The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1907-08-31

at the height of his head. Perspira-
ton rtreamed out of every pore of his
face and his eyeballs burned. He
shifted the kit of trackwalker's tools
from one weary shoulder TO the other
and glanced with a sigh to the cool
shade OF the tropical Arkansas woods
to right and left. Though not
breath of air was stirring on the track
gentle breezes swayed the branches
of the oaks and poplars and rustled
the leaves of the hazelnut bushes.
Across stile that climbed the barbed-
wire right-of-way fence sleepy cattle
lay in the shade and gazed on the
weary Hams with placid contempt.
Hams looked up and down the track.
He had walked steadily for II minutes
without rest, and nature began TO re-
bel. No man was in sight. He would
But Number was about due at this
point and 1t was an even chance that
the road master would be riding with
the engineer. If so he would have a
sharp weather eye out for trackwalk-
ers. With gentle Arkansas oath
Hams trudged onward
AS if to reward his virtue, ten
steps farther on and half concealed in
the weeds that grew up disobediently
along the right of way, he saw yeloc-
ipede. Hams started, and joyous re-
solve lighted up his features. The
speeder belonged to the bridge watch
man whost shanty he had passed 20
telegraph poles back. What was to
hinder him from using the machine?
He would ride the remaining two
miles of his track and replace the
speeder on his way back. With the
joy of the suddenly rescued he
whipped out his switch key and re-
moved the lock from the wheel.
The rails clicked off pleasantly un-
der the sweep of the mans powerful
arms and grateful wind famed his
hot forehead. Four miles to the rear
he could see the smoke of Number
four's engine rising lazily on the air.
'Takin' water at Olney," he said
aloud. Reckon | can make 1t to the
cut fore she gets here"
He mounted and sped along swiftly,
keeping practiced eye out for loose
bolts and low joints He pulled out
onto the long curve of trestle 30
which crosses Black lake. Suddenly
an object on the rail at the end Of the
bridge caught his eye. He grasped the
brake and bore down hard But it
was too late to stop. AS the wheel of
the speeder crossed the object there
was the deafening report of a torpedo.
man jumped into the track in front
of Hams.
What in h. are you doin' here?"
he demanded, furiously.
What's wrong with the track?'
asked Hams, quickly reaching into his
pocket for another torpedo to place on
the rail-
That's the ticket" said the other
in a relieved tone. Il didn't have an
other torpedo, and we was very de
sirous to have the engineer stop. Now
take off your automobile and step
weight he pointed a gun into Hams
startled eyes The latter slowly
obeyed as he glanced ruefully at the
vpedo he had placed on the track.
Hurry up, you loggerhead. Don't
think you're tramping ties. The train S
comm now and we're due down the
track about a hundred yards. Besides
we've got to decide whether to make
you chief O. the tribe or feed you to
the fishes in Black lake" Hains
looked at him with hanging jaw as he
lifted the speeder off the rails
Hold on" commanded the other
suddenly "On second thought
reckon III ask you to carry me down
on your machine. All aboard" he re
marked, facetiously, as he took his
seat behind the reluctant Hams. They
made the better speed by reason OF
the gun Hams felt pressed against the
small Of his back
At the cut four other men stepped
out from the underbrush and waited
for them
Who set off the torpedo?" asked
one who seemed to be leader.
"Oh. this pal O. mine did it acci
IDENTIFY answered Hains captor. But
he furnished another one in consider
alton of enjoyin' the benefits O. the
gang. Whatll we do with him, Jim p
The leader eyed Hams curiously.
Gimme a gun and let me in or
this" demanded the captive, eagerly
This raised a general laugh. But
/ the leader called the men aside to &
whispered consultation. judgment
passed Hains was furnished with &
gun. He prided it none the less thai
ii was filled with exploded shells.
How much do you think we will
make, fellows?' he asked. naively
"Oh, about Ave thousand apiece
sonny" answered the man who haC
brought Hams into camp. Luck,
thing you had that torpedo with you
though. or the devil wouldn't stop thai
engineer. He goes through here like
/ bat out O. h"
At mention of the torpedo Hains
7 I'll