Evening star., 1909-06-06
CHAPTER VII.-Continued.

The whole transaction was completed
before either the engines crew knew what
was going on. The rightful fireman
found himself toppled from the cab
straight into the arms of the engineer,
who with yell had sprung aboard. The
two, clasped lovingly in each other
arms, rolled swearing into a roadside
mudpuddle-and the locomotive was off.
Conover at the throttle. laughed aloud
in keen delight as he glanced back at the
enginelesS train, the two bedragSled fig
urers and the crowd that came running
eacitedly along the platform.
This old rattler amt a patch on the
ore We left behind. he chuckled. but
she seems able to make some speed for
all that Gee. but III have my hands
full squarin myself with the president of
this road. I'm h'be 10 hear some fine
suit 10 compromise, too. But we'll get
there. It'd - held us up half hour
or more. TO wait for that measly local 10
hit switch. Ever steal an engine be-
fore. SOM?
NO" said the fireman. and I'm just
wondering how III look in striped
clothes
You'll be all right. Take that from
me. y means promotion. That's all; II
our trip lasts long enough, YOU re Nble
TO be pres dent of the {. q. & y. at this
rate. Say l wonder when this engine took
on water last. Look an see
''All right for the rest of the rum re-
ported the fireman, on his return. But
suppose they telegraph ahead and have
Us run into an open switch?
II thought of that. But they won't.
In the first place. they won't risk smash
In a good engine. In the second-Hell
Amt l Caleb Conover?'
hatless man-dripPing wet. mud
smeared. grimy as coal HEAVIER took
the state house steps three at a stride.
In less than two minutes II was known
throughout the assembly that Caleb Con
over had come. y word here, hint
there, pulling of mysterious wires
and the wavering bdckbones of his more
doubtful satellites in the legislature were
miraculously stiffened. The Starke bill
had not yet come 10 a vote. thanks TO
Bourke and his colleagues who had
wearied the assembly 10 desperation and
maddened Blacarda TO frenzy by con
tinuous series OF the most glaring fill
buster tactics. But even the Conover
factions tactics had. at the last, we'll
nigh exhausted themselves.
In another five minutes. Caine was
explaining. you'd have been too late.
Nothing could have stopped the bill
from
Another 1--WE minutes Knocked Como
yer turning from his work. Son this
ain't the first nor yet the millionth time
knocked n Stry into a cooked hat. Now.
send MCGuckin 10 me. He needs little
more beguilin'. An I'm here TO give II
to him Chase, now He's the last I'll
have time 10 see. before the vote.
Conover did not SO much as trouble TO
go 10 the assembly gallery with Caine
when the Starke bill came up for ballot
Ing; but sat smoking and giancing over
papers in the committee room that he had
eornmandeered as his personal office.
Hither. soon afterward. Caine repaired
his handsome tired face alight.
We win" he announced triumphantly.
THE bills defeated-by two votes. Con-
gIatulat.ons.
Son" observed Conover. gianc.ng up
from his desk what's all the excite
nento | told you last Friday that we'd
ain by two votes Now. maybe. you ii
believe another time that l know what
I'm talkin' about Where's Blaearda?
Il passed him in the corridor on his
9ay back to the hotel. Why do you ask?
You're done WITH him now.
"Done with him. echoed Conover.
Why. man / amt begun with him yet.
{ was just waitin to fnd where he d
gone So long. See you at the hotel be-
lore the train time.
Conover walked out Of the office. leav-