The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-02-11
CHAPTER XXI.
Via Air Line.

sixteen hours but a thousand times
Alan questioned (and, it will readily
be allowed, with all excuses) his san
ity in permitting himself to be in
1uenced to humor Judith's in~sistence
m make her a party to this wild
aerial ~cross-country dash.
Between whites the plane flew fast
and high, cutting a direct line, as the
crow flies, athwart the eastern and
western states.
Chicago they raised as a smudge on
the northern horizon about one O'Clock
IN the afternoon; thereafter some lit
tie time was lost in descents to asccr-
tain the identity of the many railroad
lines that cr~iss-crossed the swimming
landscape. Only at the third cast did
hey succeed in picking up the line Of
the Santa Fe. And 1t was some hours
later, though still daylight, when they
picked up the special train, flying like
a bunting across the levels.
There was scant room for doubt
that it was the train they sought. Spe-
cials are not common. Moreover Alan
contrived with considerable difficulty
to focus binoculars upon the rear plat
form of the car, and caught a fugitive
glimpse of a white-coated figure with q
BLACK face that was watching the b.
plane in the same manner, that is,
with glasses.
The mar in the white coat, Alan as
sured himself, was positively Barcus.
And hardly had he comforted him.
self with this assurance when his sar-
donic 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
vo~lplaning mechanism. Under Coast's
admirable handling 1t settled down al
most without a jar, on the outskirts OF
a city whose name Alan never learned.
For the biplane was barely at a
standstill before he was out and, reel
lilS Will tue SluullltSo tlut AASA
after long flights, making his way as
best he might toward the managers
Office connected with a trainyard i'm
mediately adjacent to the spot where
they had come to earth.
Lavish disbursements Of money won
him his way against official protests
that what he demanded was an impos-
sibility. Within twenty minutes, leav-
ing Coast to follow on when and as
best he might, Alan and Judith were
spinning through open country in the
cab of an engine running light, with
only clear track between 1t and the
special.
The several hours that ensued be
fore the rear lights of the special were
brought to view were non too many
for the task imposed upon Alan OF
overcoming the scruples Of the en-.
gineer and fireman.
Another minute, and less than fifty
feet separated the two-the special
train and the light engine, both hur.
Ting through the light at top speed.
With a word to the engineer Alan
crept out along the side OF the boiler,
with only a greasy handrail and a mar
row foothold between himself and
what meant death, or something close
ly resembling it, should he be shaken
OF by the tearing wind and the sway
ing Of the locomotive.
1t seemed an hour before he worked
himself up to the cowcatcher-now
within four feet Of the rear platform
of the epecial.
On this last he could see a woman's
figure indistinctly silhouetted against
the light through the door, and beside
her a man in a white coat, clinging for
dear life to the knob of the door
holding 1t against the frantic efforts of
some persons inside to tear it open.
Another hour of suspense dragged
out-or such was the effect-while the
light engine with intolcrable slowness
bridged those four scant feet.
At length It was feasible to attempt
the thing. Rose (he could see her
strained white face quite plainly now)
was half over the rail Of the car ahead,
ready to jump.
His heart failed him. It was too
hazardous Q risk. He dared not let her
take 1t.
Something very like q shot sounded
from the train and something very like