The Carlisle independent., 1916-11-30

hin1 the whole story. When the two reached the siding Storm asked the conductor to put out a fiagman to pro- tect the freight he half lifted and half pushed Helen up into the cab, and the instant the fireman cut off tho engine, started in pursuit of the fast-receding passenger train.
 But the stern chase is the long chase. The freight engineer had set himself difficult task; one thing alone was in his favor, everything else was against him. He was run ming light engine against one pull ing strong string of sleeping cars. But his own machine was built for traction, not for speed, and he was pitting it against one of the fastest types Of engines on the division. From the time Storm opened the throttle not device was left untried to make his ponderous engine go fast; not trick of all those that had already made his reputation as an exceptional runner was now overlooked and every resource of the engineers art was brought into play to overhaul the fly ing passenger train.
 Helen crouched on the fireman's box with her eyes straining ahead into the darkness, or glancing across the hooded lights of the cab at the pro file of the silent engineer. waited in vain for him to look toward her. It seemed as if he had forgotten her existence. His attention, for the mo- ment, was centered on nothing but the terrific headway he had attained and must maintain to win, and his reeling, laundering machine seemed awake to the relentless energy of it's driver. was responding like thing alive to his iron will. A cry from Seorm made her look across toward him. She saw his eyes regarding her, but he was pointing silently ahead, and looking again through her own window, Helens straining vision caught far ahead the faint gleam of the red tail-lights.
 From the top of the distant sleeping cars Spike and Hyde had seen the threatening chase. Without qualm, and crawling along the swaying cars, they made their way toward the en- zine. They held up the engineer and fireman. Spike understood enough of an engine to take the throttle and he tried to run away from Storm; but this proved a game in which he had no advantage. Striving desperately to increase his speed he found him. self, as he glanced back from the cab window, steadily losing ground. The race was now more like the ef- fort of a blow horse to run away from thoroughbred. A last resort remained for the criminals. Hyde, at Spikes direction, climbed back over the tender and cut off the coaches. The engine pulled away from the train. The air went on and the string of sleepers stopped abruptly. Close behind them the freight engine was pounding and lurching. Storm had barely time to apply his air and pull up as he stopped and he was nearly into the hind-end of the observation car.
 When the passenger crew got out side there were hurried explanations. Storm, knowing every foot Of the line, saw that they had reached the longest passing track on the division and that by running around the stalled train he still had a chance to oyertake his quarry. Throwing his engine into re- verse he backed down, took the pass ing-track switch and tore past the standing cars after the fast disappear ing passenger train. With all of it's lights extinguished, and still maintain ing terrific speed, it was at hopeless disadvantage against the skill of the man at the throttle of the engine be- hind.
 Overhauled and with defeat in sight as the nose of the huge freight engine crowded them, Hyde from the gang way and Spike, turning from the use less throttle, opened fire with their pistols on their pursuers. Hyde, fir ing his last shot without effect, in his rage. hurled his heavy gun back at the other cab. It crashed through the win dow where Helen had sat an instant before, but she was now up and back over the engine tank. AS Storm drew steadily abreast of the runaway, she watched her chance and with reckless daring sprang from where she stood over to the tank of the passenger en- zine. The safe-blowers turned to meet her. Stack and stack the engines were rushing toward the little San Pablo bridge. But with Spikes and Hyde's attention turned from the passive engi- neer and fireman in the cab, they were suddenly attacked by both from be- hind. A furious mixup followed. Hyde, as Helen jumped down at him, grap- pied with her. Storm, eager in the jumping gangway opposite them, saw her peril. Catching up wrench he hurled it with all his force at Hyde's head; it flew true and the thug sank under the heavy blow like a bullock. Spike in the interval, tearing loose from his assailants. gained the foot nlafp and lpaDinp m on fha coa1 de-