The San Francisco call., 1904-10-30
. broken tooth and give his orders

COHCtSClJ-
up wild him over the coal. and we'll
put him back in the car where he be-
longs. Now, thin!"
Halkett had to go, and he went. not
altogether unWillingly. And when 1t
came to jumping across from the rear
of the tender to the forward vestibule
of the naught-seven, or being chucked
across, he jumped.
Now it so chanced that the Cover
nor and his first lieutenant in the great
railway steal had weighty matters to
discuss, and they had not missed the
superintendent or the lawyer. suppos-
ing them to be still out on the rear
platform enjoying the scenery. Where
fore Halkett's sudden appearance.
mauled, begrimed and breathless from
his late tussle with the two enginemen,
was the first intimation Of wrong-go-
ing that had penetrated to the inner
sanctum OF the private car.
What's that you say, Mr.. Halkett?
-on the western division? Where
abouts?'' demanded the Governor
Between Losing and Skipjack sid
In the last two or three minutes I've
been too busy to notice." was the re-
ply.
And you say you were on the en-
gine? Why the devil didn't you call
your man DOWN."
II knocked him down." gritted the
superintendent, savagely, "and I'd have
beat his face in for him II there hadn't
been two OF them. It's plot Of some
kind and Callahan knows what he is
about. He had noe held up with
hammer till just q few minutes ago,
and he's running past stop signals and
over red lights like a madman!"
Bucks and Guilford exchanged con-
victions by the road Of the eye and the
Governor said:
This is pretty serious, Major. Have
you anything to suggest?" and without
waiting for a reply he turned upon
Halkett: Where is Mr.. Hawk"
Il don't know. 1 supposed he was
in here with you. Or maybe he's out
on the rear platform"
The three of them went to the rear,
passing the private secretary comfor-
tably asleep in his wicker chair. When
they stepped out upon the recessed OBJ
servation platfrom they found it emp
ty.
He must have suspected something
and dropped off in the yard or at the
Shops" said Halkett. And at the say
ing of 1T he shrank back involuntarily
and added: "Ah! Look at that, will
you?'
The car had just thundered past an
other station and Callahan had under
run one lIlOIe Slop SlSHdi dI 1ull SpSSu.
AT the same instant Tischer's head
light swung into view. half binding
them with its glare.
What is that following us?" asked
Bucks
Its the fast mall" said Halkett.
Guilford turned livid and caught at
the hand rail.
"s-s-say-are you sure of that?" he
gasped.
"Of course, it was an hour and thir-
tyive minutes late and we are on its
time"
Then we can't stop unless some
body throws us on siding!" quavered
the receiver, who had a small spirit
in a large body. Il told McTosh to
give the mail orders to make up her
lost time or I'd fire the engineer-told
him TO cut out all the stops this side
of Aqua Calientei"
That's what you get for your in
fernaf 1aeddling!" snapped Halkett. In
catastrophe moments many barriers
go down; Difference to superior officers
among the earliest.
But the master spirit of the junta
was still cool and collected.
This is no time to quarrel" he said.
1.-THE thing to be done is to stop this
train without getting ourselves ripped
open by that fellow behind the head
light yonder. The stop-signals prove
that Hawk and the others are doing
their best, but we must do ours. What
do you say, Halkett?"
There is only one thing" replied the
superintendent; we've got to make
the Irishman run ahead fast enough
and far enough to give us room to stop
or take q siding"
The Governor planned ii in a few
curt sentences. Was there a weapon
to be had? Danforth, the private sec
retary, reused from his nap in the
wicker chair,w able to produce SER
viceaDle revolver. Two minutes later,
the sleep still tingling in his nerves to
augment another tingling less pleasur-
able, the secretary had spanned the
terrible gap separating the car from
the engine and was making his way
over the coal, futtering his handker-
chief in token of his peaceful inten-
tions.
He was charged with message to
Callahan, mandatory in it's first form.
and bribe-promising in its second; and
he was covered from the forward vesti-
bule of the private car by the revolver
in the hands of a resolute and deter
mined State executive.
Zone of them's comm ahead over the
COAL" warned James Shovel, and Gala
han found his hammer.
Run ahead an take a siding. is ut?"
he shouted, glaring down on the mes
senger. II have me ordhers firm bet
ther men than thin that sint you. Go
back an tell thin so.''
you'll be paid if you do. and you'll
be shot If you don't" yelled the secre-
tary, persuasively.
'"Tell the boss he can't shoot two av
us to wanst: an the wan that's left IL
slap on the air." was Callahan's an
swer; and he Stacked off a little to
bring the following train within easy
striking distance.
Danforth went painfully and care
fully back with this defiance, and while
he was bridging the nerve trying gap.
another station with the stop-b board
down and red lights frantically swing
ing was passed with roar and whis-
tie Shrek.
"Fwhat are they doing now?" called
Callahan to his fireman.
They've gone inside again." was the
reply
Go back an thry the tank" was the
commando and Jimmy Shovel climbed
over the coal and let himself down feet
foremost into the manhole. When he
slid back to the footplate his legs were