The Holly chieftain., 1905-10-13

"A0e AZ" Souise may ne iater on,
should they succeed in their chase.
What will General Toledo do?
Can it be possible he has had wind
OF the truth concerning the dynamite
plot. and that his design is to prevent
the threatened catastrophe?
That is not without the bounds of
reason; and yet Jack hardly believes
1t to be the true nature of his mis-
sion.
More than likely he bears secret
but important orders to the officer in
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 ne continues to plan ahead. be-
lieving that in this way time may be
saved.
fortune seems kind, for although
their 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
left Havana behind.
How far is this station cut?" he
questions, anxious to know lust 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 exclaims; while Smithers saws.
hollowly:
Simply suicide, Senior Jack"
Evidently he has slight hopes of
coming out of the adventure alive.
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 penance.
1t is a period of intense excitement.
They are reasonably sure that the
track is in fairly decent condition,
since the special has just passed over
1t 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 race has
borne fruit.
Another station.
Twelve miles out.
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, senor: we turn a curve
here. and issue upon plateau. The
next station is then in sight. l be-
lieye 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 the cab 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 it's customary function.
Then they speed around the last
curve. The hills are left behind, and
the engine dishes 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 eyes upon
the sight.
"They are going ahead!' exclaims
Smithers, as he discovers that the
train is certainly in motion.
The experienced engine driver, as
he gradually reduces their own mad
pace, ventures to contradict this pos
tive assertion.