The Dolores star., 1915-10-08
rh.y answered and hurried 70 nsss

"Just got q heliograph. ne pAnteo.
The Dodge girl must have picked up
ma of the messages that came from
below. She's coming over the NH
now in q car. We've got to dow up
the bridge an she crosses.
The men were hurrying now toward
the bridge which they had mined. Not
. moment was to be lost, for ALREADY
they could see us coming over the
crest of the hill.
In a few seconds they reached the
hidden plunger firing box which mad
been arranged to explode the charge
under the bridge. There they crouched
in the brush ready to press the plungi<
er the moment our car touched "
pIanking.
One of the men crept out little
nearer the road. They're coming"
he called back. dropping down again.
Get ready"
Del Mars emissaries had not reck-
oned, however. that anyone else might
be about to whom the heliograph was
an open book.
But, farther up the hill, hiding
among the trees, the old farmer and
his dog were sitting quietly. The old
man was sweeping the Sound with his
glasses. as If he expected to see some
thing any moment.
To his surprise, however. he caught
q flash of the heliograph from the
land. Quickly he turned and jotted
down the signals. As he did 80. 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 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 bit to cross, for the plank.
ing was loose.
Just then the farmer who had been
running down the hill saw US.
"Stop!" he shouted.
But We did not hear. He ran after
us, but the chase was hopeless. He
stopped. in despair.
With a gesture of vexation he took
a step or two mechanically OF the
road.
Elaine and were 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 Of sudden a branch in the
thicket beside him cracked. There
stood the farmer and his dog
Instantly the farmer seemed to take
in the situation. With a cry he threw
himself at the man who had the
plunger. Another man leaped at the
farmer. The dog settled him. The
others piled in, and a 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 shout he pushed it down.
.
when we were startled by terrific
roar behind US. 1t was as though q
thousand tires had blown out at once.
Elaine shut off the engine automaticaL
ly and we looked back.
The whole bridge had been blown
up. A second before we had been
in the middle of it.
AS the explosion came. the men who
had been struggling in the thicket
that instant the old farmer saw his
chance. 1t was all over and he bolted,
calling the dog.
Along the road to the bridge he
ran, two of the men after him.
Come back" growled the leader.
Let him go. Do you want US all to
get caught"
As the farmer ran up to the bridge
he saw it in ruins. But down the
road he 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 az
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 don't know I returned, taking
her arm firmly. But enough has hap
pened today. It was intended for US,
we'd better hasten. Someone might
take a shot at us. Come, we have the
car. We can get out before anyonsi
does anything more. Let's do it~
Things are going on about US of which
we know nothing. The safest thing