Rocky Ford enterprise., 1905-10-06

4
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 10 have the
telegraph agent wirc the conductor In
charge OF the train. warning him of
the awful danger ahead. and having
him use extra precautions when mp
preaching the bridge where the dyna-
mite Is supposed to lie.
SmIthers sees him dash into the
Office and stiles n groan. Perhaps
this is for the rebels whose plan for
striking blow at their hated foes
Will fall through. Al any rate. he does
not make tho least attempt to hold
Jack In check. but awaits results.
When he looks again he discovers
Jack dashing out OF the telegraph Of
fee.
Hls manner Is not that Of n conf
dent man who. by bold stroke. has
accomplished whnt he set out to do.
| ON the contrary. Jack appcas cx.
citcd-hls face Ii almost as pale as
one who has seen n ghost. and he
Iianccs sharply from right to left as
he runs toward them. after tho man.
ncr OF man who seeks remedy for
som. dreadful maiady.
As he draws near where Smithcru
stands. he can be- heard cseiniminx
aloud. a. though To save even the pre-
cious seconds Of time:
Wires down Macco raided tho
outskirts OF Hayana-impossiblc to
reach even the FIRST sta,iou-no way
OF reaching tn" train-now been gone
four miles away"
Yes. they can hear the rumble of
the train among the hiiis-it comes
very plainly during cessation OF
noise about the station. though grad
uaiiy growing fainter and morr dis.
tant.
Can sou suggest snythinET- cries
Jack. -rd-aNoFinE TO cudsci his
brains TO greater rapidity af action.
Think as you never did before.
What can oruEtakc the special. since
toi-sraphinE is out Of the question:
smithcrs IL looking down the tracks.
where they slcam in the lights bc.
yund.
III wc had an engine NC nigh, do
g."
Jack snaich.s at the idea like a
drowning man might clutch a, a
straw.
''Thcn NC will have an engine II IL
takes thousand-fiye thousand dol.
iars-ail I have in the world. Follow
mel" he calculates.
Jack has not started on 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-somcthin
that in this crisis OF his existence
looks more valuable than the best
paying mine in the Cripple Creek re.
Eion. II ia an engine Just emerging
from shed. upon ,urntablc. Smoke
Is pouring from the large. oid.styicd
stack. black smoke burning rcsinous
pincwood. than which few species Of
fuel will generate steam more quick.
".
| II means a 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 exist.
cncc.
Under these conditions, therefore. IL
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 considcra.
tion that in such hot countries as
| Cuba they do not. as general thing.
use any too much speed In anything
undertaken.
He secs the stoker tossing pine
knots into the yawninE mouth of the
| FIRE box, while the engine driver leans
part way out of the cab window, his
face streakcd 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
holding a paper in his hand that may
he an order.
His companion seems TO be an ordi.
nary citizen-a Spaniard. judging
from his olive skin and black hair.
Jack instantly surmises that the of.
fetal is the party who can attend to
his wants. and he means TO obtain
| possession of that engine II money
can hwy it.
''S cor. are y, in charge here I
have missed the special by hairs