The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1915-07-15

now in a car. We've got to blow nm
the bridge as she crosses"
| The men were hurrying now toward
the bridge which they had mined. Not
a moment was to be lost, for already
they could see us coming over tho
crest of the hill.
In few seconds they reached the
hidden plunger firing box which had
| been arranged to explode the CHARGE
under the bridge. There they crouct.o ID
| in the brush ready to press the plung.
| er the moment our car touched the
| planking.
One of the men crept out a little
nearer the road. They're coming"
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
a flash Of the heliograph from the
land. Quickly he turned and jotted
down the signals. AS he did so, 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 a 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 gesture cf vexation he took
a step or two mechanically off the
road.
Elaine ard I 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 Ct a sudden a branch in the
thicket beside him cracked. There
stood the farmer AID his dog.
Instantly the farmer seemed to take
in tha situation. With cry he threw
hi1ls elf at the man who had the
pluIgar. Another man leaped at the
farmer. The dog settled him. The
others piled il, ard 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 Ct the men broke away and
crawled toward the plunger box.
Our car was now in the middle of
the bridge.
Over and ever relied the men, the
dog doing his best to help his master
The nan who had broken away
With shout he pushed it down.
Cur car had just cleared the bridge
when We were startled by terrific
rear behind us. 1t was as though
thousand tires had blown out at o2c7.
Elaine shut off the engine autoLatlcal-
ly and we Locked back.
TIE whsle bridge had been blown
up. A second before We had 5een
in the middle of it.
AS the explosion came, the men who
rad been struggling in the thicket'
PAUSED, startled, and stared out. al
that instant the cid farmer saw his
chance 1t was all over and he tolted'
calling the dog.
Along the read to the bridge ne
ran, two CT the men after him.
"Cocle back" growled the leader
Let him go. Do you want us all 10
get caught?"
AS the farmer ran up to the bridge
he saw it in ruins. But down the
read he could see Elaine and myself
sitting in the car, staring back at the
peril which we had 50 narrowly es-
capped. His face lighted up IN as
great JOY as few moments before 1t
had shown despair.
"What can that have been?" asked
Elaine, starting to get out of the CAT
What caused it?"
Il aor.'t know" I returned, taxing
her arm firmly. "But enough las nap
pe-e1 today. 1t was intended for u.s.
we'd better hasten. Someone mlsn'
tax, a shot at us. Cc1ie, we have 'lo
car. We can get out before anyone
does anything. mere. Let's do IT,
Things are going On about us OF "hi'n
we know nothing. The safest thine
is ID get away"
Elaine Looked at the bridge in r"ln'