The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-08-27
" They answered 90 At.nsd " meet

him.
Just got a heliograph." be painted.
"The Dodge girl must have picked up
one Of the messages that came from
below She's coming over the hin
now IN a car We've got to blow up
the bridge as she crosses
The men were hurrJ ing now toward
the bridge which they had mined Not
a moment was TO be lost, for already
they could see US coming ever the
crest Of the hill
In a few seconds they rea he'd the
hidden plunger firing box wilch had
been arranged TO explode the G.
under the bridge There they Gre
in the brush ready to press The l4
er the moment our car touched
planking
One Of the men crept out a little
nearer the road They're coming!"
he called back, dropping down again
Get ready"
Del Mars emssaries hau not reck-
oned, however, that anyone else might
be about 10 whom the hell graph was
an open book.
But, farther up the kill, hiding
among the trees, the old farmer and
his dog were sitting quietly. The old
man was sweeping the Sound with his
glasses, as II he expected to see some
thing any moment.
To his surprise, however. he caught
a fash of the heliograph from the
land. Quickly he turned and jotted
down the signals As he did 50, he
seemed greatly excited. for the mes
sage read: ,---- -
Dodge girl has message from be-
low. Coming in car. Blow first bridge
she crosses"
Quickly he turned his glasses down
the road There he could see our car
approaching. He put up his glasses
and hurried down the hill toward the
bridge. Then he broke into a run,
the dog scouting ahead.
We were going along the road nice
ly, now, coasting down the hill AS
we approached the bridge Elaine
slowed up a bit to cross, for the plank.
ing was loose.
Just then the farmer who had been
running down the hill saw US.
step" he shouted.
But we did not hear. He ran after
us, but the chase was hopeless. He
stopped in despair
With a gesture Of vexaticn he took
a step or two mechanically OFF the
road.
Elaine and l we're coming fast to
the bridge now.
In their hiding place Del Mars men
were watching breathlessly. The lead
er was just about to press the plunger
when all CT a sudden q branch in the
thicket beside him cracked There
stood the farmer and his dog.
Instantly the farmer seemed to take
in the situation With cry he threw
himself at the Ean who had the
plunger. Another man leaped at the
farmer The dog settled him. The
others piled in, and terrific struggle
followed. 1t was all so rapid that, to
all, seconds seemed like hours.
We were just starting to cross the
bridge.
One Of the men broke away and
crawled toward the plunger box.
Our car was now in the middle of
the bridge
Over and over rolled the men, the
dog doing his best to help his master.
The man who had broken away
reached toward the plunger
With a shout he pushed it down.
Cur car had just cleared the bridge
when we were startled by a terrific
roar behi2d us. 1t was as though a
thousand tires had blown out at Jace.
Elaine shut off the engine automatjcal-
ly and we Licked back.
The whole bridge had been blown
up. A sec,nd before we had been
in the middle Of it,
AS the explosion came, the men who
had been struggling in the thicket,
paused, startled, and stared out At
that instant the old farmer saw his
cha-ce. 1t was all over and he bolted,
calling the dog.
Alcng the read to the bridge he
ran, two CT the men after him.
&C me back" growled the leader
Let hi.a go. Do you want US sll to
get caught?"
AS the farmer ran up to the bridge
he saw it in ruins But down the
road lie could see Elaine and myself,
sitting in the car, staring back at the
peril which we had SO narrowly es-
capped. His face lighted up in as
great joy as a few moments before it
had shown despair.
what can that have been?' asked
Elaine, starting to get out of the car
What caused it,"
Il dent know" l returned, taking
her arm firmly. Put enough has hap
pened cday. 1t was intended for us,
we'd better hasten. Someone might !
take a shot at us. Come, we have the
car. We can get cut Before anyone
does anything more. Let's do it.
Things are going on about us Of which |
we know nothing. The safest thing |
IS t. get away"
Elaine looked at the bridge in ruins
and shuddered 1t was the closest we |
could have been to death and have
escaped. Then she turned to the wheel |
quickly and the little car fairly Jumped |
ahead
"Oh, if Craig we're only here, she
"IIe would know what to
To-"
As We disappeared over the crest |