The Holly chieftain., 1905-10-06
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Copyright, 1899 by Street and Smith.

So he leaps toward the Office.
Perhaps nearly, if not quite, sixty
seconds have flown since he first re-
ceived the dire news-sixty precious
seconds, during which the doomed
train has been shooting on toward
the destruction that lies in wait.
His positive intention is to have the
telegraph agent wire the conductor in
charge of the train, warning him of
the awful danger ahead, and having
him use extra precautions when ap-
proachingethe bridge where the dyna-
mite is supposed to lie
Smithers sees him dash into the
Office and stiles groan. Perhaps
this is for the rebels whose plan for
striking a blow at their hated foes
will fall through. At any rate, he does
not make the least attempt to hold
Jack in check, but awaits results.
When he looks again he discovers
Jack dashing out of the telegraph Of
flee.
His manner is not that of conf
dent man who. by bold stroke, has
accomplished what he set out to do.
On the contrary. Jack appears ex-
cited-his face is almost as pale as
one who has seen ghost, and he
glances sharply from right to left as
he runs toward them, after the man.
ner of a man who seeks a remedy for
some dreadful malady.
As he draws near where Smithers
stands, he can be heard exclaiming
aloud, as though TO save even the pre-
clous seconds of time:
Wires down-Maceo raided the
outskirts of Havana-impossible to
reach even the first station-no way
OF reaching the train-now been gone
seven ard half minutes, and already
four miles away"
Yes. they can hear the rumble of
the train among the hills-it comes
very plainly during cessation of
noise about the station, though grad
ually growing fainter and more dis
tant.
Can you suggest anything?" cries
Jack, endeavoring to cudgel his
brains to greater rapidity of action.
Think as you never did before.
What can overtake the special, since
telegraphing is out of the question:"
Smithers is looking down the tracks,
where they CLEAN in the lights be-
| yond.
"If We had an engine we might do
it."
Jack snatches at the idea like
drowning man might clutch at
straw.
Then we will have an engine if it
takes thousand-fiye thousand dol
lars-all | have in the world. Follow
me!' he calculates.
Jack has not started off at random
he generally knows what he means
to accomplish before setting out to
begin.
Some moving object has caught his
eye just down the track-something
that in this crisis of his existence
looks more valuable than the best
paying mine in the Cripple Creek re-
gion. 1t is an engine just emerging
from shed, nDon turntable. Smoke
Is pouring from the large, old-styled
stack, black smoke burning resinous
pinewood, than which few species of
fuel will generate steam more quick
ly.
1t means possible chance to solve
the terrible problem that has been
suddenly set before them-it means
the case of life and death may yet be
decided in favor of continued eyist-
ence.
Under these conditions, therefore. it
can be readily understood with what
tremendous satisfaction Jack starts in
the direction of this locomotive.
AS he advances with such burst
of speed he takes note of several
things. Everyone connected with the
engine seems to be in the utmost
haste, and this is the more wonderful
when the fact is taken into considera-
tion that in such hot countries as
Cuba they do not, as general thing,
use any too much speed in anything
undertaken.
He sees the stoker tossing pine
knots into the yawning mouth of the
fire box, while the engine driver leans
part way out of the cab window, his
face. streaked with CRIME but looking
anxious in the light of the fire.
Thus bearing down upon the scene.
Travers is not long in reaching the
place where several stout men stand
ready to turn the engine around on
the revolving table.
Two men stand beside the trucks.
one of them having an official air and