The Prescott daily news., 1907-08-15
IA WET
 
]. CHESTER BARNETT.

St by Daily Story Pub. Co)
 .,orged rails and oil-soaked
 row up quivering rays Of heat
 the down-beating flames or
 n It seemed to John Hains
 pa 70 two forces met and fought
 soight of his head. Perspira-
 u0omed out of every pore of his
 nd his eyeballs burned. He
 tbe kit of trackwalker's tools
 Ine weary shoulder to the other
 anced with a sigh to the cool
 of the tropical Arkansas woods
 bt and left. Though not a
 of air was stirring on the track,
 breezes swayed the branches
 oaks and poplars and rustled
 aves of the hazelnut bushes.
 q stile that climbed the barbed- (ipht.of.way fence sleepy cattle
 the shade and gazed on the
 uains with placid contempt.
 Ds looked up and down the track.
 d walked steadily for 17 minutes bt rest, and nature began to re- man was in sight. He would
 Number 1 was about due at this
 and it was an even chance that lad master would be riding with hgineer. If so he would have a
 weather eye out for trackwalk-
 With a gentle Arkansas oath trudged onward.
 if to reward his virtue, ten farther on and half concealed in leeds that grew up disobediently the right of way, he saw a veloc-
 Hains started, and joyous re-
 lighted up his features. The CT belonged to the bridge watch |whost shanty he had passed 20 $aph poles back. What was to N him from using the machine? would ride the remaining two of his track and replace the CT on his way back. With the 1 of the suddenly rescued he bed out his switch key and re- d the lock from the wheel. ] rails clicked off pleasantly un- |he sweep of the mans powerful and a grateful wind famed his brehead. Four miles to the rear buld see the smoke of Number engine rising lazily on the air. kkin' water at Olney," he said | Reckon can make 1t to the lore she gets here"
 mounted and sped along swiftly. Ing a practiced eye out for loose and low joints. He pulled out the long curve of trestle 29 D crosses Black lake. Suddenly Piect on the rail at the end of the |e caught his eye. He grasped the and bore down hard. But it Foo late to stop. As the wheel of |peeder crossed the object there fhe deafening report of torpedo. Pn jumped into the track in front bins.
 hat in h. are you doin' here?" fmanded, rriously.
 mats wrong with the track? ?" Hains quickly reaching into his et Tor another torpedo to place on ail.
 ral the ticket,' ,' said the other iene'ed tone. T didn't have an
 torped' and we was very de E to have the engineer stop. Now or your automobile and step way and to give his words ll he pointed a gun into Hains' gu eyes. The latter slowly U as he glanced ruefully at the ao he had placed on the track. 1lIy up' }ou losgerhead, Don't you're tramping ties. The trains now and we're due down the "Oout hundred yards. Besides sot to decide whether to make 2 .uIei the tribe or feed you to aSnes In Black lake" Hains U at nm with hanging jaw as he ,ae speeder off the rails.
 ,lu M on commanded the other. any, ; "On second thought | II ask you to carry me down ~, % machine. All aboard!" he re. su' lacetiously, as he took his
 'lu lhe reluctant Hains. They 'ne better speed by reason of 'u halns felt pressed against the or his back.
 sne cut four other men stepped lem. 'u "ai'eu ,h set on the torpedo?" asked Ao seemed to be leader.
 , sniS pal O mine did it acci. r,, answered. Hains' captor. But Sned .. another one in consider V u,' enloyin' the benefits O the ,o. @hatll we do with him, Jim?"
 e'der eyed Hains curiously.