The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1905-10-14
Copyright, 1899. by Street and smith.
%8GZ2AG AlZH312N

command of the soldiers regarding
some move he is expected to make
| against the insurgents
After all. what does it matter so
long as their end is assured, and the
girls saved?
so he continues to plan ahead. be-
heVing that in this way time may be
saved.
fortune seems kind, for although
thelr speed is Increased and they fly
around dangerous curves, nothing in
the shape of disaster has as yet over.
taken them
The general has his watch in his
hand. and as they flash by another
station he looks at the time. the fire.
door being open and the cab flooded
with light.
"Six-thirty nine" Jack hears him
! say.
That means nine minutes since they
LETT Havana behind.
How far is this station out?" he
questions, anxious TO know just the
distance they have come
Between seven and half and
eight miles. senor," replies General
| Toledo, with a broad smile, as though
the honor of the enterprise rests
| wholly upon his shoulders
Nearly eight miles in nine min
utes. Why, it is almost incredible. -
he eyclaims; while Smithers says,
| hollowly:
simply suicide, Senor Jack
Evidently he has slight hopes of
nf hr
No one asks the opinion of poor All
SIN, who crouches there and be-
seeches his joss to tide him over this
new emergency, SO that he may burn
many packages of sacred paper in the
house of the gods as a penance.
1t is period of intense excitement.
| They are reasonably sure that the
track is in fairly decent condition.
| since the special has just passed over
! il ahead OF them. But for this it would
| be doubly dangerous to advance at
| such speed. as a misplaced rail
would send them into eternity, and
| there are thousands of men among
the insurgents desperate enough to re-
| sort to such means in order to gain
| their end.
The country is growing more level
now. and they will soon be able to
see whether their furious pace has
borne fruit
| Another station
Twelve miles out '..'r t'''
Jack has chill at the thought that
! not more than ten or twelve more in
tervene before the scene of execution
will be reached
Patience, senior; we turn curve
here. and issue upon plateau. The
next station is then in sight. I be-
lieve we will find our train at that
point" says the general
| His words fall like music on the
heart of Travers, for that usually
hopeful individual has begun to de-
spair lest they may. after all, be too
late-lest the awful crash comes to
tell them the vengeance of the insur-
gents has fallen.
Aroused with new hope, he leans
out of theacab to look ahead, his heart
beating in anxiety, his eyes keenly on
the alert.
AS long as he lives Jack can never
| forget the strain of the next thirty
| seconds. Why. it seems to him as
| though his very heart has ceased to
perform its customary function.
Then they speed around the last
| curve. The hills are left behind, and
the engine dashes out upon the pla-
| teau
Every eye is on the watch. and from
several throats ring out shouts that
tell of victory.
The train is in sight.
Even the wretched All Sin staggers
to his feet. and feasts his ayes upon
the sight.
They are going ahead" exclaims
Smthcrs. as he discovers that the
train is certainly in motion.
The experienced engine driver, as
he gradually reduces their own mad
| tive assertion.
No, no-just pulling into the sta
tion. senors." he afiirms, eagerly.
Then we have been hot on their
| heels
What else would you have when
we go at such a fine pace? Por Dios!
senors. I give you my word no one
ever before went SO fast upon the
island of Cuba"
The engineer Is proud of his work.
and well he may be. 1t is at this time,
when success seems assured, that the
general remembers.
Pardon, senor, but you -omised
to talk over certain matters. II l
have been of benefit to you, perhaps
You would not object to assisting
certain project which shall bring to
your favorable notice, for could not
think of accepting dollar myself"
General, l understand you. There