The Elbert County tribune., 1905-10-12
copyriehf. lsas. BY street ana smith.

| After all, what does 1t matter so
long as their end is assured, and the
girls saved?
So he 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 out ?" he
questions. anxious to know just the
distance they have come
Between seven and half and
eight miles. senor,' replies General
Toledo. with 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 says,
hollowly:
Simply suicide, Sonor 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 a penance.
1t is 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 II would
be doubly dangerous to advance at
such a 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 pace 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. senior: we turn a curve
here, and issue upon a plateau The
next station is then in sight / be-
lieve 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
la.e-lest the awful crash comes to
ten them the vengeance of the insur-
gents has fallen.
Aroused with new hope he leans
out of the cab to look aheau, 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 its customary function.
Then they speed around the last
curve. The hills are left behind. and
the engine dashes 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.
mo. no-just pulling into the sta
tion. senors." he affirms, eagerly.
Then we have been hot on their
heels"
What else would you have when
we go at such a fine pace? Por Diosl
senors. give you my word no one
ever before went so fast upon the
island of Cuba"
The engineer is proud of his work.
and we'll he may be. 1t is at this time,
when success seems assured, that the
general remembers
Pardon, senior, but you promised
to talk over certain matters. If
have been of benefit to you, perhaps
you would not object to assisting a
certain project which shall bring to
your favorable notice, for could not
think of accepting dollar myself"
General, ] understand you. There
is my card. Hunt me up when you re-
turn to Havana shall leave my ad-
dress there-and / shall be well
pleased to donate a thousand dollars
to any project you may name"
"Senor, | thank YOU