The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-18

lived up to his reputation OF being
the handiest Eunman In LegaY'a
hard-shooting gang by sending q bul-
let neatly drilled through the poles
captains shoulder.
With . below Of mingled pain and
rage the bulky officer went down In
q heap. while One-Larnp Louie quiet
ly restored his weapon to his padded
hip pocket and scurried away like a
rat with pilfered biscuit
But he did not know a. he dodred
his way among the shadow tr~e
trunks that a youthful figure armed
with a heavy police revolver, q reso-
lute-faced girl and an elderly white
haired man were rapidly closing In
on him. AS he broke from cover and
started up the railroad embankment
he ripped out q hasty oath as he NV
MS pursuers emerging from the
woods a short distance below him.
AZ the same moment they saw that
sinister figure with the burlap sack
and came toward him ON the run.
One-Lamp Louie instantly reached
~
run than to Tight. and he pounded
up the ties with rapid strides, his
one good eye seeking some avenue of
escape. Handicapped by the sack of
heavy plate. he realized that unless
some chance opportunity presented
itseif ne must be eventually over
taken. But that opportunity came
sooner than he had anticipated,
a
ster saw battered old switching en-
CINE standing by a dripping water
tank. bullying hose descended from
the outstretched noxzle-arm of the
tank into the vitals OF that iron vet
eran salvaged from the scrap heap.
The blue-overalled engineer and the
fireman were standing of to one side
OF the track exchanging the days
gossip OF the road over their pipes.
AS this picture flashed into the
vision of the racing gunman he
Quickened his pace, and before the
astonished railroad employees could
interpose any objection ne-Lamr
Louie had scrambled up the side OF
that kissing engine like cat seal
ing back yard fence. Dropping the
burlap sack to which he had chung
engine-cab, he grabbed the nickeled
starting lever. and yanked 1t out TO
the last notch.
AS the self-constituted posse came
TO a bafiled stop close by tho water
tank they saw an evilly grinnins nE-
ure leaning out from the cab OF the
fast receding engine, = figure whose
hand waved a mocking signal OF fare
well In true railroad style
A few feet distant from the water
tank was q small. boxlike shanty con-
tanning the levers manipulating va
rious switches. In front OF this
shanty stood distraught engineer.
volubly cursing the bold depredator
who had robbed him OF his iron
charge. Suddenly a new look OF con-
sternation flashed into his eyes and
he turned In a frenzy Of excitemsne
to his grimy- faced assistant
We've got to throw that devE OF
the main line. Gus" he shouted - he
dove into the boxlike structure. The
Overland Is due any second. They'll
crash together head on"
he jammed over one Of the shining
levers with all his strength. At that
moment came . long-drawn scrssch-
ing whistle. accompanied BY the
grinding sound OF hastily applied air
brakes. Down the level stretch Of
track the onlookers, gripped In IN
agony OF suspense. saw the heavy
Overland express rushing at top
speed straight for the lumbsring
freight engine. The Intervening
space between those speeding iron
clad monsters lessoncd with every
second.
With set faces tho little group by
the water tank steeled Themselves
for that seemingly Inevitable crash
of collision. But at that crucial IN
slant the outlaw engine swsrvsd
with incredible swiftneGs and shot off
onto the long siding. Just a. the ex-
press Numbered past with it, dozen
coaches Of human freight
Like q crazy Malay running amuck
the engine. with the Desperate at IL.
throttle, toro down the siding toward
a startled group Of laborers who had
been ripping out . defective rail.
Amid q babble OF warning shouts
the engine struck that deadly gap
and. bereft Of its steel guides, plowsd
wildly for q short distance along the
ties. and then. developed. In . swirl
Ing cloud of steam. plunged headlong
over the steep embankment. Under
that shapeless mass OF twisted metal
which had once been . staid old
switching engine the white-fAcsd pur-
suers Of One-Lamp Louie found the