Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-04-16
CHAPTER XXvIII. THE RELENTLESS WHEELS.

YCHAPAER AANlll.
 THE RELENTLESS WHEELS.
 But Engineer Callahan had no no ton of failing. When he had drawr
 the hammer on his superior officer, ad
 vising discretion and a seat on Jimmy
 Shovel's box, the 1,010 was racking out
 over the switches in the Western di-
 vision yards. Three minutes later the
 electric beam of Tischer's following
 headlight sought and found the first section on the long tangent leading up to the high plains, and the race
 was in full swing.
 At Morning Dew, the first night tele-
 graph station out of the capital, the two sections were no more than a
 scant quarter of a mile apart; and the
 operator tried to flag the second sec tion down, as reported. This did not happen again until several stations had been passed, and Callahan set his jaw and gave the 1,010 more throttle. But at Losing, town of some size, the board was down and a man ran out ct the crossing, swinging red light.
 Callahan looked we'll to the switches, with the steam shut off and his hand dropping instinctively to the air; and the superintendent shrank into his corner and gripped the window ledge when the special roared past the warn ing signals and on through the town beyond. He had maintained a dazed silence since the episode of the four ished hammer, but now he was moved to yell across the cab.
 T suppose you know what you're in for. If you live to get out of this! It's 20 years, in this state, to pass a danger signal!" This was not all the superintendent said: there were fore- words and interjections, emphatic but unpDintable.
 Caalahan's reply was another four lSh of the hammer, and sudden out pulling of the throttle-bar; and the superintendent substded again.
 But enforced silence and the grind Btone of conscious helplessness will sharpen the duliest wit. The swerving lurch of the 1,010 around the next curve Bet Halkett clutchfng for hand-holds, and the injector lever fell within his grasp. What he did not know about the working parts of modern, locomo- tive was very considerable; but he did know that an injector, half opened, will waste water as fast as an inch pipe will discharge it. And without water the Irishman would have to stop. s
 Callahan heard the chuckling of the wasting boiler feed before he had gone mile beyond the curve. It was a discovery to excuse bad language, but his protest was lamb-like.
 'sNo more av that, if ye blaze, Mis- ther Halkett, or me an Jimmy Shovelll have to-Ah! would yez, now?"
 Before his promotion to the super tendency Halkett had been a ward boss in the metropolis, of the state. Thinking he saw his chance, he took It, and the blow knocked Callahan silly for the moment. Afterward there was small free-for-all buffet ing match in the narrow cab in which the fireman took hand, and during which the racing 1,010 was suffered to find her way alone. When it was over, Callahan spat out a broken tooth and gave his orders concisely.
 Up wid him over the coal, an we'll put him back in the car where he be- longs. Now, thin."
 Halkett had to go, and he went, not altogether unwillingly. And when 1t came to jumping across from, the rear end of the tender to the forward ves- tibule of the Naught-seven, or being | chucked across, he jumped.
 Now 1t chanced that the governor and his first lieutenant in the great railway steal had weighty matters to discuss, and they had not missed the superintendent or the lawyer, suppos- ing them to be still out on the rear platform enjoying the scenery. Where fore Halkett's sudden appearance, nauled, begrimed and breathless from Bis late tussle with the two engine men, was the first intimation oe vrong-g going that had penetrated to the inner sanctum of the private car.
 Ehat's that you say, MT. Halkett? -a7 the western division? Where sbouts?" demanded the governor.
 Between Losing and Skipjack sid- 6g-if we haven't passed the siding h the last two or three minutes. I've been too busy to notice," was the re- ply.
 And you say you were on the en- zine? Why the devil didn't you call your man down?"
 T knocked him down." gritted the ssvagely. "and I'd have beat his face in for him if there hadn't been two of them. It's plot of some kind. and Callahan knows what he Is about He had me held up with a hammer till just a few minutes ago. and he's running past stop-signals and over red lights like a madmsn,"
 Bucks and Guilford exchanged con- rictions by the road of the eye, and The governor said: This Is pretty serious. Major. Have rou anything to suggest7- And with put waiting for reply he turned upon gaIkett: Where Is Mir Hawk" .. don't know. supposed he was 1 a here with you. Or maybe he's out ( .a the rear platform" I -se three of them went 10 the rear, { casing the private secretary comfort , -nly asleep in his wicker chair. When Ser stepped out upon the recessed platform they found it | -7Dsy-