Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1905-09-09

| and stoker, slow the train and get off
leaving the steam on full to work up tC
full speed.
And now there could be no doubt that
the scoundrels, worthy the most refined
tortures that Chinese practice could de-
wise, were Fastening down into the Tjon
valley. There, amid the wreck of the
train, they expected to find the fifteen
millions of gold and precious stones, and
this treasure they could carry off with
out fear of surprise when the night en-
abled them to consummate this fearful
crime. Well, they have been robbed
these robbers, and l hope they will pay
for their crime with their lives, at the
least. | alone know what has passed,
but l will tell the story, for poor kinko
is no more.
Yes, my mind is made up. I will
speak as soon as | have seen Zinca
| I<lork. The poor girl must be told with
consideration. The death of her be-
trothed must not come upon her like
thunderclap. Yes, tomorrow, as soon RS
we are at Pekin.
After all, if 1 do not say anything
about Kinko, l may at least denounce
| Faruskar and Ghangir and the four
Mongols. l can say that | saw them go
through the van, that | followed them,
that | found they were talking on the
eangway, that l heard the screams of
the driver and stoker as they were
strangled on the footplate, and that
then returned to the cars, shouting,
Back! Back" or whatever it was.
We are now standing at the head of
the train, Major Noltitz, the German
baron, Caterna, Ephrinell, Pan Chao,
Popof-about twenty travellers in all.
| The Chinese guard, faithful to their
trust, are still near the treasure, which
not one of them has abandoned. The
rear guard has brought along the tail
lamps, and by their powerful light we
can see in what state the engine is.
If the train which was then running
at an enormous velocity, had not stopped
suddenly and thus brought about its de-
struction it was because the boiler had
exploded at the top and on the side.
The wheels being unchanged, the engine
had run far enough to come gradually
to a standstill of itself, and thus the
passengers had been saved violent
shock.
OF the boiler and its accessories only a
few shapeess fragments remained The
funnel had gone, the dome, the steam
chest; nothing but torn plates, broken,
twisted tubes, split cylinders, and loose
connecting rods-gaping wounds in the
corpse of steel
And not only had the engine been de-
stroyed, but the tender had been rem
dered useless. Its tank had been cracked
and It's load of Goals scattered over the
line. The luggage van, curious to re-
late, had miraculously escaped without
injury.
at is only too evident" said one of
the passengers that our driver and
stoker have persisted in the explosion"
Poor fellows" said Popof. But l
wonder how the train could have got
on the Nankin branch without being no.
ticed?"
"The night was very dark" said Eph-
rinell, 'and the driver could not see
the points"
THAT is the only explanation posi-
hle," said Popof, "for he would have
tried to stop the train, and, on the con-
trary, we were travelling at tremendous
speed"
But" said Pan Chao, show does it
happen the Nankin branch was open
NlCl Tic JON NlduuCl Is not unlSHeu
Had the switch been interfered with 2"
Undoubtedly" said Popof, and prob
ably out of carelessness."
Up to now Major Noltitz had taken
no part In the discussion. Now he in
terrupted Popof, and in a voice heard
by all, he asked:
'Where is Faruskiar
They all looked about and tried to dis
cover what had become of the manager
OF the Transasiatic.
And where is his friend Changer? p
asked the major. There was no reply.
And where are the four Mongols who
were in the rear vanY asked Major
Notitz.
And none of them presented them
selves.
"Well, then" said Major Noltitz. "the
rascal who sent us on to the Nankin
line, who would have hurled us into the
| Tjon valley, to walk off with the impe-
rial treasure, is Faruskiar"
WHAT" said Popof. The manager
of the company. who so courageously
drove off the bandits and killed their
chief, Ki-Tsang, with his own handY'
Then l entered on the scene
THE major is not mistaken. 1t was
Faruskiar who laid this trap for u.s."
And amid the general stupefaction
told them what | knew, and what goot
fortune had enabled me to ascertain
told them how | had overheard tn,
plan of Faruskiar and his Mongols
when it was too late to stop 1t, but
was silent regarding the Intervention o
kinko. The moment had not come, an,
l would do him justice in due time.
Now that all danger had disappeared
we must take immediate measures 70
running back the cars on to the Pekil
line.
Tho best thing to do Is to go to tn
nearest station, that of Fuen-Choo, an
telegraph to Tai-Youan for them to sen
Oh a relief engine" | suggested.
Twelve of US, including Pan ChaC
Caterna and myself, volunteered to al
, company Major Noltitz. But by con
mon accord we advised Popof not
abandon the train, assuring him that W
would do all that was necessary q
Fuen-Choo.
[ Then, armed with daggers and revol'
e ers-it was one o'clock in the morning