Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-03-15

WA.sc' Merton put the question boldly
Go Mr.. David Cartwright. even as he had
promised the latter's daughter that he
would and now he waited. looking straight
at the stern, business-like face OF the as
s!stant superintendent OF the line for his
reply. but already reading a decided neg
ativo therein.
See here. Mr.. Merton" he said pres
entity. some men In my position would
have been hig hly offended at this. But l
dom to treat you In that way. I'm
derstand that l ar not in the least angry
with you for asking for the hand OF my
daughter. though I must confess you have
taken mo by surprise. but my answer
must be no. and 1t is absolutely final so far
as the present IS concerned" he said, and
unless YOU progress up the ladder II VIII
be- nnal IN the future. The fact OF our
being what Is called a gentleman makes no
difference. The question Is. how do YOU
stand with us from a business point or
view? Your chief merit IS our knowl-
edge OF German. There you are useful TO
US IN our correspondence. hut do some
thing smart on the line. my lad Ire went
on kindly. do something smart. That's
tho way to get N"
TN Try sir-for t,vie-Mtss Cartwrishts
sake"
Very likely. But understand me that
from this moment you must not say an
SNiAS "OtA ~ hNA VII - 'e'JN 49,
must be left free. Can l trust You"
Certainly
And now to work. I want you To run
down to Saxhaven tomorrow and make
thorough investigation as to the working
OF the staff fhere."
He went through a bundle OF documents
with the young man. and finally dismissed
him With the Injunction TO take the 3;3o
express the next morning.
Then he Law back in his chair n minute or
two and pondered. II like the fellow" he
admitted. and 1 know Ewes fond OF him.
But l haven't seen real grit 10 him yet.
Well. time will prove.1'
: There was . resolute look In Walter
Meriton's face when he arose next morn
Ing. He noticed 1t himself III the glass. fie
meant business. did this young man. He
had sat up half the night going deeply
into the question of the Saxha ven station
star. for he intended this report OF his to
be the first little rung up the ladder before
him.
Just as the train began to move. he made
a dash at a first class compartment. IL
was locked. but the guard hastily produced
his key and opened 1t. and Merton swung
himself in. AS he looked out of the win
dow to say a last word to the official. he
heard A deep voice behind him in German :
"Ach, Colt, Curse him. l thought We
had the compartment to ourselves l gave
the guard five shiilings to lock us in"
He was N the point OF turning to apoi-
osize when he heard another voice say In
the same language:
Bad luck. Blu We must settle with him
If h is Troublesome"
Now Walter Merton wls Il thorough
G,'man scholar. He had spout three years
la II school In Germany aud "ould speak
the language tiiently.
He looked for Il moment clrelcSsly at his
companions. They Were two evil-lookins
men-ore short and sandy haired. with
littlr gray eyes that never kept s,ill; the
other big and <ia.wy. Il very powerful
looking fellow.
Then the short man leaned over and
spoke TO him in ;erina asking whether
h" objected to smoking. BY no hint did
he h.tray himself. H.. simply shook his
head and remarked III English that he did
not understand
w wan, 10 schmoAe. said the Ger
mar in English.
oh, certainly"
Then IN, short man explained. after a
pause. Mine friend. shprak- not English.
He ask you COR matches"
Merton gave him II box With u laugh,
and then took out his pock.tbook ard
busted himself with his papers. pretending
to take no notire. Blu h. kept his ears
open The others began to talk in Ger
man.
w may speak" sa,d the short man:
he does NOT understand
NO, but he vii, be In the way"
: What shall W. do"
Don't worry. my friend. We are a
match for him. and We can easily tie him
up and put him under the seat"
And now to business" said the bigger
man. You have brought them
Two Of them in the bag" and he jerked
his thumb toward the rack.
Good, here is the plan"
He called 1t Eisenbahn Fahrplan in Ger
man. and he pulled a printed paper from
his pocket. Merton gave one little glance"
toward 1t, and set himself with "A mighty
effort to keep his countenancc. For he had
instantly recognized 1t AS tn" paper OF
special instructions for a train that was
to run that morning from Saxhaven TO
London. and which was to carry no less a
parsonage tnan the prince OF Starkenburs,
heir apparent. as all the world knows.
to d mighty European throne and now IN
his way TO visit his augnst relative. The
king of England.
He might we'll recognize 1t. for he had
helped to draw 1t up himself. and. had
dispatched copies OF il to all the principal
officials along the line some days before.
Somehow or other these men had managed
to get hold OF a copy, and he guessed II
meant mischief.
Now, then" sad the bigger man. I'VE
must find out the exact time when our
train Is likely to pass this one" Indicating
the special. You see. II Is timed To run
through Westiield at 1875. Now. ". don't
stop at Wes.tield. but | nave found out
from tho Working Time Table that We
are due there at 1913. so. you see. II will
he about ten minutes or so the other SIDE
of Westfeld. There's a signal cabin called
Pine Tree Bon that the special passes at
1O12. That will be about the point wher.
We shall cross IL"
we must keep the time carefully"
. course. And one OF US must be look
ing out of the window down the line. The
prince travels In the third saloon from tn.
engine. We must have the bomb. ready
in our hands and throw them IN as near
As We can guess. 1t will have TO be done
In A second. I'll throw from the center
window, and you must throw from the
side one at the same time. Ven have 10
break 1T first
II was a clever scheme. They knew the
Special would he well guarded and
watched. that platelaycrs all along the
line would be stationed at bridges and all
likely points of danger. but that no one
would suspect an attack from the Sax
haven express.
How could he stop these mem
Suddenly an inspiration struck him. 1t
was more difficult thar ever now TO apuear
perfectly obllvious OF the other men. but
by a great effort he did 80. He had his