The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-06-07
ION. COPYRIGHT. ,s,s. " FRANK II. sstAsf1AN.

struck the spike the first blow. '@
/ you know" she said. looking up
after she had given it . few more
taps. "that part OF the agreement il.
George must finish this ta}se "a
y Storm took hold of the maui with Z
smile. For q man that's driven o
mogul as many miles as have, this
ought to b. easy. !" s22stf. 4:...,.. = 3Y,S
friends crowded .up a. the spike
went home and congratulations fell
thick and fast on the winners Of the
long-drawn struggle. Rhinefander still
had something to propose. while We
are all here together" he said, we'll
complete the celebration by starting
the drst train. 1-Want to see whether
Miss Holmes and Mr.. Storm can drive
q spike that will hold . rail joint for
An engine to run over 1t. II it fails,
II shows them both up. Throw the
switch for the main line, George, and
let Helen start the first train over the
cutoff" 5al
Storm walked toward the switch.
some distance away; followed BY
Spike. Standing together they threw
It and sienaled that all was right
Helen. quite at home inside an en-.
CINE cab, pulled the throttle slightly
and the drivers began to revolve; the
engineer then handed her carefully
down from the sangway and the train
started. .r.s G@ =. L II
AT the switch, Spike and Storm en-.
gagged thus intentlS. failed to notice
two men creeping up behind them,
ropes in hand. Taken unawares,
nooses were thrown suddenly over
their heads and before they could
make the least defense. they were
throttled, felied and dragged back
from the switch. SO swiftly and ex.
pertly vas the attack made that Spike
and Storm were choked almost at
once and dragEed down out Of sight
before anyone noticed their disappear
ance. III
! Tying their hands expeditiously,
Ward speculated for q moment on
what to do with them. Adams pro
iposal to throw them from the bridge
hesnegatived. .They would ind them
too quick Wen put them into the
ore CARE no said cunningly when
the cara are located at the mine the
ore viii do the rest" #
The two picked Storm up, uncon.
scious, and carried him along tho
track. laying him beside 1t to await the
coming Of the freight train. Returning
to bring Spike in like fashion, they
were surprised and upset to fipd he
had disappeared. &
2 Spike had, In Acknowledging the
fate In store for him-rolled, gagged
and bound az he was. along the track
to the bridge below. Gaining this, he
continued to rol1 over and tried to drop
out Of sight underneath. But in get.
ting down, helpless as he was, his
hands caught by the rope with which
he was fastened on the head of . pro-
jecting spike and instead of dropping
to where he speedily could have hid.
den himself, he hung quite helpless in
the air, suspended by his wrists. u, 40.
The ore train. meantime. had como
along the mine spur and Ward and
Adams watching their opportunity.
flung Storm into gondola.
We've got to get after Spike" de.
clared Ward. now alarmed for the
safety OF himself and his companion.
Indeed, Spike was having close
cnll for his life In more than one di.
rection. A single slender chance gave
him hope Of escape The cord with
which his hands had been bound, he
thought, might be sawed In two on the
spike against which 1t had caught. Act
ing on this thought. he threw himself
from side to- side to. saw the cord
against the iron. In spite Of the in.
tense pain suffered in sustaining the
entire weight Of his body on the thongs
that bound his wrists, he kept desper-
ately. busy in the hope OF releasing
himself before his captors should re.
turn. For he had no doubt that Ward,
as assistant director, would not hest
tste to kill him on sight. With Z re.
source and cunning developed through
q long career Of doubtful enterprises
and close squeaks Spike struggled
wildly for freedom. and life, and thus
he heard the footsteps Of men
along the track. Z
& This might mean help. it might
mean knock on the head. There was
but 4 moment left to effect his escape.
Jerking himself convulsively, arms,
legs and body--the cord cutting and
saving every moment into the quick
around his wrists threw such a
force on the rope that the strands
finally parted on the sharp iron face
and Spike dropped exhausted to the
ground. But he had hardly struck it
before he rolled, bounced and scram-
bled ;.way into hiding. il 81. Ei,e
1t was none too soon. Ward and
searching With sharp eyes