Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-01-31

with the steam shut off and his hand
dropping i2stinctively to the air; and
the superintendent shrank into his
corner and gripped the window ledge
when the special roared past the warn
ing signals ana on through the town
beyond. He had maintained dazed
silence since the episode of the -four
to yell across the cab.
II suppose you know what you're
in for, it you live 10 get out of this!
It's 20 years, in this state, to pass
danger signal" This was not all the
superintendent said: there were FORE
words and Intersections, emphatic but
unprintable.
Galatians reply was another -four
ish Of the hammer, and sudden out
pulling Of the throttle-Sar; and the
superintendent subsidized again.
But enforced silence and the grind
stone of conscious helplessness will
sharpen the dullest wit. The swerving
lurch of the 1,010 around the next curve
set Halkett clutching 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.
Callahan heard the chuckling of the
wasting boiler feed before he had
gone a mile beyond the curve. It was
a discovery to excuse bad language.
but his protest was lamb-like.
mo more av that, if We place, Mis-
Their Halkett, or me an Jimmy
Shovel'll have to-Ah! would yez,
now"
Before his promotion to the super
tendency Halkett had been 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 1910 was suffered to
find her way alone. When it was
over, Callahan spat out broken tooth
and gave his orders concisely.
Cup wild 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 !:
came to jumping across from the rear
end of the tender to the forward ves-
Thule Of the Naught-seven, or beins
chucked across, he jumped.
Now it CHANGED that the governor
and his first lieutenant in the great
railway steal had weighty matters to
discuss, and they had not missed the
or the lawyer, suppos-
ing them to be still out on the rear
platform enjoying the scenery. Where
fore Halkett's sudden appearance,
mauled, begrlmed and GREATNESS from
his late tussle with the two engine
men, was the first intimation OF
the inner sanctum of the private car.
whats that you say, Mr.. Halkett?
ON the western division? Where
abouts?" demanded the governor.
Between Losing and Skipjack sid
ing-if We haven't passed the siding
in 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-
CINE? Why the devil didn't you call
your man DOWN.
II knocked him down." gritted the
superintendent, savagely, "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 few minutes ago,
and he's running past stop-signals and
over red lights like madman!"
Bucks and Guilford exchanged con-
victions by the road of the eye, and
the governor said:
''This is pretty serious, Major. Have
you anything to suggest" And with
out waiting for reply he turned upon
Halkett: where is Mr.. Hawk"
Il don't know. I supposed he was
in here with you. Or maybe he's out
on the rear platform"
The three of them went to the rear,
passing the private secretary comfort
ably asleep in his wicker chair. When
they stepped out upon the recessed
observation platform they found it
empty.
"He must have suspected something
and dropped off in the yard or at the
Shops said Halkett. And at the say
ing of it he shrank back Involuntary
and added: "Ah! Look at that, will
you?"
The car had just Numbered past an
other station, and Callahan had un-
derrun one more stop-signal at full
speed. At the same instant Tischer's
headlight swung into view, half blind
ing them with it's glare
What is that following us?" asked
Bucks.
cts the fast mall" said Halkett.
Guilford turned livid and caught a:
the hand-rail.
"S-s-say-are you sure of that?" no
gasped.
"Of course: it was an hour and IS
minutes late and we are on its time.''
''Then we can't stop unless some
body throws us on a siding!" quavered
the receiver, who had small spirit in
a large body. 81 told M'Tosh to give
the mail orders to make up her lost
time or I'd fire the engineer-told him
to cut out all the stops this side of
Aqua Caliente!"