Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-04-12
THE CHAPTERS
Copyright. ,9o.. by The Bobbs-Msrrill compsnyl
FRAN NcIs LYN D E

AGt's rush, sir" said the boy, panting from his quick dash across the track platforms.
 It was Ormsby's message from Breezeland; and while Kent was try. ing to grasp the tremendous import of 1t, M'Tosh was giving Callahan the signal to go. Kent sprang past the gate-keeper and gave the square of damp paper to the train-master.
 My God! read that!" he gasped, with dry sob of excitement. Tt was our chance-on chance in million and we've lost it."
 M'Tosh was a man for a crisis. The red tail-lights of the private-car spe- cial were yet within a sprinter's dash of the trackhead, but the train-master lost no time chasing ten-wheel flyer with "Red" Callahan at the throttle.
 up to my office!" he shouted; and ten seconds later Kent was leaning breathless over the desk in the dis patchers room wAile M'Tosh called Eaargan over the yard limits telephone. x"Is that you, Durgan?" he asked, Chen the reply came. Then: Drop 6e board on the mail. quick! and send somebody to tell Fischer to side Mack, leaving the main line Western Division clear. Got that?"
 s5The answer was evidently prompt 6Ad satisfactory, since he began again almost in the same breath.
 s@'Now go out yourself and flag Calla- han before he reaches the limits. Tell Him the time-card's changed and he is tD run west with the special to Meg fIp as first section of the mail-no tops, or Fischer will run him down. Neg it! He's halfway down the yard, ncw!" B. sThe train-master dropped the ear- piece of the telephone and crossed quickly to the dispatcher's table.
 'Orders for the Western Division, Donohue," he said curtly, "and don't let the grass grow. Receivers car, Callahan, engineer, runs to Megilp as first section of fast mail. Fast mail, Hunt, conductor; Fischer, engineer; runs to the end of the division with out stop, making up all time possible Add to that last, By order of the re- 's,rss' Tse orders were .IMsItS Sas Mlaly as the dispatcher could rattle them off on his key; and then followed an in- terval of waiting more terrible than a battle Kent tried to speak, but his lips were parched and his tongue was like dry stick between his teeth. What was doing in the lower yard? Would Durgan fail at the pinch and mismanage it so as to give the alarm? The minutes dragged leaden-wanged. and even the saunders on the dispatch CTS table were silent.
 Suddenly the clicking begsp again. The operator at yard limits was sending the O. K. to the two train or ders. So far, so good. Now if Calla- han could get safely out on the Vest ern Division.
 But there was a hitch in the lower yard. Durgan had obeyed orders promptly and precisely. and had suc- ceeded in stopping Callahan. Durgan climbed to the cab of the 1,OlO, and the changed plan was explained in dozen words. But now came the crux.
 "If I stand here till you'd be bring in me my orders, I'll have the whole kit av thim buzzin' round to know fwhat's the matther." said Callahan; but there was no other thing to do, and Durgan hurried back to the tele- graph office to play the messenger
 He was too long about 1t. Before he got back, Halkett was under the cab window of the 1,o10. demanding to know-with many objurgations-why Callahan had stopped in the middle of the yards.
 Get a move on you'" he shouted. "The express Is right behind us. and it'll run us down. you damned bog trotter!"
 Callahan's gauntleted hand sh { up to the throttle-bar.
 I'm ravin'. Misther Halkett.' he said mildly. twill yez go back to the car. or ride wit mel"
 The general superintendent took no chance of catching the Naught-seyen's hand-rails in the darkness. and he whipped up into the cab at the first sharp cough of the exhaust
 'Tll go back when you stop for your orders" he said: but a shadowy figure had leaped upon the engine-step a