Amador ledger., 1908-04-24

saved her from worse than a shaking
ap, and she had reganed the seat
poor old Kingp she cried as she
saw with relief that Dick was unhurt.
81 could kill that little Edwards boy"
"Never mind the Edwards boy" seid
Dick bIusquely. what we have to
think about is the train. We never can
walk that hill in time to make the
train Have you nerve enough to coast
It in the cutterT
I'D risk anything rather than return
home" cried Joyce II never will let
father catch u.s."
"Thcn here goes" cried Dick gayly
as he pulled the cutter back into the
road and caught up one OF the broken
shafts. ITS been long time since
went bobbing, but think | can make
It."
lie gave Joyce the shaft to hold and
pushed the cutter over the brow of the
hill, climbing in over the back when
he had 1t started.
Once back in the cutter he took the
shaft and improvised n steering rud-
der. The body work afforded him lever
age, and Dick laughed as the sleigh
began to gain speed.
For the first half mile the road was
straight, and little steering was neces-
sary. Then ahead loomed the turn, and
Dicks face turned grave as he dug the
shaft into the road.
Slowly the sleigh responded to the
pressure. and in another instant they
had swung around the curve as neatly
as a champion COASTER on his low
pointer. and they were again on the
straight and headed for the station.
Hank Carew had just backed his en-
CINE down from the house. and white
plume of steam rose from the dome as
the engineer waited for the minute
hand of the clock to touch the bottom
Of the dial
The runaways were still a quarter Of
a mile from the station when the cut
ter slowed up, but they had gained
more than q minute in their swift de-
scent, and they did not have to run.
AS they came up to the station plat
form the little knots of loungers gath
cred about them. Rapidly Dick ex-
planned the reason for the coast, and
the listeners cheered as they heard the
tale. For years they had grumbled
at the way Warning treated Joyce, and
they were glad that at last she was
to be released from her fathers hard
reign.
Here comes your dad now" piped a
shrill voice. And with one accord
they turned to see the familiar War
ing team tearing over the brow Of the
hill
Carew glanced at the steam gauge
and the clock. Then he leaned out OF
the window.
AL aboard that's going" he called
in stentorian voice. We're chang
ing the schedule today. The $50 is go
ing out at 9:2S!'
Another instant and the train was
rafting down the road toward the
state line, and Hiram Warning came
dashing up to the platform to be greet
ed by ironical cheers.
"The train went ahead of time" he
sputtered 81 shall report this to the
of1icials!"
You're wrong, squire" drawled Ned
Burns, who posed as a wag. THAT
amt the regular train. That's the
| Coaster special. Makes close connec-
ton with the Cutter express. from up
| your way"
The laugh which followed showed
Warning that the sympathy was all
with the runaways. He was to be a
candidate for county treasurer in the
fall. 1t would not do to turn his
townspeople against him. AS he head
ed the horses for home he half turned
In his seat.
"When that Coaster special COM
pletes the round trip" he shouted out,
"you might tell Dick Torrington to
come out to my place. 1 amt going to
kill the fatted calf, but there's Il tur-
key l was saving up for Christmas
l guess that'll do as we'll"