The Holly chieftain., 1915-05-21


blowout at all. Look here."
He pointed to the small level hole.
Almost at once he stood back and the
sunshine flashed upon the revolver
clutched in his right hand.
That was a bullet" he continued.
Someone fired at that tire. Tom,
there's trouble about"
The man looked nervously around.
That's rife bullet, sure" he NUT
tered.
Get on the wheel as quick as you
can." Quest directed. Here. III give
you hand"
He stopped down to unfasten the
straps which fastened the spare wheel.
1t was one Of his rare lapses. realized
a moment too late. Almost in his ears
came the hoarse cry:
Hands up, guvnor! Hands up this
second or I'll blow you to hell"
Quest glanced over his shoulder and
looked into the face of Red Gallagher.
raised a little above the level of the
road. A very ugly little revolver was
pointed directly at Quests heart.
MY mates got you covered on the
other side Of the road, too. Hands up.
both of you. or we'll make quick Job
of it."
Quest shrugged his shoulders, threw
his revolver into the road and obeyed.
AS ne did SO. the other man stole out
from behind bush and sprang for
the chauffeur. who under cover of the
car was stealing off. There was
brlef struggle, then the dull thud of
the railway mans rife falling on the
chauffeurs head. He rolled over and
lay in the road.
pitch him off amongst the bushes"
Red Gallagher ordered. "You don't
want anyone who comes by to see.
Now lend me hand with this chap"
What do you propose to do with
me?" Quest asked.
You'll know soon enough" Red Gal.
| lagher answered. "a matter of five
minutes talk. to start with. You see
that handcar house,"
Perfectly WELL" Quest assented.
my eyesight is quite normal"
Get there then. I'm a yard behind
you and my revolver's pointing for
the middle of your back"
Quest sprang lightly down from the
road. crossed the few intervening
yards and stepped into the handcar
house.
Gallagher and his mate followed
close behind. Quest paused on the
threshold
Its filthy dirty hole" he re-
marked. "Can't we have our little
chat out here? Is it money you
want?"
Gallagher glanced around. Then
with an ugly push of the shoulder he
sent Quest reeling into the shed. His
great form blocked up the doorway.
mo-" he cried fercely. "its not
money want this time. Quest, you
brute, you dirty bloodhound! You
sent me to the pen for FIVE years-you
with your cursed prying into other
peoples affairs. Don't you remember
me. Ell? Red Gallagher"
"Of course l do" Quest replied
coolly. "You garroted and robbed an
old man and had the spree of your life.
| The old man happened to be a friend
Of mine, so took the trouble to see
that you paid for 1t. Well?"
Five years of hell, that's what l
had" the man continued, his eyes
flashing, his face twitching with an.
ger. "Well, you're going to have
little bit more than five years. This
sheds been burnt down twice, sparks
from passing engines. It's going to
be burnt down for the third time"
Sounds remarkably unpleasant"
Quest admitted. YOU'D better hurry
or the boss will be back"
Gallagher finally slammed the door.
Quest heard the heavy footsteps of
the two men as they turned toward
the section house. He drew a little
case from his pocket.
He opened what seemed to be a
little mahogany box, looked at the ball
of black substance inside, closed 1t up.
placed it against the far wall. un.
twisted the 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 freight train coming along. He
could hear, too, Red Gallaghers roar
Of anger. 1t was less than fifty yards,
yet as soon as he reached the shelter