The Irish standard., 1908-04-11
CHAPTER xl.

CHAPTER XII.
Tracked.
Alvin saw Stella coming and sprang
to the door. Heard the news?" he
shouted before she could speak. "Vir
ginia & Truckee railroads go this
time, sure. No sardines behind it, like
before, but men; money, too. They'll
build from Virginia to Reno, and We'll
meet 'em there. It'll help us like
sixty"
All this was poured out impetuously
as she came toward him, her mind
scantily comprehending the import of
his words, though mental f1ashlight
told her that the complexion of the
roads would make forever unnecessary
such drives as Uncle Billy's latest
stormy trip.
ooh, Alvin she painted; that
cipher dispatch-it means-it means
death! What shall we do? If the
i chief knew you showed it to me-"
"No matter what happens to me!
Tell me. quick, what's in it,"
But mustn't get you discharged,
Alvin" She had the woman's mind
that delays, protects, conserves; and
she hesitated.
d But Alvin had the masculine cour-
age that destroys boldly to build again
. boldly. "The discharge of one or more
two-bit operators don't count 'longside
of this matter. Mr.. Vincent's due on
the extra in minute. He's o. X. for
company's inside business if he is only
a brakeman"
Every minutes precious" Stella
said. What if the trains late? If
terrupted her.
There she isl" Alvin exclaimed
turning toward the rock promontory
that hid the train, though the rever.
berating whistle sounded from across
the gorge.
"I'll start back" Stella said. "It
Mr.. Vincent's not aboard-they may
have transferred him-wave to me
when 1 come in sight under the hill"
The train pulled in. Alvin gave dis.
patch and translation to Alfred with
whispered explanation, and Stella
saw no hand wave from the doorway
1t needed little time for him to read
and verify Stella's solution. He took
the shorter of the two messages first.
ID. B., San Francisco. To be called
for. Buy G. & G. at any price, con-
tiguous lodes if possible. Big strike.
Secret yet. c. P. 2 & ~
Alfred scowled. Secret information
for favored buyers. When did you get
this?"
Wednesday morning before day.
light"
What were you up to at that time
in the morning."
Nothing. The stuff walked me go.
ing through, it was so queer. The
minute 1 heard the signature l smelt
q MICE"
What do you mean?"
&C. P. & 4 is Blowhard Cabs sig
nature, I'm sure. l heard it once be.
FORE"
"Those initials are ours"
"Sure, they're Cabs. too, backward.
That's why he uses 'em, SO anything
crooked he does will be charged to
u.s." Alvin grinned, but was quickly
serious again. There's worse-the
wires been tapped"
How do you know that?"
. "Cause I asked every operator clear
down the line from Virginia IL he
heard any Choctaw going through, and
not one clicker east of here had it.
At Sacramento the night man heard it,
but paid no attention to it,
Its a states prison offense."
ooh, yes; but Cad won't go to pris.
on. You'll see! How'll they catch
him? And, anyway. the fellers he's
working for in San Francisco II save
him. They'll have to. if they save
their own skins
Alfred was needless. He was read
ing the second dispatch. "a. c. &
O.. San Francisco. To be called for.
Everything fixed. Flora leaves Fri
day at ten. with five hundred tons
iron. P. O. undertakes the job for
price we offered. No mistake. Timed
for the straits. Don't let her take pas
sengers. c. P. 2 & L."
Good heavens!" Alfred cried, drop
ping into a chair by the desk and
reaching for slip and pencil. This is
Friday, and" He took out his watch.
'Nine-five! Got San Francisco
paper. ALP"
Yes: but it's several days old"
"No matter! Find out quick what
dock the Flora leaves. then get to