The Ordway new era. (Ordway, Colo.) 1902-1927, 1914-07-17
Revenge was Sweet
BIZ 9. 8. REED.


ton on the end OF rattlesnake's tail.
After classifying and adjusting bunch
of waybills, Hayden, the conductor.
went forward to the front end of the
cab: where, just beyond the tool pit
under the lookout. was an improvlsed
bunk on one side, and an arrangement
on the other which served as dresser
Hayden had received a smart slap Oh
the cheek from loose end OF a box
strap while helping to unload some
freight packages back there at Caruth-
ers. and he had gone in search of
Mirror with which to examine the
wound.
The dresser referred to was moth
ing more nor less than number Of
tiers OF shelving. built one above the
other, In the side of the car. But con-
trary to the usual arrangement Of such
affairs, Hayden's mirror, i small.
framed glass, repoeed on lower shelf
Bending forward, he drew the mir
ror from ita resting place. Then. SUD
denly, and without examining the
wound in his cheek. he threw the mir
ror upon the top shelf. and, Selling a
large pinch bar which was leaning
against the tool pit hurried out upon
the front platform. closing the door
behind him.
Here he stood a moment, thinking
iutently. Presently he thrust the claw
end of the bar under the shoulder OF
the coupling pin which held the ca
boose attached to the train. using a
portion of the drawhead as a fulcrum.
Then with his hands on the opposite
end he watched the pin unswervingly
and waited. A few moments later.
as the front trucks dropped over
high Joint, and there was single in.
stant's slack in the tension of the.
coupling, Hayden bore down viciously
upon the end Of the bar; and the
coupling pin went flying into the air
over the side Of the truck.
And now Hayden drew q deep
breath. Jobs were hard to get. and
easy to loss. especially now since
there was 70 much talk Of cutting
wages. reducing the force ana econo-
mixing in every possible way. to meet
the conditions occasioned by the EN-.
bexxlement Of Walt Bradley, treasurer
Of the Kennewah branch. he having
skipped out the day before with all OF
the surplus funds Of the company IL
mis- possession.
But as the caboose slowed down.
then began . reverse motion, Hayden
drew another long breath. and went In
side. The nagman and the rest Of TIT
c.ew were now forward on the fast
disappearing train. 49,
tha
the caboose alone. gathering momer
tum at each rail length. until the trees
and shrubs along the wa: appeared a:
q blurred mass. 1t was slightly up.
grade from the foot of the hill to Ca,
ruthers. and the speed Of the cab had
decreased some&hat when 1t leaped
b. the station The agent. however.
had seen. It coming before 1t reached
ths,foot Of the hill. and had expected
70 see II Ay from the track and 20 to
pieces In the ravins below.
But II had not done this; and what
he saw. a. the car shot past the ONCE.
was Hayden sitting in the doorway.
smiling and waving him ? clearance
signal. Tho agent sprang to his key
and called frantically the dispatcher
tsntion he ratified away:
"11fty-ons-runAway caboose-open
switch Quick-brakss ofR-Hayden on
board-svidently crasy."
Meanwhile the caboose was aging
towards KennewaA at the rate Of 7b
milss an hour, and people along the
route stared aftsr the meteor.like OBJ
jsct In amazemsnt and horror.
The grade, after passing Caruthers.
WAS upward for about three miles;
khsn there was another two-mils
stretch of track for rapid coasting.
After this the grade was gradual. but
rising and falling, and entering the
gard 1t Kennewah ct . slight incline.
90 the speed of the caboose was but
little decreased until within . mile
Of the junction. when the cab began to
slow down. 5.-.
II was at this sfme that Hayden
went out on the platform and caught
the brake wheel. which he brought
around sharply. until the shoes clasped
the truck wheels. Approaching the
yard, he saw that the switch had been
opened, and that the car would 90 In
ON Q clear siding. Passing the switch.
he tightened upon the brakes with all
Of his might. and the runaway caboose
came to dead stop almost opposite
the station.
This accomplished, Hayden turned
quickly back into the car, jerked . big
revolver from its hiding place in his
locker. and. drawing bead upon the
aisle between his bunk and the dresser.
be called out:
Come out from under that bunk.
Bradley or by the living st. Peter.
IN perforate all space. matter and mo
ton beneath that berth. Shove your
gun out hrst. butt end foremost. and
you want to be quick about the whole
business"
In response to tAis urgent cali . re-
YnlYAe Kna nhayAA frnn beneath thu