Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-07-04
CHATTER XIX, lconttnued.)

3. = p
CHAPTER XIX, (continued,)
- \ our-sister? Oh, I'm glad. I'm
glad-but don't stand there like a
wooden man, for you've work to do.
Wake up Can't you hear? She's In
Eeril!" Her words whipped him out
Of his stupor SO that he drew himself
somewhat under control "Ge' into
your coat. Hurry! Hurry, My pony
viii take you there" She snatched
his garment from the chair AMI neld 1t
for him while the life ran back into
bis veins. Together they dashed out
into the storm as she and Roy had
done, and as he flung the saddle on
the buckskin, sne said:
understand 1t all now. You heard
the talk about her and Glenister; but
it's wrong. l lied and schemed and
intrigued against her, but it's over
now. guess there's little streak
Of good in me somewhere, after all"
He spoke to her from the saddle.
tits more than streak, Cherry, and
you're my kind of people, She smiled
wanly back at him under the lantern
light.
That's ,left-nanded. Kid. don't
y
kind--or your sisters kind"
Upon leaving the rendezvous, Glen
lister and his two friends skunk through
the night, avoiding the life and lights
Of the town, while the wind surged out
Of the yoids to seaward, driving its
wet burden through their Tapping
slickers, pelting their faces as though
enraged as Its failure to wash away
the purposes written there. Their
course brought them to cabin at the
western outskirts of the city, where
they paused long enough to adjust
something beneath the brims Of their
hats.
Past them ran the iron rails Of the
narrow-gauged road which led out
across the quaking tundra to the
mountains and the Mines Upon this
slender trail of steel there rolled one
small, ungainly teapot of an engine
which daily creaked and clanked back
and forth at a snail's pace, screaming
and wailing it's complaint of the two
high-loaded flat-cars behind The ties
beneath it were spiked to planks laid
lengtnwise over the semi-liquid road
bed, in places sagging beneath the sur
face till the humpbacked, short-waisted
locomotive waved and reeled and
squealed like drunken fish-wife. At
night it painted YEARLY into the board
station and there sighed and coughed
and Kissed away It's fatigue as the
Goals died and the breath relaxed in its
lungs.
Early to bed and early to rise was
perforce the motto Of its grimy crew,
who lived near by. Tonight they were
Just retiring when stayed by sum
mons at their door The engineer op-
ened 1t to admit what appeared to his
astonished eyes to be a Krupp cannon
propelled by man in yellow-oiled
clothes and white cotton mask. This
weapon assumed the proportions of a
great, oTIe:eyed monster, which stared
with. baleful sfxity at his vitals. giving
him cold and empty feeling. Away
back beyond this Cyclops of the Sight
less Orb were two other strangers like
wise equipped.
The fireman arose from his chair,
dropping an empty shoe with thump,
but, being of the west, without cavil
or waste Of wind. he stretched his
hands above his head, balancing on
one foot to keep his unshod member
from the damp floor. He had unblck-
led mis- belt, and now. loosened by the
movement, his overalls seemed bent
on sinking floorward in an ecstacy of
abashment at the intrusion, whereup-
On with convulsive grip he Rugged
them to their duty. one hand
and foot still elevated as though
IN the grand hailing-sign of
some secret order. The other man
was new to the ways of the north, so
backed to the limit of his quarters.
laid both hands protectingly upon his
middle, and doubled up, remarlsing,
iervidly:
Don't point that damn thing at my
stomach
''Ha, hal" laughed the fireman WITH
unnatural loudness. Have your joke,
boys
This amt no joke said the fore
most figure, it's breath bellying out the
mask at its mouth
Sure it is" insisted the shoeless
,ne. "Must be-We amt got anything
worth stealing"
Get into your clothes and come
llong. We won't hurt you" The two
obeyed and were taken to the sleeping
engine and there instructed to produce
/ full head of steam in thirty minutes
Or suffer premature taking off and a
prompt elision from the realms of APP
eiiad mechanics AS stimulus to their