The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-07-02

most without a jar, on the outskirts Of
q city whose name Alan never learnedl
For the. biplane was barely at q
standstill before he was out and. reel
ing with the giddiness that affects men
after long flights, making his way al
best he might toward the managers
Office connected with a trainyard inl
mediately adjacent to the spot where
they had come to earth.
Lavish disbursements of money won
him his way against official protesta
that what he demanded vas ar imposi
sibility. Within twenty minutes, leav1
ing Coast to follow on when and as
best he might, Alan and Judith were
spinning through open country in thd
cab of an engine running light, with
only clear track between it and the
special.
The several hours that ensued be-
fore the rear lights of the special were
brought to view we're nor too many
for the task imposed upon Alan Of
overcoming the scruples Of the ens
gineer and fireman. J.
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 a greasy handrail and a nart
row foothold between himself and
what meant death, or something close,
ly resembling it, should he be shaken.
of by the tearing wind and the sway.
ing of the locomotive.
It seemed an hour before he worked
himself up to the cowcatcher-now
within four feet Of the rear platform
Of the special.
On this last he could SEGA woman'a
figure indistinctly silhouetted against
the light through the door, and beside
her a man in a white coat. clinging for
dear life to the knob of the door
holding 1t against the frantic efforts Of
some persons inside to: tear it open.
Another hour of suspense dragged
out-or such vas the ,effect-while the
light engine with intolcrable slownesl
bridged those four scant feet.
At length 1t was feasible to attempt
the thing. Rose The could see her
strained white face quite plainly nowJ
was half ove the rail of the car ahead
ready to jump.
His heart failed him. It was. too
hazardous a risk. He dared not let her
take 1t.
Something very like a shot sounded
from the train and something very like
q bullet whistled past his cheek, and
proved the signal for several more.
Strangely, that knowledge steadied
his nerves. straining forward and
holding on to a bar SO hot that ID
scorched his palm, he offered . hand
to the girl on the rail.
Her hand fell confidently into 1t. She
jumped. His arm wound round her al
she landed on the platform Of the cow
catcher. He heard her breathe hid
name. then hurriedly passed her be-
tween himself and the boiler to the
footway at the side. The fireman wa
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 re-
leased the knob and threw himself
oySr the rail.
BY a miraculous, flying leap. then
man accomplished that incredible feat
aAd gained the platform.
An instant later ten feet separated
the engine from the special, az the en-
gineer applied the brakes.
And this he did none too soon: for
at the same time Marrophat and an
other appeared on the 9 platform
n opened q hot. but. thanks to the
widening distance. ineffectualsnre.
The engine ground slowly Is : halt
d the rear lights Of the special train
swept from sight rounds bend.
Continued merit week.