The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-06-12
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as his train sped toward Granite. He nao curious numbness in his head. A dumb nausea gripped him. For the flrst time in his life, he could not think consecutively. All lis mind and oooy seemed to centre around one hid eous truth: Desiree Shevlin was ter TIDY Ill., Perhaps dying. She want ca him. And he was not there. He had never known until now that he had an imagination. Yet, during the century-1ong train ride, the pres sure on his brain lifted a bit from time to time and he could see the dainty dark little head turning endlessly from side to side on it's tumbled hot pillow; the white face whence the glow and Ilfe had been stricken; the delirium- hoarse voice calling-ever calling-for him.
 She had been so bright, so happy, so strong-only the day before. She had gone driving with him after church. She had been telling him about a coun- day-yes. she was to have started to- day This noon- And on the same drfve-what was it she had worn? It mad gone prettily with her eyes, what ever it was. Those eyes of hers had such odd, wonderful little lights in them. What color were they? And what was it Caine had told her they held-oh, yes-'prisoned laughter That was a queer sort of phrase. But she had seemed to like it.
 Why hadn't the old fool who built the engine made one that could travel faster than a hand car?
 The express-thanks to Caleb's track clearing telegram-rolled into Granite station a full half hour ahead of time. Long before the cars came to a lurch- ing halt under the sheds, Conover, with all an Old-time railroad mans deftness had swung off the moving train and had started down the platform at a run. Through bevies of departing passengers he clove a rough, unapolo- get1C Station hands Ina nod mir bly aside and gazed in gaping amaze afterdtheir hurrying President Past the platform, through the vaulted wait ing room toward the street beyond; and, at the outer door
 ''Calebi"
 Conover halted, dumbfounded, shak- ing at the call. There in the doorway he stood, his face a dull purple, his eyes bulging, staring down at-Desiree Shevlin.
 What on earth are you doing here?'' she marvelled. You said you were to be at the Capital till tomorrow. Isn't ever saw? If I hadn't promised ever and ever so solemn1y to go out to Jeans on the eleven-forty, I'd
 Good Iord!"
 It was as though all the engines on the c. G. & x. were letting off steam at once. And, with the ejaculation, the cloud of horror was wiped clean from the Fighters brain. He was, on
 
 masterful in every atom of his mighty body.
 ''Caleb!" the girl was saying, plain lively, as she gazed up at him with her head on one side, .is your hat wished on?"
 I'm sorry forgot" he laughed, ex- citedly. doffing the wet derby with one hand and slapping her vigorously on her little rain coated shoulder with the other. 'I came all the way back to Granite to tell you I'm tickled to death to see you lookin' so well. An'-an'- to tell you I'm goin' to beat Blacarda Caleb Conover!" she gasped. s"what do you think you are talking about? Are you"
 But Conover had vanished-swallow- ed up in the recesses of the dark sta tion- Desiree looked after him. round eyed.
 'T sometimes think" she confided to the silver handle of her umbrella. that Caleb will never quite grow up!"
 CHAPTER VII.
 The Battle.
 The reo-haired man was fighting.
 Just now he was fighting at long range. And all the complex system of the c. G. & x. railroad vibrated under his blows A dozen rapid-fire orders had sent as many station officials scuttling to posts of duty. Already telegraph wires were sizzling; and em- ployes miles away were hustling in consequence. to fulfil their masters behests. The fastest engine on the c. G. & K was getting up steam. A edozen frantic machinists with oil cans, wrenches and hammers were swarm ing over and under the huge locomo- tive making her ready for a record trip. In the few minutes that re- malned, before his Special could start, Caleb Conover. coolest, least hurried man in the whole buzzing station was frO hn 1rNv7cr i-for 01a phone to Caine.
 Yes" he was saying, as, cigar in mouth. he lounged above the transmit ter on his desk, 'In be off in three liable to have a wakeful day before you I've gave orders to side-track everything on the c. G. & x. between here an Mcintyre Junction. That'Il give us room for a sixty-five-mile-a an hour trip as far as the Junction. After that I'll be off the c. G. & x. tracks and I'll have to take my chances of gettin' the right of way. But guess a couple of tePgrams I've sent will loosen things up on the other road. Remember. I'm a comin' as fast as steam will carry me. Since you say the Starke bill ain't come up yet, there's a show of my gettin' there on time, after all. I've just 'phoned Bourke, the Assemblyman from my DiStrick, to hold the crowd together as well as he can till I land. What?I
 
 knows how to keep the bill back for while, anyhow. Motion to adjourn's always in order. He'll hop up an'- move to adjourn ev'ry five minutes and then demand a poll on the vote. Good Or-fashioned filbusterin'. That am few other cunnin' little stunts that I've taught him is liable to delay business pretty much in the Assembly today. My crowds got all their or derS- But B1acarda was a roarin' fool not to push the bill through early this inornin'. I s'pose he fingered out he had all day ahead of him. Him an me will settle cur score later. So long! My engines ready"
 Clambering aboard the locomotive cab the moment the last oiler scuttled to safety from underneath the driving wheels, Conover lighted a fresh cigar, and with a grim smile leaned back to enjoy the whirlwind flight through the rain. He was happier than he had been in weeks. Not only through the quick lifting of the horror that had