The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1915-01-01


most without jar, on the outskirts OF
a city whose name Alan never learned
For the biplane was barely at -
standstili before he was out and, reel
ing with the giddiness that affects mem
after long flights, making his way AZ.
best he might toward the manager q
Office connected with trainyard inn
mediately adjacent to the spot where
they had come to earth.
| Lavish disbursements OF money wOL
him his way against official protest
that what he demanded was an impoA
sibility. Within twenty minutes, leava
ing Coast to follow on when and al
best he might, Alan and Judith we're
| spinning through open country in th0
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 none 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 greasy handrail and a mar
row foothold between himself and
what meant death, or something close
| ly resembling 1t, should he be shaken
off 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 platfOrD
of the special.
| On this last he could see & woman'0
| figure indistinctly silhouetted against
the light through the door. and besido
her man in white coat, clinging fOu
dear life to the knob of the door
holding it against the frantic efforts a
some persons inside to tear 1t open.
Another hour OF suspense dragged
out-or such was the effect-while the
light engine with intolerable slownesa
bridged those four scant feet.
At length 1t was feasible to attempo
! the thing Rose Che could see heb
strained white face quite plainly nowD
was half over the rail Of the car ahead.
ready to jump.
His heart failed him. 1t was too
hazardous a risk. He dared not let her
! take 1t.
Something very like shot sounded
from the train and something very like
bullet whistled past his cheek. and
proved the signal for several more.
Strangely, that knowledge steadieo
his nerves. Straining forward and
holding on to bar SO hot that 10
scorched his palm, he offered hand
to the girl on the rail.
Her hand fell confidently into It, She
Jumped. His arm wound round her 40
she landed on the platform of the cow
catcher. He heard her breathe hin
name, then hurriedly passed her b.
tween himself and the boiler to the
footway at the side. The fireman was
waiting there to help her. Alan turned
his attention to Barcus.
To his dismay he found that the en-
CINE was losing ground The space
was widening rapidly as Barcus ~
leased the knob and threw himself
over the rail-
By miraculous, flying leap, the
man. accomplished that Incredible feaa
and gained the platform.
An instant later ten feet separateo
the engine from the special, as the ep
gineer applied the brakes.
And this he did none too soon. fos
at the same time Marrophat and IN,
other appeared on the rear platform
and opened hot, but. thanks to Ia
widening distance, Intellectual ira
The engine ground slowly to . ~
as the rear lights OF the special txnnn
swept from sight round a bend
lCO BE CQNCIldIiLcDA