The Carlisle independent., 1916-12-07

1 1ldeWater, had been charged with the cutoff operations and took so lively an interest in it that he personally di- rected much Of the work Moreover, he made it point to keep his crews well supplied with the sinews of war in this case, men and explosives for the rock work. Both were scarce, and much Of the time the two roads were bidding strongly against each other for them. When Spike applied in the tent office to Rhinelander's foreman, Pickens, for a job, the latter, though not impressed with his appear ance, thought it a chance to hire a man away from the opposition, and told Rhinelander he would put the fellow on the pay roll.
 Shortly after Spikes appearance at the tfme-keeper's window, the boss driller came in to ask about new sup- plies of explosives. We're running too low right now" he complained to the foreman. If we don't get pow der for tomorrow, we've got to stop blasting, that's all there is to that" Pickens turned to the new man:
 Hike over to the depot, mutt. and ask the agent when he'll have dyna. mite for me"
 Spike shufhed across to the little station with his usual confidence. Helen, at her desk, glanced up at him, without really recognizing him. She was only conscious of an in- stinctiye dislike for his unpromising visage as he asked her when more explosives would be in.
 Tell Pickens," said the overworked agent, answering Spikes questions himself, there are two cars for him on No. 85." To make sure of the an- swer he wrote out the information on blank and handed it to the messen- ger. And get a move on youl" he exclaimed rudely, as he noticed Spikes unpleasant gaze resting on Helen.
 Slouehing back to deliver his mes- sage, the safe-blower was still pug zled over the identity of the girl. But he could not place her, and he dis missed thought of the incident. He did, however, stop moment to ask questions about train No. 85 from a passing switchman. Then he deliV- cred his note to the foreman. Pick ems read and handed the note to Rhinelander. When Rhinelander hand ed the note back, the foreman crum- pied it up and threw it away. As he and Rhinelander went out together, Spike picked up the paper and stuck it in his pocket.
 After hours that night he was again over at the Colorado camp, where the work was going provoking ly slow, to report to his real boss. Seagrue pricked up his ears at the news Of the explosives. He presently looked hard at Spike. If we, or you, can delay their supplies a little" he unused, it might help here a lot just now, Spike" Spike needed only a hint. He started on foot for a small station five miles up the line, where he learned No. s usually took water On his way he had an eye open for a conceivable, cold-blooded chance that might offer to wreck the train; fortunately none inviting offered.
 Reaching the water tank and prowl- ing along the local train after it had pulled up under the spout, Spike still sought in some way to work mischief on it. His eye rested presently on some waste protruding from a jour- nal box. Watching his chance. he struck a match to this and moved cautiously on.
 Storm was in the engine cab. He had received his signal from the con- ductor and was pulling his train away from the spout, when the conductor, swinging up on the hind end of the caboose, caught with his eye color of something from one of the wheels of a box car ahead. Pulling the air valve, he brought the train to an emergency stop and with his brake man ran forward. Storm, looking back for an explanation, likewise saw the growing blaze, and getting down joined the train crew. The flames had begun to lick the body of the car.
 The trainmen were throwing sand on the journal, but it was too late for temporizing with experiments such as that. Storm told them he would back under the spout so they could flood the flames and hastened back to his cab As rapidly as possible he pushed the train up past the water tank, where the conductor cut of the hind end and signaled Storm ahead. But can of crude oil in the burning car gave way at that moment under the strain of the intense heat. and the fire, now well started, ignited the car next ahead. The two were stopped with jolt under the tank and the brakeman and fireman, pulling the spout down, turned on heavy stream of water. This unhappily served only to spread the flames from the crude oil, and the wind drove these toward the two cars just ahead, which the crew were particularly anxious to save-they were the cars that con- tained the explosives.
 We must cut off the head end,"