Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1906-08-08


1 ever do" he declared; and he con-
frmed it with an OATH
But Callahan was getting his punish
ment as he went along. He had scarce
ly settled the 1 ,010 into her gait for the
final run against the failing water
supply when another station came in
sight. 1t was small cattle town, and
in addition to the swinging red lights
and a huge bonfire to illuminate the
yards, the obstructionists had torn
down the loading corral and were pill
ing the lumber on the track
Once again Callahan's nerve flick
cred, and he shut off the steam. But
before it was too late he reflected that
the barrier was meant only to scare
him into stopping. One minute later
the air was full of flying splinters,
and that danger was passed. But one
of the broken planks came through
the cab window, missing the engineer
by no more than a hand 's-breadth. And
the shower of splinters, sucked by the
whirl of the train, broke glass in the
private car and sprinkled the quartet
on the platform with split kindling
and wreckage.
What was that?" gasped the re-
ceiver
Halkett pointed to the bonfire, reced-
ing like a fading star in the rearward
distance.
"Our friends are beginning to throw
stones, since clods won't stop him"
he said
Bucks shook his head.
IF that is the case, We'll have to do
something on our own account. The
next obstruction may derail us"
Halkett stepped into the car and
pulled the cord of automatic air.
mo good" he muttered. "The
Irishman bled our tank before he start
ed. Help me set the hand brakes,
couple of YOU"
Danforth and the governor took hold
of the brake wheel with him, and for
minute or two the terrible speed
of the disused hand-gear gave way I'M
der the three-man strain and that
hope was gone.
There's one thing left" said the
superintendent, indomitable to the
last. well uncouple and let him
drop us behind
The space in the forward vestibule
was narrow and cramped, and with the
strain of the dragging car to make the
pin stick, it took two Of them lying
| fiat, waiting for the back-surging mo-
ment and wiggling it for slack, to pull
| it. The coupling dropped out of the
| hook and the engine shot ahead to
the length of the safety chains; thus
| far, but no farther
Halkett stood u.
TITS up to you, Danforth," he said,
raising his voice to be heard above
the pounding roar of the wheels.
You're the youngest and lightest: get
down on the 1,010's brake-beam and
unlock those chains"
The secretary locked once into the
| trap with the lodging jaws and the
backward-fying bottom and declined
the honor 1880
81 can't get down there" he cried.
"And 1 shouldn't know what to do
| if 1 could"
Once more the superintendent ex-
stake save a desire to defeat Callahan;
but he had the persistent courage of
| the bull-terrier. With Bucks and the
secretary to steady him he lowered
himself in the gap till he could stand
upon the brake-beam of the 1,01O's
tender and grope with one free hand
for the hook of the nearest safety
chain. Death nipped at him every
time the engine gave or took up the
slack of the loose coupling, but he
lodged and hung on until he had sat
isfied himself
| tits no good" he announced, when
they had dragged him by main
| strength back to footing in the mar
row vestibule. "The hooks are bent
into the links. We're due to go
wherever that damned Irishman is TAX
ing us"
Shovel was firing and the trailing
smoke and cinders quickly made the
forward vestibu1e untenable. When
they were driven in, Bucks and the re-
ceiver went through to the rear plat
form, where they were presently
joined by Halkett and Danforth.
1--WE been trying the air again."
said the superintendent, "but it's no
| go. What's next"
| The governor gave the word.
wait" he said; and the four of
them chung to the hand-rails, swaying
and bending to the bounding lurches
| of the flying car.
Mile after mile reels from beneath
the relentless wheels, and still the
speed increases. Station Donerail is
passed, and now the pace is so furious
| that the watchers on the rallied plat
form cannot make out the signals in
the yolleying wake of dust. Station
Schofleld is passed, and again the sig
nails, # any there be, are swiftly
drowned in the gray dust-smother.
From Schofield to Aqua Caliente is but
scant ten miles; and as the flying
train rushes on toward the state