Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-16

her go for all she's worth as soon as we
pass Frazer"
The two men went out front and crawled
into the cab of the engine. The train
passed Tarrytown. Gillicuddy never said
a word He did not look up, but gave the
lever pull and the speed Of the train be-
gan to increase. They knew 1t by the
vibration Of the engine It swung from
side to side-at intervals It gave jump as
II the wheels could scarcely keep the track.
Barnes with his head out Of the cab
window, was like a man fascinated. He
had often thought of the sensation Of rid
ing in locomotive cab, but the reality far
outstripped the dream. The sound of the
drumming wheels was sweet music in his
ears. Now and then there was mighty
roar, followed by binding flashes Of light.
The noise came from the suction Of the
train. while the light was the quickly ap-
pearing and disappearing sides Of some
great whitewashed barn, mere specks on
the horizon. Barnes glanced down once to
get look at the revolving wheels, but the
sight made him dizzy. No. 6 seemed mad
dened frenzied The velocity Of the train
became so great that 1t careened from side
to side like a drunken man. Half uncon-
sciously Barnes waited for the engine to
resume its normal speed But he was dis
appointed. It went on and on, it's violent
agitation increasing with every mile, until
finally It appeared to have reached a state
of complete madness.
The fireman shoveled coal into the mouth
OF the yawning engine like a man pos
sessed. The excitement even infected the
imperturbable MacWilliams. His dun eyes
lighted up as If he had taken strong
tonic. dog tried TO cross the track at
one OF the way stations 1t was ground up
beneath the ponderous wheels quicker than
coffee beans in a mill. Clancy experienced
sensations akin TO sea sickness But still
No. dashed on as II glorying in its record
breaking speed Barnes, elated at the mad
race, pulled out his watch and attempted
to time the train. He held the open faced
repeater for two miles, and found that It
registered a minute and half.
The fever OF the chase began to show
itself in Gillicuddys eye. It sparl1led with
an unwanted fire, and on either cheek, be-
meath the CRIME, could be seen little
flush Of red. The residents OF the country
side attracted by the antics Of this in
sane engine, rushed from their homes and
stood in open mouthed wonder while the
great iron giant Numbered past them. The
train was going against the wind, ana
the breeze came through the cab with the
fury OF a cyclone. Barnes hat blew on,
and he managed 70 save 1t only by a dex-
terious outstretching Of his right hand.
From that time he stood there bareheaded,
with each particular hair standing on end.
Chancy's face was white and ashen.
It was dangerous for him TO get back
into the car so he was given a seat on
a stool in the bottom OF the cab, where
he gradually recovered his color and his
self possession
Everybody was wondering how long this
madness would continue, when MacWill-
Jams opened his lips and uttered the one
word, "PeekslIillP' The train shot by so
quickly that IL was impossible 70 read the
signboard at the station, but the faithful
AIacWtlliams knew every foot OF the
ground between New York and Albany,
ana he realized, from the topography Of
the country through which they were rush
ing, that this was the pretty little New
York city. Slowly. almost impercepubly.
Gilllcuddy began 10 reduce the speed OF
the engine. After that he pulled out his
open faced watch and looked at Il. When
he spoke there was ring Of triumph In his
voice:
eve have made uP al Of cur Lost TINA