Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-06-06

ana WTeckaSe.
What was that?" gasped the re-
ceiver.
Halkett pointed to the bonfire, reced-
ling like a fading star in the rearward
distance.
Our friends are beginning to throw
stones. since clods won't stop him"
he said.
Bucks shook his head.
IF that is the case, we'll have to do
something on our own account. The
next obstruction may derail u.s."
Halkett stepped into the car and
pulled the cord of automatic air.
mo good" he muttered. "The
Trishman bled our tank before he start
ed. Help me set the hand brakes,
a couple Of you"
Danforth and the governor took hold
Of the brake wheel with him, and for
a minute or two the terrible speed
slackened a little. Then some part
of the disused hand-gear gave way un-
der the three-man strain and that
hope was gone.
There's one thing left" said the
superintendent, indomitable to the
last. "We'll uncouple and let him
drop us behind"
The space in the forward vestibule
was narrow and cramped, and with the
strain of the dragging car to make the
pin stick, II took two Of them lying
fiat, waiting for the back-surging mo-
ment and wiggling 1t for slack. to pull
it. The coupling dropped out OF the
hook and the engine shot ahead to
the length Of the safety chains; thus
far. but no farther.
Halkett stood up.
"It's up to you. Danforth." he said,
raising his voice to be heard above
the pounding roar Of the wheels.
"You're the youngest and lightest: get
down on the 1,010's brake-beam and
unhook those chains"
The secretary looked once into the
trap with the lodging jaws and the
backward-Hying bottom and declined
the honor.
T can't get down there" he cried.
"And I shouldn't know what to do
II could"
Once more the superintendent ex.
hibited his nerve. He had nothing at
stake save a desire to defeat Callahan;
but he had the. persistent courage OF
the bull-terrier, With Bucks and the
secretary to steady him he lowered
himself in the gap till he could stand
upon the brake-beam Of the 1.010s
tender and grope with one free hand
for the hook of the nearest safety
chain. Death nipped at him every
time the engine gave or took up the
slack Of the loose coupling. but he
lodged and hung on until he had sat
isfied himself. ....
"It's no good" he announced, when
they had dragged him by main
strength back to footing in the mar
row vestibule. "The hooks are bent
into the links. We're due to go
wherever that damned Irishman is taxi
ing u.s."
Shovel was firing and the trailing
smoke and cinders quickly made the
forward vestibule untenable. When
they were driven in, Bucks and the re-
ceiver went through to the rear plat
form, where they were presently
Joined by Halkett and Danforth.
"I've been trying the air again.
said the superintendent. "but it's no
60. What's next"
The governor gave the word.
Wait" he said: and the four OF
them clung to the hand-rails, swaying
and bending to the bounding lurches
OF the flying car.
Mile after mile reels from beneath
the relentless wheels, and still the
speed increases Station Donerail is
passed, and now the pace Is so furious
that the watchers on the rallied plat
form cannot make out the signals In
the volleying wake OF dust. Station
Schofield is passed. and again the sig
nails, II any there be. are swiftly
drowned in the gray dust-smother
From Schofield to Aqua Caliente Is but
scant ten miles: and as the flying
train rushes on toward the state
boundary, two faces in the quartet OF
watchers show tense and drawn un-
der the yellow light Of the Pintsch
platform lamp.
The governor swings himslf un-
steadily 10 the right-hand railing and
the long look ahead brings the
twinkling arc-star Of the tower light
on Breezeland Inn into view. He turns
to Guilford, who has fallen limp into
one Of the platform chairs.
"In FIVE minutes more we shall pas
Aqua Caliente." he says. "Will yot
kill the Irishman, or shall II" Gull
ford's lips move, but there Is no audi
BILE reply: and Bucks takes Danforth'!
weapon and passes quickly and alone
to the forward vestibule.
The station of Aqua Calient'
swings into the field of 1.010's electric
headlight. Callahan's tank has beer
bone dry for 20 minutes. and he !!
watching the glass water-gauge wher'
the water shows now only when tht
engine lurches heavily to the left
He knows that the crown-sheet Of tht
fre-box is bare. and that any momen
It may give down and the end vii
come. Yet his gauntleted hand nevel
falls from the throttle-bar to the air
cock, and his eyes never leave the bub
BILE appearing at long intervals In th'
heel of the water-glass.
Shovel has stopped firing, and u
hanging out Of his window for th'
straining look ahead. Suddenly hi
drops to the footplate to grip Gala
hans arm.
"See!" he says. "They have set the
switch to throw us in on the siding!'
In one motion the fiutter of the ex'
haust ceases, and the huge ten-wheeler
buckles to the sudden setting OF the
brakes. The man standing In the
forward vestibule of the Naught-seven
lowers his weapon. Apparently 1t Is
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