The Huttig news., 1908-04-04
AZuszez10J 81 HAzzAoN

1t d SIdbe prison OHe0So.
ooh, yes; but Cad won't go to pris
on. You'll see! How'll they catcl
him? And, anyway, the fellers he's
working for in San Francisco IL save
him. They'll have to, If they save
their own SKINS
ing the second dispatch "A. C. &
O., San Francisco. To be called for
Everything fixed. Flora leaves Fri
day at ten, with five hundred toni
iron. P. O. undertakes the job fon
price we offered. No mistake Timet
for the straits. Don't let her take pas
sengers. C. P. 2 & T."
Good heavens!" Alfred cried. drop.
ping into chair by the desk anc'
reaching for slip and pencil This Is
Friday, and He took out his watch
'Nine-five! Got a San Francisco
paper, Al?"
Yes; but it's several days old"
No matter! Find out quick what
dock the Flora leaves, then get to
your key. We must beat lightning to-
day"
The two were silent, Alvin nervous
ly turning the paper, Alfred scratching
dispatches. Evidently the Flora" was
not a regular boat; her name was net
in the shipping lists.
Well have to send the message or
trust then. Quick, Al! Tell the op-
orator down there it means life or
death to officers and crew-this
message does. Tell him to put man
Gu a horse-I'll stand the expense
anything to get word to the Flora in
time! oh, sign my name. 1t won't
do to have the company show up in
this"
Alvin bent over his key. Men came
and went, Alvin holding off trainmen
and commercial messages alike with
the decisive words "company's bust
ness" He looked up at last, breathing
freer as he spoke. They'll do it, he
whispered to Alfred. "They know
where the Flora lies. They have 20
minutes to catch her.
Alfred sent a second message to the
company's office in Sacramento telling
from his train for the day. A third
dispatch went to the county sheriff.
telling him of the wire tapping and
of the evidence against Cadwallader.
While waiting for replies Alfred
wrote to Gov. Stanford, inclosing the
cipher dispatches and their transla-
tions. But this was soon DONE and
the two men, oppressed with their
death-laden secret, watched the clock
feverishly.
The minutes dragged as intolerably
for Alfred, though he wore his mask
more easily than Alvin. Would they
be in time? Would they catch the
her fate? Even then, would they find
the infamous secret before it's fateful
moment arrived? What would it be?
Powder? A slit in the hull? A cum
ming injury to the boiler?
At last San Francisco called. Alvin
sprang to the key. The steamer had
started, had been hailed, had waited
for small boat and the message, and
had gone on her way.
Alfred rose, as stiff with the tension
as if minutes had been hours. That's
all we can do at that end. Keep your
eye and ear buster than your tongue,
Al, for the rest of the day. I'm off to
settle with his nibs, Phineas Cad
wallader. By the way couldn't you
contrive some way to get him left?
The train reported late in leaving,
false report, something like that?'
Alvin nodded. Guess can think
up that trick in four hours.
At the hotel Alfred took only time to
don riding boots and to find Stella for
a hurried word Get Sally B. to hold
Cadwallader here over train time, if
it's possible Alfred said before his
goodbye. ''It may mean everything
to the company. I'll return tonight
if | can
A swift horse took him to the
Front, where he found the superin-
tendent riding his beat. Alfred told
his story briefly and asked if there
was lineman on the force.
Jupiter! You can't track that
man, Vincent! The SHOWS come and
gone since that Hecate's job was done"
But, Mr. Gregory, he'd have to cut
the wire, and he'd have to climb a
tree or a pole to do it. Could that be
done without leaving a tracer"
What then? How can you prove it
was hep
How'll l know l couldn't prove it
unless l try?"
''Linemen don't show up often in
my diggings. I'll ask Bennett; his Sec
ton begins here
Inquiry discovered an intelligent
man who had worked on the line. His
climbers were at camp near by; and
Mr.. Gregory's resourcefulness provided
horse and saddle. The two men set
off without delay. They rode fast till
within nearly five miles of Dutch Flat,
Alfred Judging that, since Phineas
took the stage there, his exploit must
be in that neighborhood
The afternoon was past its half
when they began to inspect each pole
and wire-touched tree with close
scrutiny. We'll work east over these
Ave miles to Dutch Flat Alfred said.