Or
ders"
The air was still whistling through the
brakes when Hogan came running for
ward with the order. No. would leave
Black Canyon on time and would side-track
for US at Blind Siding No. 2.
Harrison read the order by the light of
the gauge lamp.
I'm damned If she doesr' was all he
said and the 619 leaped into motion like
an angry thoroughbred under an unmerited
cut of the whip.
Harrison. what are you going to do?'
shouted.
I'm goin' to shove back into Black
Canyon, r split her in twor he yelled
Study your piece. You're goin' to have It
to speak it."
1 recall little Of that nightmare flight
beyond Maverick. save the rattle and roar
and the piunging rush. Only once did full
blood consciousness assert itself 1t was
when we hammered over the switches of
the yet unoccupied blind siding and rushed
onward in the darkness to our DOOM
When l opened my eyes again the CLOS
whistle was screaming in demoniac shrieks,
and harrison was twitching at the air
brake. Straight in front of u.s. the cone Of
it's headlight merging fairly with ours. was
No. 8. 1 held my breath for the crash
Which should presently efface us. It did
not come. Instead. the advancing head
light stopped, wavered and began to recete.
Harrison had won the race.
A minute later we were at a stand beside
the waiting passenger train, and he had
bounced upon me with savage oath.
Down with you and speak your piece!'
he roared. I've done myself up for all
time. and If you don't get Bart Howison
loose now"
I did not wait to learn the alternative
My man and his man were in the day
coach, and l found them and went at my
part In the affair like bull at a gate,
There was no other way.
Your authority for this arrest Mr. Petit
joe," demanded.
What fully expected to see was an ALL
thor1zatfon from the governor of Wyoming
honoring formal requisition from the gov
ernor of Tennessee. But what the country
bred sheriff handed me was the requisition
AesSiA. - iioo iiCNci DccIl presented TO the
Wyoming authorities, and so was utterly
ineffective as a warrant for Howison's ar
rest.
I gave the paper back to the sheriff and
spoke to the cattle king.
This man has no more authority to ar
rest you than have"
What's that We say" demanded the
SHORTY hiskered one. bounding to his feet.
You heard what I said. That is merely
request from your governor to ours-it
isn't warrant Moreover. Mr.. Howison is
not the man you want. He did not kill
John Barnwell, as we are now prepared to
prove"
Pettijoe was standing irresolute when
harrison and Mary came in. 1 knew what
had happened before Teddy set it out in
terse speech.
"Supers order No. 10: Engineer Hoskins
transfers from eight to the mail; his fire.
man takes eight to Maverick. and Ted Lar
rdson gets the G. B. for runnin' against his
ORDERS he said briefly. Lets go and find
US couple Of seats and sit down. Miss
Mary's sort O. tired"
Howison looked at me and his harsh face
softened for instant. Later when we
were sitting behind the two younglings,
and the rattle and roar Of the wheels gave
US isolation. he said soberly, I'm sorry-a
whole lot
Because Ted has lost his job?"
Nav. That good friend o Bart Howl