The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-10-05


from its ear.splitting hiss TO lower
note, dwindlcd and dropped again
slightly, and then stopped with sud
denncss that made the succeeding un-
accustomed quiet for the instant nl-
most painful.
Dams body stliTencd with n startled
Jerk. A growl of rough voices, with
an occasional shout aud the hollow
noise OF blows OH ear door, sounded
not n dozen yards away, breaking In
with all their grim portent upon his
startled understanding.
Then suddenly n shot rang ont above
the din. aud an lnsianlancously sue
cecdlng yell told that II had been fired
In earnest. The sound of heavy blows
stopped short. Dams heart contracted
with n quick culver OF horror, and nm
involuntary exclamation escaped him.
The man In the corner instantly raised
his revolver.
Don't you move, young duck" he
said, hoarscly.
Dan held himself motionless, but he
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 II n strange cunning,
danger-born In his hitherto untrled
spirit, grew also. IN looked Mt his
muscular captor with n new question
In his eyes, and measured him by
new standard, the. standard OF craft.
He grew cooler. The hubbub Mt the
express car was growing again. Words
and sentences reached the engine.
threats shouted TO tho occupant of
barrlcnded eur which told of efforts
10 enter which were. so far. futile.
Time was passing, time that was pre-
clous to these robbers, aud their cause
was not prosperlng. The man In the
express ear was not TO he frightened
and brought TO terms by barking. Dan
heard the command from some rccog-
niZed leader:
Break the express car or AMI run
her down the road. Wen blow the
whole outfit into kingdom come IL that
idiot don't give inr'
The big engineer sat up with a quick
indrawing of his breath. Dan was
wild In an instant to prevent his max.
Ing a move which he feared could only
bring disaster. II was the last straw
for the boy. His wits were at their
keenest stretch. He must find n STRAIT
agem, or he must act in sheer desper-
alton. He controlled himself by an
effort OF will, and his eyes became cat
like In their watching OF the guard for
the slightest opening.
Then all at once his plan formed
He turned slightly and 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 Mt 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 to be coalcd," said Dan,
and he wondered IL his voice trembled.
The guard looked nj him moment
suspiciously, and then said:
"All right Coal up, then"
Dan slipped from his seat. lie dared
not look at 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 trembled,
but the quick thought OF that brave
young fellow in the express car and of
Ben, his friend, braccd him with a
fierce resolve to stand by.
lie picked up the coal scoop and
swung 1t recklessly near the legs of
the robber. Even at that trying mo.
ment the half-humorous idea of digging
Its sharp edge into the fellows shlns
stirred in him a faint inclination ia
smile. But his plan was better than
that, and he knew that on his nerve,
his steadiness and his cleverncss in
strategy hung the fate of the money
In the express cOmpany's safe, per.
haps the life of the man I'm the ey.
press car-and his chance to help Ben
In this tight pinch" TO prevent his
doing anything rash and thereby re.
ceiving hurt.
He swung open the furnace door and
threw In scoopful Of coal. The fire
fiared up and Dan looked quickly al
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 a sharr
rap. The man jumped aside with q
snarl.
III break yer block If you do that
again." he cried.
Dan stood up with anxious, humble
apology in every line of his face anC
figure. Pm sorry" he said. Il didn't
mcan-I-if you'll just stand there OF
the apron, near the side, won't bungl,
again. IL"
The robber moved to the place dcsig
mated. He could see his prisoners quit,
as well from the new position, and h,
did not relish the possibility of another
dig from the scoop. Dan dumped ,
second shovel load on the fire. Then