Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-08-14
HOW ROD GOT BACK.

It's only seven miles and III sit very still
In the cab
The stout engineer scratched his head
loubtfully. yes" he said at last. Civ
ing way before the appeal in the blue eyes.
"Nine-forty sharp, Bessie
Rod Platt won't be botherin' YOU in
Welton Better stay as long as Cousin
Sally will keep you" He gave an irr-
table shrug and looked at his watch. Its
nine o'clock now. must be going"
III be there" cried the girl. Thank
you, Uncle. [ don't thank you, though,
for being so mean to Rodney. He fired
for you two years and you thought there
was no one like him. Them just because
he accidently hit you with lump of
coal
Accident! HUH" snorted Nathan Bel.
lows. 'He done it a purpose"
''He didn't. He was trying to hit bird
by the track"
"Well, he hit the wrong bird, then He's
made his last run with me. And with you,
too! l told him if l caught him round here
again I'd brain him"
you did! you mean old"
But the door had slammed, and Bessie
Paxton was left to finish her sentence to
empty walls, while a sob strangled the
words.
81 might as well go down to Welton
tonight and ask Tom Sears to give me a
job haying," thought Rob Platt, recently
and unceremoniously bounced from the
company's employ at the wrathful request
of Nathan. "The old man will never for
give me-and Bess; well, it's hard luck"
The clean-built young fireman ground his
big, white, irregular teeth. "Fangs," the
boys on the road dubbed him, but he didn't
mind. "I'll take one more trip with Nate"
he grunted. Passenger, too. Reserved
seat and free ticket. Tom will give me
bed. Going to be dark-that's good"
When No. l27 pulled her fast gathering
way by the coal sheds beyond the round
house, quick form slipped out from the
gloom and pounced on the pilot like
diminutive spider on huge insect
"If Nate knew this" chucl1led Platt.
fastening comfortably, "he'd blow up. That
dub of Rickett is firing for him, heard.
Shucksl He can't feed house boiler.
Spinning, now, amt we?'
The night express whirled on in the black
ness-on past the icehouses by Sedge Pond,
waking the stiffness with a steady, rafting
roar. 1.-TWO, three, four miles," counted
Rod. "Now the gorge and the woods.
where | tried to peg that cussed partridge
and the blamed lump broke and took Nate
behind the ear. What fool l was!"
They flew around curve to the straight
stretch OF rails glittering in the headlights
glare. "Hullo!" whispered the man.
SLOWING up-whats the natter"
Shading his eyes he peered ahead to see
a swinging lanterns signal of warning. Il
knew that gravel would slide down." he
muttered. That's it, guess. III get out
Of this berth and walk the rest of the way"
As the engine painted to halt he dropped
off, hearing the gruff hail of Bellows. What
in thunder's the trouble?"
The man with the lantern stepped for
ward. speaking in incoherent humble. Rod
could have touched him.
Hey! Louder!" called the engineer.
sharply.
Then Platt heard something elsa rush
of men, spring fierce oaths, faint scream,
two thuds, then long moment of silence.
The chill in his blood pushed back into
hot wrath, but he lay still behind the little
rock. Now his half-blinded eyes could see
more plainly. His straining ears caught
every whisper.
Four men, counting the fellow with the
lantern. What could he-what should ne
do?
lie knew that Bellows was lying on the
floor of the cab, although he could not see
him. The fireman he could see, notion
less black shape upon his blacker coal.
Something was huddled against the window
of the cab upon his side That he could
not make out at all. He knew that in the
locked express car, behind a pale, deter
mined man was sitting on a small steel
safe, with a revolver in his firm hand. And
the three quickmoving shapes-the low,
tense voices.
"Uncouple the express car, now-all
three of us. Got you dynamite, Bob? The
men are out all right. Was that a woman
up there, SIM
YES | tied up her mouth an feet, Cap.
Now Eddie, soon's we whistle climb in an
start her up. Let her buzz a mile an stop.
Well be on"
The three whisked back like great cats.
The other planted his lantern on the steps
and raised one foot and hand.
He got no further. The stone that crashed
on his skull may have killed him as he sank
down, sliding under the truck wheels
The hand which had held the stone was
on the throttle now. 1t yanked it vicious
~ to the widest notch. \ tremendous
Jtll4He join sHol tHiOuBH tHt INK VI CdlS'
The great drivers whizzed, stationary for
second in their revolution, then grasped
the rails, and No. l27 shot on with snort
ing scream, gasping, straining demon in
the darkness.
Plat heard the wild, despairing yell be-
hind the express car, and, laughing uncan-
nily, glanced back Yes he had been IN
time. The train was intact.
When he came out of his faint on the
station platform a few minutes later girl
with pathetic, fearless eyes held his head
in her tender lap. She bent down and
kissed him.
where's Uncle Mater" mummured Rod,
trying to rise and gazing at the circle of
sympathetic faces.