Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-09-10

of black substance inside, closed it 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 it's way to New York he could
see 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
around. Red Gallagher and his mate
were 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,
detective-special powers from the
chief commissioner"
The man moved to the signal. An
other voice thundered 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. Look here, you guy, this
will show you whether I'm in earnest
or mott"
A bullet passed within a few inches
of the operators head. He came slow
ly across the room. Below they could
hear the roar of the freight
This amt your job" the Irishman
continued savagely. I'VE want the
cop, and we're going to have him."
Quest had stolen a yard or two
| nearer during this brief colloquy. Gal
lagher's mate from behind shouted out
warning just second too late. With
a sudden kick, Quest sent the re
volver flying across the room and be
|
/ 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 sprans
to the window which overlooked thu
track The freight had already almos
passed. Quest steadied himself for :
supreme effort, crawled out on the lit
btle steel bridge and poised himself TO
a moment. The last car was just be
meath. The gap between it and th'
previous one was slipping by. He Sc
his teeth and jumped on the smootl
top.
Back behind the tower Red Gala
CHER and his mate bent with horrifie,
faces over the body of the signalman
what the hell did you want to plu;
him for?" the latter muttered. II
amt in the show at all. You've don
us, Red, he's cooked"
Red Gallagher staggered to his feet
Already the horror of the murdere
was in his face as he glanced furtive
ly around
81 never meant to drop him." h
muttered. 81 got mad at seeing Ques
get off. That mans a devil"
what are we going to do?" tn
other demanded hoarsely.
There's the auto" Gallagher shou
ed. "Come on, old man! can fl
the wheel. If we've got to swing fo
this job, we'll have something of ou
own back first"
They crawled to the side of tn
road. Gallagher's rough, hairy finger
were still trembling, but they kne'
their job. In few minutes the whet
was fixed. Clumsily but successful,
r the great Irishman turned the ca
r around away from the city.
She's a hummer" he muttered. az
d make her go when We get the hang {
n it. Sit tight"
!. They drove clumsily off, gatherin
d speed at every yard. Behind, in tt
e shadow of the tower, the signalma
lay dead. Quest, half way to Ne
1 York, stretched fat on his stomac
s was struggling for life with knees an
l. hands and feet.