Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1916-09-07

with a mufied oath, that tottering
figure came avalanching down the
chimney, and landing on the narrow
ledge, gripped at Davy as a drowning
man clutches floating bit of wreck
age.
The interlocked antagonists hurtled
headlong down the shaft into the
fireplace of the gunroom. 1t was due
to the fact that Legar's picked assas-
sin had landed underneath, and brok-
en- the force of Dayy's fall, that the
badly shaken secretary owed his life.
At that instant a volley of staccato
reports, like those of a gatling gun
going into action smote their ears.
They've stolen the Mercury" cried
the frantic millionaire, "and If they've
stopped to put the Arrow out Of COM
mission they can show clean pair OF
heels to anything on the lake."
To Enoch Golden's intense relief, the
machinery of the high-powered Ar
row had not been tempered with and
soon the chase was on.
The delicate mechanism of the Mer-
curry revolted at the unskilled han
ding of her clumsy-fngered engineer.
She began to miss badly, while her
speed perceptibly diminished. Legar
caught up his glasses and for mo-
ment intently studied the on-coming
Arrow, which was evidently gaining.
Then, with a quick twist Of the
steering wheel, he sent the racing
power boat heading directly for the
nearest shore. Even as her sharp
PROV grated over the shelving beach
Legar and his villainous crew swarmed
over the side, carrying the fettered
girl and the burlap sack with them.
They scrambled hastily up the en-
bankment of the railroad track skirt
ing the lake, Just as the enraged
father of the abducted girl beached
the pulsating Arrow and sprang has
tily ashore.
Hampered by his captive and the
heavy sack of loot, the master schem-
er realized he could not hope to out
strip his opponents by ordinary meth
DDS of flight. But the evil genius
of the man was equal to the occasion.
At little distance down the track a
dozen Italian laborers were busy re-
pairing the roadbed, under the super
vision of burly Irish foreman. The
handcar on which these men went to
and from their work had been set off
to one side of the track near where
Legar was standing.
Get that handcar back on the rails
and be quick about it," came his sharp
command to the men. With his bur-
den he leaped aboard and was laugh
ing at his pursuers as he raced away. |
Just then an automobile of ancient !
vintage, driven by stupid rustic, |
came wheeling up the highway, which |
paralleled the railroad.
I'VE want to catch handcar that
Just went up the track" shouted Col
den. II will pay you 500 to help u.s."
Legar had congratulated himself |
too soon on the ease of his escape.
AS the handcar started toiling up a
long, gradual grade, he looked back
and saw the automobile loaded with
armed men in hot pursuit. But he
checked his muttered oath as the
suffering car struck the hill, slowed
iown and finally came to a dead stop.
The heavy load had proved too much
Tor the time-worn engine. Legar
could see his opponents getting out
II the balky automobile, which, re-
ieved of its burden, started crawl
ng up the hill, with its passengers
behind it.
Then the handcar reached the crest
II the rise and went rapidly coasting
Town the incline on the other side.
But Legar knew that eventually he
must be overtaken. Human sinews
;ould not prevail against the power
lriven vehicles Of his enemies.
At that moment there beat in upon
lis ears the long-drawn screech of a
locomotive whistling for a crossing.
With look of fendish hate, Legar
topped ans lifted Margery Golden
rom the rough flooring of the jolting +
andcar and dropped her between the
listening rails.
In breathing space his victim
7ould be ground to death beneath the
onderous driving wheels of the en-
Inc rushing down upon her. But in
hat breathing space an Incompetent
IDLE thing took place.
At some distance beyond the foot of
ne incline the rails. sweeping in a
'tde curve, around bend in the road,
ere lost to sight It so happened
lat just around this bend the switch
ig apparatus used to throw freight
aims on to a siding was undergoing
ertain repairs at the hands of blue
,aned track walker This man, all
uconscious of threatening tragedy,
I'D finished his labors and was wip-
g his grimy hands on a piece of
,tton waste. Suddenly he became
'nscious of a motionless figure stand
g beside him.
AS he glanced up he saw the stran-
RS face was covered by a mask,