Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1905-11-15
Copyrlehl, 1889. BY Street and smith.

SSCOHuS nave HOWn since ne HrSJ re- |
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 to have the
telegraph agent wire the conductor in
charge of the train, warning him OF
the awful danger ahead and having
him use extra precautions when ap-
preaching the bridge where the dyna-
mite is supposed to lie
Smithers sees him dash into the
office and stiles a groan, Perhaps
this Is for the rebels whose plan for
striking blow at their hated foes
will fall through. At any rate, he does
not make the least attempt to hold
Jack in check, but awaits results.
When he looks again he discovers
Jack dashing out of the telegraph Of
fee. II
His manner is not that of conf
dent man who, by a bold stroke, has
accomplished what he set out to do.
On the contrary, Jack appears ex4
cited-his face is almost as pale as
one who has seen ghost, and he
glances sharply from right to left as
he runs toward them, after the man
ner of a man who; seeks a remedy for
some dreadful malady,
AS he draws near where Smithers
stands, he can be heard exclaiming
aloud, as though to save even the pre-
cious seconds of time:
wires down-Maceo raided the
outskirts of Havana--impossible to
reach even the first station-no way
of reaching the train-now been gone
seven and half minutes, and already
four miles away"
| Yes they can hear the rumble of
the train among the hills-it comes
very plainly during a cessation of
noise about the station, though grad
ually growing fainter and more dis
etant.
Can you suggest anything?p cries
Jack, endeavoring to eudgel his
brains to greater rapidity of action.
Think as you never did before.
What can overtake the special, since
telegraphing is out of the question:"
Smithers is looking down the tracks,
where they CLEAN in the lights be-
You'd
"If we had an engine we might do
Jack snatches at the idea like a
drowning man might clutch at a
straw.
Then we will have an engine if it
takes thousand-fve thousand dol
lars-all have in the world. Follow
mel" he calculates.
Jack has not started off 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 tracll-something
that in this crisis of his existence
looks more valuable than the best
paying mine in the Cripple Creek re-
gion. 1t is an engine just emerging
from shed, upon turntable. Smoke
is pouring from the large, old-styled
stack, black smoke burning resinous
pinewood, than which few species of
fuel will generate steam more quick
ly.
1t 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
ence.
Under these conditions, therefore, it
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 considera-
tion that in such hot countries as
Cuba they do not, as a general thing,
use any too much speed in anything
undertaken.
He sees the stoker tossing pine
knots into the yawning mouth of the
fire box, while the engine driver leans
part way out of the cab window, his
face streaked 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 q paper in his hand that may
pc 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