Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-07-24

below. She's coming over the hill
now In a car. We've got to blow up
the bridge as she crosses.
The men were hurrying now toward
the bridge which they had mined. Not
q moment vas 10 be lost. for already
they could see Us coming over he
crest OF the hill.
In a few seconds they reached he
hidden plunger firing Dol which had
been arranged to explode the charge
under the bridge. There they roue. n
In the brush ready TO press the pluns
er the our car touched the
planking.
One OF the men crept out q little
nearer the road. They're coming"
he called back. dropping down again
Get ready"
Del Mars emissaries had not reck-
oned. however. that anyone else might
be about [ o 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 hts
glasses. as In he expected 10 see some
thing any moment.
To his surprise. however. he caught
a fash OF the h~eliograph from the
land. Quickly he turned aud jotted
down he signals. Az he did so. be
seemed greatly excited. for the mes-
sage read:
Dodge girl mas message from be-
low. Coming In car. Blow nrst 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 . run.
the dog scouting ahead.
We were going along the road nice
ly. now. coasting down the hill. Az
we approached the bridge Elaine
slowed up a bit TO cross. for the plank
ing was loose.
Just then the farmer who had been
running down the hill saw as.
Stop" he shouted.
But We did not hear. He ran after
us. but the chase was hopeless. He
stopped. in despair.
With a gesture OF vexation he took
a step or two mechanically on the
read.
Elaine and ! were coming fast 10
the bridge now.
In their hiding place Del Mars men
were watching breathlessly. The lead
er was just about 10 press the ~plunger
when all OF a sudden a branch In the
thicket beside him cracked. There
stood the farmer and his dog.
Instantly the farmer seemed to take
in the situation. With a cry he threw
himself at the man who had the
plunger. Another man leaped At the
farmer. The dog settled him. The
others piled in, and a terrific struggle
followed. IL was all SO rapid that. TO
all. seconds seemed like hours.
We were just starting 10 cross the
bridge.
One OF the men broke away and
crawled toward the plunger box.
Our car was now IL the middle OF
the bridge.
over and over rolled the men. the
dog doing his best 20 help his master.
The man who had broken away
reached toward the piunger.
With a shout he pushed IL down
Our car had just cleared the bridge
when We were startled by a terrific
roar behind US. IL VAS as though .
Thousand tires had blown out at once.
Elaine shut on the engine automatical.
ly and We looked back.
The whole bridge had been blown
up. A second before We had been
in the middle OF II.
As the explosion anne. the men who
had been struggling In the thicket.
paused. startled. and stared out. Al
that instant the old farmer saw his
chance. Ii was all over and he bottled.
calling the dog.
Along the road 10 the bridge he
ran two Of the men after him.
Come back growled the leader.
get caught
As the farmer ran up to the bridge
he saw II In ruins But down the
road he could see Elaine and myself.
sitting in the car. staring back AZ the
peril which We had SO narrowly %.
capped. His face lighted up In as
great JOY as a few moments before IL
had shown despair.
What can that have BEEN" asked
Elaine. starting 10 get out OF the car.
What caused it,"
Il don't know" returned, taking
her arm firmly. But enough has hap
pened today. II was intended for Us.
we'd better hasten. Someone might
take a shot at US. Come. We have the
car. We can get out before anyone
does anything more. Let's do IL.
Things are going on about Us OF which
We know nothing. The safest thing
il ID get away
Elaine looked at the bridge In ruins
and ~shuddered. II was the closest we
could have been TO death and have
escaped. Then she turned 10 the wheel
quickly and the little car fairly jumped