The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-04-21

II OF black substance inside, closed II up
! placed 1t against the far wall, un
| twisted tho coil, stood back near the
| door and then pressed the button, The
result was extraordinary. The whole
OF the far wall was blown out and for
some distance in front the ground
was furrowed up by the explosion
Quest replaced the instrument in his
pocket, sprang through the opening
and ran for the tower house. Behind
| him on its way to New York he could
see a freight train coming along. He
could hear, too, Red Gallagher's roar
Of anger. 1t was less than fifty yards,
yet as soon as he reached the shelter
of the tower the thunder Of the freight
sounded In Quests ears. He glanced
around. Red Gallagher and his mate
we're racing almost side by side to-
wards him. He rushed up the narrow
stairs into the signal room, tearing
open his coat TO show his official badge.
"Stop the freight" he shouted to the
operator. Quick. I'm Sanford Quest,
detectiye-special powers from the
chief commissioner"
The man moved to the signal. An
other voice Numbered in his ears. He
turned swiftly around. The Irishman's
red head had appeared at the top Of
the staircase.
Drop that signal or I'll blow you
into bits,' he shouted.
The operator hesitated, dazed.
walk towards me-" Gallagher
shouted. Took here, YOU guy, this
will show you whether I'm in earnest
or mott"
A bullet passed within few inches
of the operators head. He came slow
~. across the room. Below they could
hear the roar Of the freight.
This amt your job the Irishman
continued sayagely. I'VE want the
cop, and we're going to have him."
Quest had stolen a yard or two
nearer during this brief colloquv. Gal
laghers mate from behind shouted out
a warning just a second too late. With
sudden kick. Quest sent the re-
volver flying across the room and be-
fore the Irishman could recover he
struck him full in the face Notwith-
standing his huge size and strength,
Gallagher reeled. The operator who
had Just begun TO realize what was
happening flung himself bodily against
the two thugs. A shot from the tan
gled mass Of struggling limbs whis-
tied past Quests head as he sprang
to the window which overlooked the
track. The freight had already almost
passed. Quest steadied himself for
supreme effort, crawled out on the lit
tie steel bridge and poised himself for
a moment. The last car was Just be- \
Meath The gap between it and the
previous one was slipping by. He set |
his teeth and jumped on the smooth /
top.
Back behind the tower Red Gala /
rher and his mate bent with Mortified |
faces eyer the body Of the signalman. I
What the hell did you want to plug |
him for?7 the latter muttered. He
amt in the show at all. You've done |
Us. Red, he's cooked"
Red Gallagher staggered to his feet, |,
Already the horror Of the murderer I
was in his face as he glanced furtive-
y around.
II never meant to drop him. he
4 got mad at seeing Quest
yet off. That mans a devil
What are We going to do?" the
3ther demanded hoarsely.
There's the auto" Gallagher shout
ID. Come on, old mani | can fix
he wheel. If we've got to swing for
his job, we1l have something of our
1wn back first"
They crawled to the side of the
,oad. Gallagher's rough hairy fingers
we're still trembling, but they knew /
heir job. In few minutes the wheel /
Mas fixed. Clumsily but successfully.
he great Irishman turned the car i
lround away from the city.
She's hummer" he muttered. 'I'll
make her go when we get the hang OF
t. Sit tight"
They drove clumsily OFF, gathering
speed at every yard Behind, in the
shadow Of the tower. the signalman
ay dead. Quest half way TO New
York, stretched fiat on his stomach.
vas struggling for life with knees and
1ands and feet