The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-09-16
lie Fireman and the Bandit.

BY HENRY GARDNER HUNTING.

in earnest. The sound OF heavy blow
stopped short Dams heart contractet
with q quick culver Of horror, and an
involuntary exclamation escaped him
The man in the corner instantly raised
his revolver.
Don't you move, young duck" IN
said, hoarsely.
Dan held himself motioness, but ho
turned blazing eyes upon his enemy
A savage impulse was rising in him
an inspiration TO desperate daring
which he had never felt before was
growing, and with IL strange cunning,
danger-born in his hitherto untried
! spirit, grew also. He looked at his
muscular captOr with n new question
in his eyes, and measured him by a
! new standard, the standard of craft.
He grew cooler. The hubbub at the
| express car was growing again. Words
and sentences reached the engine,
threats shouted TO the occupant OF n
barricaded car which told OF efforts
to enter which were, so far, futile
Time was passing, time that was pre-,
cious 10 these robbers and their cause
was not prospering. The man i'm the
express car was not 10 be frightened
and brought - tormJ by barking. Dan
heard the command from some rccog-
nizcd leader:
Break the express car Of and run
her down tho road. Wc'll blow the
whole outfit into kingdom come If that
idiot don't give in"
The big engineer sat ~ with n quick
indrawing OF his breath. Dan was
wild in an instant TO prevent his max.
ing move which he feared could only
bring disaster. II was the last straw
for the boy. Ills wits were at their
keenest stretch. lie must ind STRAIT.
agem, or he must art in sheer dcspcr-
alton. He controlled himself by an
effort Of will, and his eyes became cat
like in relr watching of the guard for
the slightest opening.
Then all at once his plan formed.
He turned slightly AMI glanced up AT
the steam guage.
"She's losing steam" he said aloud,
looking at the robber.
The other scowled Mt the address:
then his eyes glanced at the gauge
with quick intelligence. Steam was
needed. Dan had counted on his know
ing enough about an engine to fall into
his trap.
"She ought 10 be coaled," said Dan,
and he wondered If his voice trcmbled.
The guard looked at him a moment
suspiciously, and then said:
"All right! Coal up, then"
Dan slipped from his scat. He dared
not look nt Ben, but silently prayed
that the big engineer would be on
the alert to help If his plan succeeded.
He must act quickly, for only so could
he hope for success. His heart pound.
ed painfully and his knees trcmblcd,
but the quick thought of that brave
Ben, his friend, braced him with a
fierce resolve to stand by.
He picked up the coal SCOOP and
swung ii recklessly near the legs Of
the robbcr. Even at that trying mo-
ment the half-humorous idea of digging
stirred in him faint inclination to
smile. But his plan was better than
that, and he knew that on his nerve,
his stcadincss and his clevcrncss in
strategy hung the fate of the money
in the express company's safe, per.
haps the life of the man in the cx-
press car-and his chance to help Ben
in this tight pinch" to prevent his
doing anything rash aud thereby re-
ceivlng hurt.
lie swung open the furnace door and
threw in n scocpful Of coal. The fire
harcd UP and Dan looked quickly at
the face of his guard and saw that
the light dazzled him. He closed the
door and swung his scoop again. This
time he hit the bandits legs sharp
rap. The man Jumped aside with n
snGrl.
I'll break yer block IL you do that
again" he cried.
Dan stood up with anxious, humble
apology in every line OF his face and
figure. I'm sorry" he said. IL didn't
mean-I-if you'll just stand there on
the apron, near the side, won't bungle
again. Il"
The robbcr moved to the place dcsig-
mated. He could see his prisoners quite
as well from the new position, and he
did not relish the possibility of another
dig from the scoop. Dan dnmpcd n
second shovel load on the fire. Then.
holding his breath. he prepared for his
final play. He left the furnace door
| open that its stream OF light might
shield the engineer Ivy binding the rob
ber. 4 third shovel Of coal, and then
Dan paused in his stopped position
with the heavy scoop poised in his
| hands.
"How's the steam, Bcn?" he asked
the engineer over his shoulder, trying
to speak coolly. He noted with salts.
| faction that he could hardly see the
| big engineer across the yellow glare
! from the firebox. and he knew the
bandit was equally at n disadvantage.
| Then. without waiting for n reply,
| he looked up at the robber. Instinct
| lively the latter lad turned To- .hc engi-
neer. and was straining his eyes to
look at the big gauge, Dams moment
! had come.
With all the force Of his powerful
young shoulders, backed by his wild
determination. he swung the scoop,
edge foremost. a fearful weapon
straight at the robbers body. Fairly
over the stomach he hit the man. and