Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-06-21

into tho tortured face OF his prisoner
The villain had wound a cloth about
the lower portion Of his face. Only
his diabolical eyes were dimly per-
ceptible.
you've about run your length, Jack
Hay" he continued, flercely. "There
will be bloody work tonight, and the
operator at Gillville will get the blame.
The rails are spread between here and
Martins. know that, for chum Of
mine reported it at Martins at the
hour we agreed upon, and you were
autographed to save the limited express;
in fact we spread open the rail our
selves. The train will go on to de-
struction. When it has passed I'll
loosen your bonds, and you can release
yourself; but-ha! ha!-who will be-
lieve the story you will have to tell?
They'll say you were neglecting your
post You can't prove anything. Harkl
There it comesw
A locomotive whistle sounded faint
and Far. Presently could be seen the
cleaning headlight along the nearly
straight bed of the road.
"Ah, there it comes! A few mo-
ments more and the whole community
will stand ready to lynch the neglect
full operator at Gillville for causing the
destruction and deathw
Jack Hay stared at the swiftly COM
ing headlight. His heart was chilled
will nd hic hVaf IN
reeled giddily.
Well he realized what the popular
verdict would be. He could not prove
the strange tale he would have to tell;
he could not even swear to his murder
Gus captors identity, though he felt
that no man other than Bruce Denver
could wish him Ill. He would be
promptly condemned as the cause Of
the awful catastrophe.
And OH, on that doomed train was
coming, while he groaned and writhed
In mental agony.
AS he struggled to burst his bonds
he realized that they were loosening.
He might soon wrench himself free,
but notch, heaven! not in time to
save those scores of precious lives!
The rumble grew louder and louder:
the ray Of the headlight was now
nearly abreast on the track!
"They are going to their death, and
the world will say killed themw poor
Jack moaned in his soul.
Then with deafening, rattling roar
the train rushed to the station, rushed
past, its whistle piercing the night air
in a prolonged note like a mingled
wall and shrek.
But, bark! Another sound breaks In
on the whistles dying scream. Some
thing has happened which brings the
heart Of Jack Hay in his throat in
lump Of JOY.
Bang! bang! bang!
Three loud explosions quivered
through the night, nearly lifting the
great driving wheels from the rails.
Warning torpedoes had been placed
on the rails.
The wheels Of the car trucks sud
denly looked like circles Of sparks as
the air brakes went down quick and
hard.
"Perditionw burst from astonished
Brace Denver. II am robbed Of my
revenge. But I'll know who meddled
here before that train can stop and
back up"
He dashed forward to the station,
gripping the deadly club. Into the
office he ran. The place seemed to be
deserted. But as he turned to run out
again a sharp voice checked him.
Halt where you are, Brace Denverl
What have you done with my hus-
banda?
Hester Hay confronted him with
leveled revolver, resolutely barring his
exit.
Lower that thing, Hester. mean
you no harm"
Halt, I say! Another step, and I
fire! Answer me! Where is my hus-
bandw
But by this time the train had
backed to the platform, and conductor
and f1agman, lanterns In hand, came
hurrying to the office.
Secure that manw Hester cried,
pointing to the sullenly covering form
Of Denver. There's been some foul
play here, and he is at the bottom Of
itv'
She showed to the conductor tho
warning dispatch Jack had hastily
copied off on the slip and left on the
operating table.
II came over to the Office tonight to
keep Jack company" she said. HE
wasn't here, and 1 couldn't find him.
l saw this dispatch. In five minutes
I knew the train would pass. l won
dered where Jack could be; it was 80
strange that he shouldn't be anywhere