The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1916-03-14
The Interior Journal Stanford Kentucky: Tuesday, March H. 1916

UurSI iTOm tno indignant throat OF Olu
Eli. For that worthy had the unique
experience of beholding not only his
own purloined team and wagon, but
disconcertingly lifelike replica of
himself driving it. Scupulo, with the
genius of true general, arrested the
progress of that wagon by promptly
stopping his car directly in it's track.
This collision in no way improved the
vehicle of ancient vintage; but sterner
issues were at hand. A moment later
the belligerent trio from the broken
car were trimphantly charging for
Margory Golden and her guardian.
That guardian, fully realizing the
meaning of the charge, tossed his
reins to the frightened girl and COM
manded her to drive for all she was
worth. Then he himself prepared for
invaders.
1t was to the first conner that he
directed his main attention, for Scupu-
10, he noticed, already held knife in
his swarthy hand. One well-placed
kick on the clenching knuckles, how
ever, sent that glimmering icicle of
steel circling off into the road-dust
and an equally well-placed blow on the
jaw sent the owner of the knife after
it.
In the meantime, however, both Oys-
ter Joe and Old Eli had gained the
himself suddenly clenched by the
waist and lifted clear of the wagon
Why he should so quickly and so vio-
lently come into collision with the
swaying figure Of Oyster Joe, like an
alley ball hitting a nine-pin, was a
matter which for all time remained a
mystery to him. But over the side of
the laundering wagon the two figures
suddenly toppled, rolling along the
dust with limbs interlaced and claw
ing hands unreasonably clenched in
each others hair. And before they re-
gained either their feet or their men
tai faculties, the wagon itself was well
on it's way.
Yet the driver of that wagon knew
that his escape was only temporary
one.
We've got to get out of this!" he
called to the lurching girl at his side,
as he seized the reins and caught up
whip. We've got run of a mile and
more before we can reach Bohawkin
bridge and help!"
He dashed the team forward. We've
cot to get to that bridget"
The girl suddenly caught at his arm.
Il can see a carl" she called out.
It's following US! It's gaining on us!"
Again the driver piled his whip.
Are they still gaining?" he asked
a moment later.
Yes" was the girls answer. But,
see, there's the bridge ahead of us!"
by the help of God, we can make
it," suddenly exulted the man at the
reins, for already his tired team was
plunging up the incline of the bridge
approach. They were on the bridge
now, laundering across the draw.
A power house attendant. framed in
his grimy doorway, stared at them in
wonder.
Lift your draw!" frenziedly com
manded the stranger. Stop that car
For Gods sake stop that carl"
But the man in the jumper saw no
reason for any such action. The other.
brushing him aside, leaped to the con
troll lever. The outraged bridgetender
at the same moment leaped for the in
truder.
But that intruder, for all this sud
den attack, was not to be turned from
his purpose. The lever was thrown
over and one end of the massive draw
responding to the impulse of the equal
ly massive machinery, rose slowly
from the lip Of the dusty roadway.
Legar's car was already laundering
across it's span as that network of
steel began to lift.
But the increasing incline of the
draw, for all the cars momentum
sucked from that straining engine its
added strength, retarded a little an6
yet little more the hurrying wheels
But in the ascension of the draw-end
there was no delay.
1t was then and then only that a
sudden shout rose from the car. Five
men, realizing what lay before them
stood up in their seats as that throb
bling and pulsing thing on wheels
mounting to the edge of the draw, for
one moment poised there, and then
dropped, like a poolball in its pocket
to the riverbed below.
1t was not until then that the be
whiskered man at the control lever be
came fully conscious of the fact that
the engineer in the oil-stained jumper
was striking and clawing at his intent
body. He endured that assault until
the lever had been reversed and the
draw started back on it's descent
Then, wheeling, the stranger sped
across the draw and leaped into the
waiting wagon.
Look" cried the girl, pointing to
the riverbed beneath them.
There the stranger could see Legal
and two or three of his men clinging
to a row of broken piling like limpets