The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1907-04-12
THE McWlLLlAMS SPECIAL
Continued from Page Two)

"You don't mean you'd try lit"
"Would T? Wouldn't I? You know
the orders. That bridge is good for an
hour yet Pat, if you're game I'll run
It."
"Holy smoker unused Pat Francis,
who would have run the river without
any bridge at all If so ordered 'They
told us to deliver the goods, didn't
they?"
1--WE might as we'll be starting, Pat
suggested Jerry MacElroy, who depre-
Gated losing good time. ''There'll be
plenty Of time to talk after we get into
Denver or the Mattaback."
'1Think quick, Pat" urged Sinclair.
His safety was popping murder.
Back her up, then, and let her go"
cried Francis. I'D just as lief have
that baggage car at the bottom Of the
river as on my hands any longerv'
There was some, sharp footing: then
the McWilliams Special backed; back
ed away across the meadow, halted
and screamed hard enough to wake
the dead. George was trying to warn
the section men. At that instant the
door Of the baggage car opened, and a
sharp featured young man peered out.
y Whats the row? What's all this
screeching about, CONDUCTOR he ask
Cd as Francis passed.
Bridge burning ahead there
Bridge burningv' he cried, looking
nervously forward, We'll, that's a
deal! What you going to do about it?'
''Run 1t. Are you McWilliams? r.
"McWilliams? wish I was for just
one minute. I'm one Of his clerks"
where is hep
II left him on La Sale street yes
terday afternoon" "U.*.@
whats your name?"
"Just plain Ferguson"
@Well, Ferguson, It's none Of my
business, but as long as we're going
to put you into Denver or into the
river In about a minute I'm curious to
know what the blazes you're hustling
along this way for"
"Me? I've got $1,200000 in gold coin
in this car for the Sierra Leone Ma
tional bank-that's all. Didn't you
know that five big banks there closed
their doors yesterday? Worst panic
In the United States. That's what I'm
here for and five huskies with me eat
ing and sleeping in this car" continu-
ed Ferguson, looking ahead. you're
not going to tackle that bridge, are
youy'
"We are and right off. If there's
any Of your huskies want to drop out,
now's their chance" said Pat Francis
as Sinclair slowed up for his run.
Ferguson called his men. The five,
with their rifles, came cautiously for
ward.
"Boys," said Ferguson briefly,
ssthere's bridge afire ahead. These
guys are going to try to run 1t. It's
not in your contract, that kind Of a
chance. Do you want to get off? I
stay with the specie, myself. You can
do exactly as you please. Murray,
what do you say?" he asked, address
ing the leader Of the force, who appear
ed to weigh about 26O.
"What do I say?" echoed Murray,
with decision, as he looked for soft
place to alight alongside the track. II
say Til drop out right here. don't
mind train robbers, but don't tackle
a burning bridge-not If I know it."
and he jumped off.
''Well, Peaters," asked Ferguson Of
the second man coolly, "do you want to
stay?"
"Me" echoed Peaters, looking ahead
at the mass Of fame 1eaping upward.
"Me stay? Well, not in thousand
years. You can have my gun, Mr.. Fer
guson, and send my check to 439 Mil
waukee avenue, if you please. Gen
tlemen, good day" And off went
! Peaters.
And off went every last man Of the
valorous detectives except one lame
fellow, who said he would just as lief
be dead as alive anyway and declared
he would stay with Ferguson and die
rich.
| Sinclair, thinking he might never get
| another chance, was Whistling sharply
for orders. Francis, GREATNESS with
| the news, ran forward.
| "Coin? How much? Twelve hun
dred thousand Wheww cried Sinclair.
"Swing up, Pat We're Off"
The Five-Nine gathered herself with
a spring. Even the engineers heart
quailed as they got Roadway. He knew
his business, and he knew that IL only
the rails hadn't buckled they were per
| fect.y safe, for the heavy truss would
stand a lot of burning before giving
way under q swiftly moving train.
| Only, as they flew nearer, the blaze
rolling up In dense volume looked hor-
ribly threatening. After all, it was
foolhardy. and he felt 1t, but he was
| past the stopping now. and he pulled
the choker to the limit. It seemed as II
---~~---~----~n--~----~--~S