The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-07-29

MFR Flemister," he said holly. "a trap
set not for the passenger train. but /
for my special. Somebody set II.
somebody who knew almost to a min l
ute when we should reach 1t. Mr. !
Flemister. let me tell you something
l don't care any more for my own life
than a sane man ought to care, buts
the numbering devil who pulled the,
spikes on that rail reached out, un.
consciously perhaps. but none the less
certainly, after a life that / would
safeguard at the price of my own.
Because he did that I'll spend the lasts
dollar of the fortune my father left
me, If needful, in finding that man and
hanging him!
IL was the needed flick of the whip1
for the shaken nerve of the mine
owner.
"Ah,' said he. 81 am sure every one
will applaud that determination, Mr.
Lidgerwood-applaud it and help you
to see it through" And then, quite |
as calmly: II suppose you will go !
back from here with your special, !
won't your You can't get down TO
Little Butte until the track is repaired
and the wreck cleared. Your going
back will make no difference In the
right of way matter. can arrange
for n meeting with Gro6eld at any
time-in Angels II you prefer"
EYES," said I.idgerwood absently, "I
am going back from here"
''Then l guess ! may as well ride
down TO my jumping off place with
my men. You don't need us any long
er. Make my adieus TO Miss Brew
ster and the young ladies. will you,
pleaser
LidSerwood stood at the break in the
track for some minutes after the re-
treating relief train had disappeared
around the steep shoulder of the great
hill-was still standing there when
Bradford. having once more sidetraclI-
ed the service car on the abandoned
mine spur. came down to ask for or
ders. I
"We'll hold the siding until Dawson
shows up with the wrecking train"
was the superintendent reply. "He
ought TO be here before long. Where
are Miss Brewster and her frlends?"
"They are all up mt the bonfire. I'm
having the Jap launder the car little
before they move in"
There wns another interval of delay,
and Lidgerwood held aloof from the
group at the fire, pacing n slow sentry
beat up and down beside the ditched
train and pausing at either tirn to
listen for the signal of Dawson's COM
ing 1t sounded at lengthAa series of
shrill whistle shrieks, distance soften
ed. and presently the drumming of
hasting wheels.
The craftsman was on the engine of
the wrecking train, and he dropped off
TO join the superintendent.
mot so bad for my part of It this
time" was his comment when he had
looked the wreck over. Then he asked
the inevitable question. "What did I'll"
Lidgerwood beckoned him down the
line and showed him the sprung rail.
Dawson examined 1t carefully before
he rose up to say: "Why didn't they
spring IL the other way If they wanted
to make a thorough job of it? That
would have put the train into the
river" q
Lidgerwood's reply was as laconic
as the query. because the trap was
set for my car going west, not for the
passenger going east"
"Of course" said the craftsman as
one properly Disguised with his own
lack of perspicacity. Then. after an
other and more searching scrutiny, in
which the headlight glare of his own
engine was helped out by the burn
ing of half dozen matches, "Whoever
did that knew his business"
How do you known"
'Little things. A regular spike puller
claw bar was used. The marks Of its
heel are still in the ties. The place was
chosen to the exact rail length--just
where your engine would begin to hug
the outside of the curve. Then the rail
is sprung aside barely enough to let
the wheel flanges through and not
enough to attract an engineers atten-
ton unless he happened to be looking
NAiNN'iy ht ~ ~ SOOu iBnt.
The superintendent nodded "What
is your inferenceT he asked.
"Only what l say-that the man knew
his business. He is no ordinary hobo.
lie Is in your class or nine"
Fred, tell me--you've known John
Judson longer than l have--do you
trust him when he's sober?"
'Yes." The answer was unqualified.
81 think do, but he talks too much.
He is over here somewhere tonight
shadowlng the man who may have
done this. He-and the man-came
down on 205 this evening. saw them
both board the train ut Angels as it
was pulling out"
Dawson looked up quickly, and for
once the reticence which was his Gus
tomary shield was dropped.
You're trusting me now, Mr.. Lid
gerwood. Who was the man-Grid.
ley?"
"Gridley? No. Why, Dawson, he is
the last man should suspectr'
"All right. IL you think So"
"lOn'f Won fbtptr coc,s