Evening journal., 1914-10-05

"As ally-you're right: we can't be friends
until we overtake that special train. After that
by your leave, III shift for myself"
It's not such bad notion" he reflected with
fere-"
'If 7 promise" she suggested
TN take your word" he agreed simply But
you're in for a lot OF hardship, I'm afraid The
one way to catch up with your father is by aero
plane-and I've got waiting"
The police entered by the front door the two
orept out OF the area window.
nI-v1A AIR LINE
Not once in the course OF the next sixteen hours
but thousand times Alan questioned land II will
readily be allowed, with all excused his sanity in
permitting himself in being influenced TO humor
Judths nslstence and make her a party TO this
Wild aerial crosscountry dash
Between whiles the plane few fast and high,
cutting direct line, as the nies athwart the
eastern and western states
Chicago they raised as a smudge on the northern
horizon about o'clock IN the afternoon. II
was some hours later. though still daylight, when
they picked up the special train dying like hunt
ed thing across the levels.
There was scant room for doubt but that II was
the train they sought Specials are not common
Moreover Alan contrived with considerable dim
Guilty TO focus binoculars upon the rear platform Of
the car, and caught fugitive glimpse Of white
coated figure with black face that watching
the biplHne in the same manner. that is with
glasses.
The in the white coat. Alan assured him
self, positively BarcuH
And hardly had be oomforted himself with this
assurance when his sardonic destiny struck the
motor dumb
In response to his look OF dashed inquiry the
aviator merely shook a weary head and muttered
the words Engine trouble"
Swiftly the earth rose TO- receive the volplaning
mechanism. Under Coasts admirable handling IL
settled down almost without Jar, the outskirts
OF city whose name Alan never learned.
For the bipane was barely at a standstill before
he was out and, reeng with the gddiness that
Affects men after long Nights making his way
best he might toward the managers ONCE con
nected with a trainyard Immediately adjacent to
the spot where they had come 10 earth
Lavish disbursement OF money won him his way
against onacial protests that what he demanded
was an impossibty. Within twenty minutes, leav-
ing Coast 10 follow on when and as best he might
Alan and Judith were spinning through open coun-
try in the cab of engine running light with
only clear track between II and the special
The several hours that ensued before the rear
lights OF the special brought to view
none too many for the task imposed upon Alan
OF overcoming the scrupes OF the engineer and
fireman.
Another minute and less than nifty feet separat
ed the two-the special train and the light engine.
both hurtng through the night at top speed.
With word to the engineer Alan crept out
along the side OF the boiler. with only a greasy
handran and foothold between himself
and what meant death, something closely
sembling Il, should he be shaken OF by the tear
ing wind and the swaying OF the locomotive.
Il seemed an hour before he worked himself up
TO the cowcatcher-now within four feet Of the
platform OF the special,
On this last he could a womans figure In
distinctly sihouetted against the light through the
door, and beside her man in white coat. cling
ing for dear life 20 the knob OF the door-holding
Il against the frantic efforts OF some persons in
side 20 tear II open.
Another hour OF suspense dragged out--or such
was the effect--while the light engine with intol
erable slowness bridged those four scant feet
At length &c was feasible 70 attempt the thing
Hose Che could see her strained white face quite
plainly now half over the rail OF the car
ahead ready to jump
His heart failed him. Il was too hazardous
risk He dared not let he- take t.
Something very like shot sounded from the
fran and something very like a bullet whistled
past his cheek. and proved the signal for several
more
Someone had opened one OF the side windows
and was emptyng a revolver az him.
Strangely. that knowledge steadied his
Straining forward and holding to a bar so hot
that It scorched his palm, he offered a hand
the girl on the rail ........
Her hand fell confidently into It. She Jumped
His arm wound round her she landed on the
platform Of the cow-catcher He heard her breathe
his name, then hurriedly passed her between him.
self and the boiler to the footway al the side The
fireman was waiting there to help her Alan
turned his attention to Barcus.
To his dsmay he found that the engine was
losing ground. The space widening rapidly
as Barcus released the knob and threw himself
the rail
BY miraculous. flying leap. the man accom-
plished that incredible feat and gained the plat
form .t......
An instant later ten feet separated the engine
from the special. as the engineer applied the
brakes
And this he did none too for at the
time Marrophat and another appeared the
platform and opened a hot, but thanks 10 the
widening distance. Intellectual fire
The engine ground slowly to halt the
lights Of the special train swept from sight round