The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1915-05-22

OF black substance inside, closed II up.
placed 1t 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 n freight train coming along. He
could hear, too, Red Gallagher's roar
of anger II was less than fifty yards.
yet as soon as he reached the shelter
OF the tower the thunder Of the freight
sounded in Quests ears. He glanced
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 Numbered in his ears. He
turned swiftly around The Irishman's
red head had appeared at the top OF
the staircase
Drop that signal or III 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 not"
A bullet passed within few inches
OF the operators head lie came slow
ly across the room. below they could
hear the roar Of the freight
This amt your job the Irishmau
continued sayagel} We want the
cop. and we're going to have him"
Quest had stolen a yard or two
nearer during this brief coiloquy Cal
laeher's mate from behind shouted out
warning Just second too late With
sudden kick, Quest sent the re-
yolYer flying across the room and be
fore the Irishman could recover he
struck him fun in the face Notwith-
standing his huge size and strength.
Gallagher reeled The operator who
had just begun to realil. WAT was
happening flung himself bodily against
The two thHas shot from the tan.
gled mass Of struggling limbs Wits
tied past Quest head as ne sprang
to the window which overlooked the
track The freight had already almost
passed Quest steadted himself for a
supreme effort. rraWled out on the lit
tie steel bridge and poised himself for
a moment The last car was lust be
meath The gap between II and the
previous one was slipping by. He set
his teeth and jumped on the smooth
top
Back behind the tower Red Gala
CHER and his mate bent with Mortified
faces over the body Of the signalman
What the he'll did you want TO plug
him for2' the latter muttered lie
amt in the show at all You've done
Us Red, he's cooked"
Red Gallagher staggered TO his feet,
Already the horror of the murderer
was In his face at he glanced furtiye-
ly around
II never meant TO drop him. he
muttered i get mad al seeing Quest
get of That mans a devil"
What are We going To de?" the
other demanded hoarseH.
There's the auto Gallagher shout
ed Come on. old man can fix
the wheel II we've got TO swing for
this Job Wen have something Of our
own back first
They erawled TO the side OF the
road Gallagher's rough. hairy fingers
We're still trembling. but they knew
their Job, In a few minutes the wheel
VAS fixed. Cumsily but successfully,
the great trishrnan turned the car
around away from the city
She's hummer he muttered "l'n
make her so when We get the hang OF
Il Sit tight
They drove clumslly of gathering
speed at every yard Behind. In the
shadow OF the tower. the signalmau
lay dead Quest half way 10 New
York. stretched nat on his stomach
was struggling for nfe with knees and
hands aaa feet
CHAPTER Al