Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-29

hammer of the wheels, the beat of metal
against metal, the creaking of the cab, and
the rush of steam,- these sank into his SUBJ
consciousness. The opening of the feed door
scarcely disturbed him, and the red flare
from the frebox, Transforming the driving
smoke and steam above the tender into
lurid scud, ceased to impress his eye.
What he did see, in the massed blackness
beyond the electric's reach, was the face of
Josephine Maxim,-now drawn in agony,
now pale but resolute, now white and still,
with closed eyes, and yet again as he had
seen it that night in his automobile. These
visions made his throat ache; but there was
comfort in the thought that his hand had
been released from its paralyzing spell at
this juncture, for to get Maxim on the scene
at the earliest possible moment was of prime
Importance.
The scream of fanges against curve an
nounced the approach to Tunnel No. 10.
Bland drew his watch When the Path
finder dived into the gaping hole like hunt
ed rat the second hand was seven points
past the minute. When she emerged the
hand was on thirty. The tunnel was half
mile long, plus seven feet. Thus the indi-
Gated speed was a trife less than eighty
miles an hour not bad considering that the
200 was now climbing the glacis of the Tens
and nosing about among the mesas for the
easiest outlet.
IINEXPECTEDLY-as is the way with
- such things-came the supreme test of
Jesse's nerve. lust as the engine plunged
into a nameless canyon, SO narrow that he
could almost have touched its rutted walls
with his hand, man on the track flashed
into view six or seven hundred feet ahead
The chances were ten thousand to one
that he would step off in time; yet only five
or six seconds lay between him and annihila-
ton. One of these was consumed by Jesse
in emitting a screeching whistle blast. Two
-three-four more passed, each reducing
the intervening space by over a hundred
feet. Then the wayfarer leaped nimbly to
one side as the train Numbered by.
Jesse smiled; for no paniclsy fear had made
him close the throttle valve and apply the
air-as had happened in the past. But his
JOY was short lived.
At hat man was masked!' shouted Maxim
The presence of man on foot in this desc
late spot was unusual. The presence of a
masked man was suspicious. Both occu-
pants Of the cab scanned the track as if it
was the Book of Fate Three minutes
passed, and Bland was breathing easier,
when far ahead he spied fame, waving to
and fro in the stop signal. Instantly he shut
off steam and slapped on the air. The heavy
train still dashed forward, shaking the earth
and spewing fire from each locked wheel
Each second seemed minute; but at last,
yielding to the titanic grip of the brakes, she
stopped with final shudder.
Watching the gangway for the expected
robbers with drawn revolvers, the eyes of
the two men glazed with amazement at the
appearance of Josephine Maxim.
60 on" she painted. Don't waste a
second! l escaped an hour ago from Emilio
Frontana. | don't know how near the gang
is; but if they saw my signal and saw you
stop they will know you picked me up and
may shoot up the train I'm Josephine
Maxim father is Major Maxim u
She sprang toward her father with a
startled cry.
"Papal You herel Firing this engne!"
Maxim folded her in his arms and smudged
her cheek with his grimy lips. Its mel" he
said, with smile. "And there's another
friend Of yours
She twisted her head about. "Jesse!" she
gasped.
Bland smiled happily. But he was too
busy with his levers at the moment to do
more. As it was he was none too quick; for
the wheels were just beginning to sing when
a vengeful but harmless fusillade of shots
cracked at the rear.
There was no time for Josephine story
at least for more than was told by her
happy glowing face as she mounted the fire.