Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-09-17
The Fireman and the Bandit.
Nv HENRY GARDNER HUNTING.


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 or
barricaded car which told or eHofts |
to enter which We're, so far, futile.
Time was passing, time that was pre-
cious to these robbers, and their cause
was not prospecting. The man in the
EXPRESS car was not to be frightened
and brought to terms by barking. Dan
heard the command from some recog'
nzcd leader:
Break the express car off ana run
hcr down the road. Wen blow the
whole outfit into kingdom come If that
idiot don't give I'M
The big engineer sat up with quick
indrawing of his breath. Dan was
wild in an instant to prevent his max
inc a move which he feared could only
bring disaster. 1t was the last straw
for the boy. His wits were at their
keencst stretch. lie must ind STRAIT
agcm, or he must act in sheer desper-
alton. lie controlled himself by an
effort of will. ana hio eyes became c"t-
like in their watching of the guard Tor
the slightest opening.
Then all at once his plan formed.
.,,,o1 s,,un,,s "nI glanced up at
nc steam guage.
"She's losing steam," he said aloud,
looking ut the rObbcr.
The other scowled Mt the address;
then his eyes glanced at the gauge
with quick intelligence. Steam was
needed. Dan had counted OH his know
ing enough about an engine to fall into
J his trap.
"She ought to be'coaled," said Dan,
and he wondered if his voice trembed.
The guard looked at him a moment
suspiciously, and then said
".All right! Coal up, then"
Dan slipped from his seat. He 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
t young fellow in the express car and OF
4 Ben, his friend, braced him with O
= fierce resolve to stand by.
He picked up the coal scoop .nrd
: swung it recklessly near thrSyins mo
2 the robber. Even at =: idea Of dicglne
e mcnt the half-h9!mio the fellows shins
:. its sharp elm a faint inclination tc
stirred But his plan was better thar
: that, and he knew that on his nerve
e his steadiness and his cleverncss II
( strategy hung the fate Of the money
2 in the express cOmpany's safe, per
haps the life CT the man in the eX
+ press car-and lis chance to help Ber
s in this eight pinch" to prevent his
\ doing anything rash and thereby re
| ceiving nurt.
j He swung open the furnace door an(
] threw in scoopful of coal. The fire
g flared 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
0 time he hit the bandits legs SHARP
rap. The man jumped aside with 6
g. snarl.
2 "rll break Yer block If you do tina
aSaIn.'' ne CrIeu.
= Dan stood up with anxious, humble
apology in every line of his face ant
e figure. I'm sorry" he said. ~ didn'
: mean-I-if you'll just stand there or
1 the apron, near the side, won't bunglt
!. again. IL"
t The robber moved to the place deslg
: mated. He could see his prisoners quite
as we'll from the new position, and he
did not relish the possibility of another
: dig from the scoop. Dan dumped @
a second shovel load on the fire. Then
holding his breath, he prepared for his
!. final play. lie left the furnace d0ol
: open that its stream of light might
l shield the engineer by binding the rob
] Der. A third shovel of coal, and ther
: Dan paused in his stopped position
with the heavy scoop poised in his
e LANDS.
1 "How's the steam, Benz" he asked
the engineer over his shoulder, trying
to speak coolly. He noted with salts
n faction that he could hardly see the
from the tireboX, and he knew the
! bandit was equally ut a disadvantage
: Then, without waiting for reply
a he looked up at the robber. Instinct
' lively the latter lad turned to the engi
neer, and was straining his eyes tt
a look at the big gauge. Dams momen
D had come.
With all the force of his powerful
o young shoulders, backed by his wlt
: determination, he swung the scoop
n edge foremost, a fearful weapon
y straight at the robbers body. Fairly
: over the stomach he hit the man, ant
e the body of the bandit doubled up like
Il jackknife and went out of the cal
: into the blackness of the night, will
l. only the dull sound of the fearful
+, crushing blow and the thud as h,
!, struck the ground.
e "Pull her open, Ben! Let her go!
: gasped Dan, dropping the scoop ant
t staggering into the cab.
i Instantly the big engineer pulled hi
n throttle as lie had never pulled valve
before. No. 81 jumped as If stung
f and took up thu slack of her trail
e with crazy crash and jar. Sh,
s slowed, then jumped again, and TIT
r heavy train started.
l. Ben jerked open the sand box. Sh'
l. should not slip now. Sparks flew from
r the track, and the big machine groanet
J. almost humanity at the strain. !
seemed enough to break cOnncctin;
& rods or to blow out n cylinder head
d but everything held, and no expires
II train on the b. and II. o. ever started
II with less loss of time.
n For moment, as the train moved
l. the robbers We're at loss, so sudde,
l. and complete was the surprise. The
J. shouts and howls arose. cries to tn
guard in the engine to stop the train