Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-02-26

1913 minutes out Of McCloud. and, look.
ing happy, cussel Mr.. McWilliams O
little and gave her another hatful OF
steam.
It Is getting down hill. like the hills
of the Mattaback valley, at such q
pace that pounds the track out OF
shape. The Flve-Nine lurched ut the
curves like a mad woman, shook free
with very fury. and II the baggage cur
had not been fairly loaded down with
the grief Of McWilliams 1t must have
jumped the rails a dozen times In az
many minutes.
Indeed the tireman-it was Jerry
acElroy-twisting and shifting be.
tween the tender md the furnace. look.
ed for the first time grave and stole
questioning glance from the steam
gauge toward George.
But yet he didn't expect to see the
boy, his face set ahead and down the
track, straighten so suddenly up. sink
In the lever and close at the instant on
the air. Jerry felt her stumble under
his fcet-caught up like girl In a
skipping rope-and. grabbing brace,
looked. like wise stOker. for his an
swer out Of his window. There far
ahead 1t rose In hot curling clouds Of
smoke down among the alfalfa mead
ows and over the sweep Of willows
along the Mattaback river. The Malta.
back bridge was on fire. with the Nc
| Williams Special on one side and Den
yer on the other.
Jerry MacElroy yelled. The engineer
didn't even look around, only whistled
an alarm back to Pat Francis, eased
her down the grade bit, like a man
rejecting, and watched the smoke and
flames that rose to bar the McWilliams
Special out Of Denver.
The Five-Nine skinned across the
II. .dows without break and pulled
up hundred feet from the burning
bridge. 1t was an old Howe truss and
snapped like popcorn as the flames bit
into the rotten shed.
uuu UiuhCLuth Auh
forward. Across the river they could
see half dozen section men chasing
wildly about throwing impOtent buc.:,
cts Of water OH the burning truss.
We're up against It. George" cried
Francis.
Not II we can get across before the
bridge tumbles into the river" re-. urn
ed Sinclair.
"You don't mean you'd try III"
would II Wouldn't 1? You know
the orders. That bridge Is good for IN
hour yet. Pat. IL you're game I'll run
It."
"HOly smoker mused Pat Francis.
who would have run the river without
any bridge at all II 80 ordered. They
told us to deliver the goods, didn't
they"
I'VE might as well be starting, Pat"
suggested Jerry MacElroy, who depre.
Gated losing good time. "ThercIn be
plenty Of time to talk after We get into
Denver or the Mattaback."
think 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 longer"
There was some sharp footing; then
the McWillInris Special backed: back
ed away across the meadow. halted
and screamed hard enough to wake
the dead. George WAS trying to warn
tile section men. At that instant the
door of the baggage car opened. and q
sharp featured young man peered out.
What's the row? What's all this
screeching about. CONDUCTOR" he ask
ed as Francis passed.
Bridge burning ahead there"
Bridge burningw he cried. looking
rervously forward. "Well, that's
ieal! What you going to do about itT
Run It. Are you McWillianij"
"McWilliams? wish was for tlls,
,ne minute. I'm one Of his clerks"
Where Is he?"
II left him on La Sale street yes
terday afternoon.
whats your names?
Just plain Ferguson"
well. Ferguson, it's none OF my
business. but as long as were goins
to put you into Denver or into tie
river In about Il minute I'm curious &c
know what the blazes you're hustline
along this way for"
NE? I've got s1.2OO.OOO in gold coin
In this car for the Sierra Leone Na
tional bank-that's all. Didn't you
know that Hve big banks there closed
their doors yesterday? Worst panic
n the United States. That's what I'm
here for and FIVE huskIes with me eat
iny und sleeping in this car" continu
ed Ferguson, looking ahead. YOU'RE
uot going to tackle that bridge. arr
you"
I'VE are and right OF. II there's
any Of your huskles want to drop out
uow'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
there's q bridge afre ahead. These
guys are going to try to run 1t. III
not In your contract, that kind OF
chance. Do you want to get OFT
stay with the specie, myself. You cal
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 260.
"what do l sayr echoed Murray
with decision, as hs looked for q sof
place to alight alongside the track. -
say I'll drop out right here. dom
mind train robbers, but I don't tackle
a burning bridgs-not Il ! know t.
and he jumped OF.
well, Psaters." asked Ferguson O
the second man coolly, 10 you want II
stay?"
"MeY echoed Peaters, looking aheat
at the mass of fame leaping upward
me stay? Well, not In . thousant
years. You can have my gun. Mr.. Fer
guson, aud send my check to 430 NIL
waukee avenue. II you please. Gen
tlemen, good day" And OF wen
Peaters.
And of went every last man OF tn
yalorous detectives except one lam
fellow, who said he would just a. lie
be dead as alive anyway and declared
he would stay with Ferguson and di