The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1907-09-07

that the two forces met and fought
at the height of his head. Perspira
tion streamed out Of every pore of his
face and his eyeballs burned. He
shifted the kit Of trlckwalker's tools
from one weary shoulder to the other
and glanced with a sigh to the cool
shade of the tropical Arkansas woods
20 right and left Though not a
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 a 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 it 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-
crs. With a gentle Arkansas oath
Hams trudged onward.
As IL 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 veloc
ipcde. 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 ana 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 of pleasantly un-
der the sweep of the mans powerful
arms and a grateful wind famed his
hot forehead. Four miles to the rear
he could see the smoke of Number
tours engine rising lazily on the air.
"Talkin' water at Olney." he said
aloud. Reckon l can make it 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 20
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 IL
was too late to stop. AS the wheel of
the speeder crossed the object there
was the deafening report of torpedo.
a 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. 81 didn't have an,
other torpedo, and we was very de
sirous to have the engineer stop. Now
take OFF your automobile and step
this way" and to give his words
weight he pointed gun into Hams
startled eyes. The latter slowly
obeyed az he glanced ruefully at the
.1-pedo he had placed on the track
Hurry up, you loggerhead! DOM
think you're tramping ties. The trains
comm now and we're due down the
track about hundred yards. Besides
we've got to decide whether to make
you chief O. the tribe or feed you t
the fishes in Black lake" Hahn!
looked at him with hanging jaw as h'
lifted the speeder on the rails.
Hold on" commanded the other
n suddenly. "On second thought
a reckon I'll ask you to carry me dowr
A on your machine All aboard" he re
!. Marked facetiously, as he took hi
seat behind the reluctant Hams. The.
made the better speed by reason o
the gun Hams felt pressed against tn,
q small OF his back.
L At the cut four other men steppe,
out from the underbrush and waite,
Il for them.
who set off the torpedo?" askel
a one who seemed TO be leader.
"Oh, this pal o. mine did It acc
n IDENTIFY answered Hams captor. "Bu
he furnished another one in consider
alton of enjoyin' the benefits O. tn
gang. Whatll we do with him, Jim
4. The leader eyed Hams curiously.
It Gimme a gun and let me In o.
;" this" demanded the captive. eagerly
;" This raised a general laugh. Blu
t the leader called the men aside to
10 whispered consultation. Judgmen
e. passed. Hams was furnished with
gun. He prided It none the less tina
IL was filled with exploded shells.
How much DO you think we wi
e make, fellows?" he asked. naiyely.
s. "Oh, about Ave thousand apiec,
b sonny" answered the man who ha
brought Hams into camp. Luck
'r thing you had that torpedo with yol
= though, or the devil wouldn't stop tha
engineer. He goes through here lik
a bat out O. h"
At mention of the torpedo Hain
Jaw fell.
|