The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1915-02-04
CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XXI.
Via Air Line.
Not once in the course Of tho next
sixteen hours but a thousand times
Alan questioned land, it will readily
be allowed, with all excuses) his san.
ity in permitting himself to be in
huenced to humor Judith's insistence
and make her q party to this wild
aerial cross.country dash.
Between whiles the plane few fast
and high, cutting a direct line, as the
crow flies, athwart the eastern and
western states.
Chicago they raised as smudge on
the northern horizon about one o'clock
In the afternoon; thereafter some lit,
tie time was lost in descents to ascer-
tain the identity Of the many railroad
unos that oriaa-oroasad tho swim MIN"
landscape. Only at the third cast did
they succeed in picking up the line of
the Santa Fe. And it was some hours
later, though still daylight, when they
picked up the special train, flying like
q bunting across the levels.
There was scant room for doubt
that it was the train they sought. Spe~
Gals are not common. Moreover Alan
contrived with considerable difficulty
to focus binoculars upon the rear plat
form of the car, and caught fugitive
glimpse of white-coated figure with
black face that was watching the b.
plane in the same manner, that 10,
with glasses. .. D.
The man in the white coat, Alan as
sured himself, was positively Barcus.
And hardly had he comforted him.
self with this assurance when his sar-
donic destiny struck the motor dumb.
In response to his look of dashed
inquiry the aviator merely shook q
weary head and muttered the words:
Engine trouble"
Swiftly the earth rose to receive the
volplaning mechanism. Under Coasts
admirable handling it settled down a.
most without jar, on the outskirts OF
a city whose name Alan never learned
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 as
best he might toward the managers
office connected with trainyard i'm
mediately adjacent to the spot where
they had come to earth.
Lavish disbursements of money won
him his way against official protests
that what he demanded was an impos.
sibility. Within twenty minutes, leav'
Ing Coast to follow on when and as
best he might, Alan and Judith were
spinning through open country in the
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 were none too many
for the task imposed upon Alan of
overcoming the scruples Of the en-
gineer and fireman.
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 greasy handrail and mar
row foothold between himself and
what meant death, or something close
ly resembling it, should he be shaken
off 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 see woman's
figure indistinctly silhouetted against
the light through the door, and beside
her man in white coat, clinging for
dear life to the knob of the door
holding it against the frantic efforts of
some persons inside to tear it open.
Another hour of suspense dragged
out-or such was the fect-while the
light engine with intolerable slowness
bridged those four scant feet.
At length it was feasible to attempt
the thing. Rose Che could see her
strained white face quite plainly now)
was half over the rail of the car ahead.
ready to Jump. -
His heart failed him. It was too
hazardous risk. He dared not let her
take it.
Something very like a shot sounded
from the train and something very like.
bullet whistled past his cheek, and
proved the signal for several more.
Strangely, that knowledge steadied
his nerves. Straining forward and
holding on to bar so hot that it
scorched his palm, he offered a hand
to the girl on the rail.
Her hand fell confidently into it. She
jumped. His arm wound round her ae
she landed on the platform of the COW.
catcher. He heard her breathe his
name, then hurriedly passed her be-
tween himself and the boiler to the
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