Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-06-06
THE GRAFTERS
Copyright, 1904. By The Bobbs-Msrrill Company
FRANCIS LYN e

"Of course: it was an hour and 81
minutes late and we are on its time.
Then we can't stop unless some
body throws us on a siding!" quavered
the receiver, who had small spirit IN
a large body. 81 told M'Tosh to give
the mail orders to make up her lost
time or Id fire the enginecr-told him
to cut out all the stops this side oi
Aqua Caliente!"
That's what you get for your infer
nal meddling!" snapped Halkett. In
catastrophe moments many barriers
60 down; Difference to superior officers
among the earliest.
But the master spirit Of the juntc
was still cool and collected.
This is no time to quarrel" ht
said. "The thing to be done is to stoI
this train without getting ourselves
ripped open by that fellow behind tht
headlight yonder. The stop-signali
prove that Hawk and the others art
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 siding"
The governor planned it In few
curt sentences. Was there weapon
to be had? Danforth, the private sec
retary, reused from his nap in the
wicker chair. was able to produce a
serviceable revolver. Two minutes
later, the sleep still tingling in his
nerves to augment another tingling
less pleasurable, the secretary had
spanned the terrible gap separating the
car from the engine and was making
his way over the coal, fiuttering his
handkerchief in token Of his peaceful
intentions.
He was charged with a message to
Callahan. mandatory in its first form,
and bribe-promising in its second;
and he was covered from the forward
vestibule OF the private car by re-
volver in the hands of resolute and
determined state executive.
"One of them's comm ahead over
the COAL" warned James Shovel; and
Callahan found his hammer.
"Run ahead an take siding. Is ut?'
he shouted, glaring down on the mes
senger. 81 have me ardhers firm bet
ther men than thin that sint you. Go
back an tell thin So"
You'll be paid II you do. and you'll
be shot II you don't" yelled the sec
retary, persuasively.
Tell the boss he can't shoot two
av us to wanst: an the wan that's left
II slap on the air." was Callahan's an
swer: and he Stacked OF 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-try-
ing gap. another station with the stop
board down and RED lights fraDtically
swinging was passed with roar and
a whistle 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 tn e
command: 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 wet to the mid shin.
"It's only up to there" he reported,
measuring with his hand.
Callahan looked al his watch. There
was yet a full hours run ahead oil
him, and there was no more than a
scant foot of water in the tank with
which to make 1t.
Thereafter he forgot the Naught-
seven, and whatever menace 1t held
for him, and was concerned chiefly with
the thing mechanical. Would the wat
er last him through? He had once
made 10 miles on a special run with
the .01O without refilling his tank; but
that was with the light engine alone.
Now he had the private car behind
him. and 1t seemed at times to pull
with all the drag of a heavy train.
But one expedient remained. and
that carried with II the risk OF his
life. An engine, not overburdened,
uses less water proportionately to
! miles run as the speed is increased. fle
could outpace the safeguarding mail
save water-and take the chance OF be-
ing shot in the back from the forward
vistibule Of the Nausht-seven when
he had gained lead enough to make a
main line stop safe for the men be-
hind him.
Callahan thought once OF the child
mothered by the Sisters OF Loretto In
the convent at the capital. shut his
eyes 10 that and to all things extran-
cons. and sent the ], ,0l0 about her bust
ness. Al the first reversed curve he
hung ont Of his window for backward
look. Tischers headlight had diSap-
| peared and his protection was gone.
| On the rear platform OF the private
car four men watched the threatening
second section fade into the night.
Our man has thought better OF 1t.
said the governor. marking the in
creased speed and the disappearance
Of the menacing headlight.
Guilford's sigh Of relief was almost
L groan.
my Cod" he said; "it makes me
cold 10 think what might happen II
he should pull US over into the Other
state!"
But Halkett was still smarting from
the indienities put upon him, and his
comment was q vindictive threat.
I'll send that damned Irishman ovel
the road for this, II 1t is the last thing
ever do!" he declared; and he con
firmed it with an oath.
But Callahan was getting his punish
ment as he went along. He had scarce
ly settled the 1.010 into her gait for tn,
final run against the failing water
supply when another station came II