Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-31

ran on would he find Menet thcre2 lie didn't know.
he ran
A dozen yards from the roundhouse fellow
snapped musket in bis face 1t missed hre and HUI
yeti who had drawn his revolver, laughed and re-
turned II to its place.
He burst into the shed painting
Menet had found the goods engine-No. sand
was Trying TO get up steam. lt mao emPueu sach VI
shavngs and an oil can into the furnace which was
roaring like a fury.
We shall have a whole OF EN- here directly"
said Hulyett looking at the indicator What's her
working pressureg'
she won't move till we get another seven
pounds her. and shunt get more than thirty
miles out of her at her best
Shell have to do more than thirty tonight
Jules. burst" said Hulyett grimy.
Jules grinned and Huyett scizng spanncr
smashed the water gauge and broke the valve taps of
the two big express engines that stood the next
road
They won't follow us anyhow" said he. "rd
like to serve few more the same way if there was
time"
No 8S began to hiss steam ana Hulyett walked
the shed to look at the points Their friends
outside he thought, had left them alone too long to
be after any good As he emerged from the shed
he caught sight of couple Of figures STOPPING over
the siding points. There low whistle. The
figures scuttled away.
Huyeu guessed it might save trouble those
whom 1t might know that he carried
shooter" No doubt he was being watched They
would let him without putting up some sort
of a fight it, He found the silence ominous. The
darkness which covered him sheltered them also
Drawing his revolver, he sent shot after the
flying figures An oath cry, told him that his ran
bullet had found its mark.
their tools and Il lamp on the ground.
Just as thought" he muttercd And, knocking
out the wedge they had been fixing, he pulled over
the lever aud set the points for No 80 to pass on to
the down line
Ready called Jules from the shed.
Then bring her These devils have been
arranging nice little split but l think I've spoiled
slowly the wheels of No SO began to revol,e
But her appearance the signal a volley The
rascals lying in wait
Sending a couple into night Hulyott
footplae. Clamberng into his place Hulyett looked
the indicator, pushed the lever halfway over the
sector opened the regulator and then STOPPING down
asked Menet If he hurt
A smothered groan the only response.
Another volley and they had passed the switches
The next moment they ran on to the down main
No. 33 was off There was nothing in front of her
right of way to Amiens.
Running through st. Denis few minutes later,
Hulyet heard the great bell Of Notre Dame strike
lie threw more Goals pushed the lover to the
last notch. frightened the valves. opened the
draft. Chantlly was passed at thirty miles hour.
Menet he found, had tainted from gunshot
wound in the shoulder lie had got him up bandaged
the wound and revived him with brandy Would they
be pursued?
Hulyett looked now and then But they
were approaching Creil and he had neither
heard any signs of pursuer.
They doing forty miles an hour now. but
the putting and painting old switch engine had taken a
full hour the first twenty-five
"Creil!" shouted Menet, they rushed through
Hulyett laughed.
Couldn't do more than thirty, couldn't she, Jules?
IT our friends behind have followed In the belief
we couldn't get more than thirty of old
lady without blowing up ! guess this run'll be
eye opener EN-"
moments later Menet touched Hulyett on the
shoulder His practiced had caught the beat of a
locomotive running at high speed.
Hulyett understood,
Wake her up" he said 1--WE get every
ounce we can out of her" his own atten-
ton to the valves and the regulator
Menet threw the furnace door and shoveled
coal on to the fire. taking spread even
ly over the great, glowing mass
No. SO gave leap forward like under the
spur-snorted painted, and shook but at the
hour to her record
But still the thud, thud of the pursuer grew more
distinct. 1t drawing nearer. Hulyett looking
back. saw in the far distance tiny speck which he
Knew was the headlight of a locomotive. He watched
IL Tor minute, and saw it gradually growing larger
They had done half the distance. No SO was trav-
elns at pace which Menet had thought to be i'm
possible But they could push her further and the
b. american knew she would reach Amiens
r, unless
lie He took out his revolver charged the three
= empty chambers
ID Nearer and came the sound of their pur-
N suer They could see her quite distinctly great
IS express engine, tearing along at seventy miles an
ct hour Another FIVE minutes and
Would they run him down? No there was danger
'e In that They probably would try to board him.
r. How many, he wondered, would he have o tackle?
h. lie had only six shots in his revolver. He glanced
m over his shoulder Less than three yards now
They'll try t. swarm over my tender Menet
e. he said to Jules, "but--" However before he could
to finish couplings followed Immediately
u by palpabe drop in the speed, told him what
Is happened.
10 The express coupled up the freight and
II had almost shut off steam
A minutes grim silence and No 33 was brought
o almost TO stand Still the American managed to
u Keep the wheels moving, though IT work
IL And now shots began whiz past footplate OF
No.
stoOp," said Hulyett. crouching down by the
tender.
Presently a redcap" was peering al
them from above the
Hulyett who had no shots to waste and, be
fore the fellow could bring his musket position
hurled him out to the track second rufar
dropped by pistol
That accounts for two anyhow" said he, cooy
wiping his revolver.
But third standing by the smoke box OF tn
express with musket at his shoulder while the heac
OF fourth was seen creeping round from the
Leveling his weapon Hulyett fired. The musxc
fell with clatter. The man sank down in a heap
His companion gave a leap and disappeared.
Hulyett clambered the coal
On the footplate of the express three men wer
aIInllla u-LIa lL-L-AL