Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-06-28

cao ana tne tram pulled out. AS the
slack was taken up the box car ~
swered first to the strain on the short.
err cable and with jerk started down
the siding. Approaching the switch,
as its momentum increased, it sprung
the connecting rods and swung in on
the n4in line contact, as Bill had in
tended. between the two sections of
the train.
When the engineer shut OF to coast
down the grade the three sections
came together and the train, except
for the absence of air in the hind end
of the train line pipe. was complete.
The escaped guard, running every
step of the way to sound the alarm,
had by this time arrived exhausted at
the mine. At the foot of the aerial
railway he found Storm with Helen
watching the ore come down Grasp
ing the situation from the disconnect-
ed words the man was able to utter.
Storm dashed into the chemists Of
fee close at hand and seized Win.
chester rifle. Helen sprang to a team
and empty wagon, waiting for a load.
and climbing up TO the seat seized the
reins at the moment Storm, rifle in
hand, ran out OF the office to join her.
She dashed the horses forward and
headed with a very different load from
what they had expected, for Valley.
Bill and his confederate in the box
car. elated by their huge success.
looked out of the side door for OBJ
servers and seeing none, began to
dump the sacks of precious quartz one
after another out on the right of way.
But it was a day of surprises for
everybody. The agent at Valley-who
had asked to be sent out to the desert
on account of his Reconnaissance
peacefully lighting his pipe. after the
one great event of the day-the de
parture of the local freight-when he
heard somewhere out of doors an un.
wonted rumble. II grew and still it
grew and the next moment team, he'll.
ter SHELTER on the run dashed down
the road from the Superstition mine
toward the depot. In a moment he
was dumbfounded to recognize in the
man behind the threatening rife as he
drew close. his old acquaintance in
the Oeeanside yards. George Storm.
the ex-engineman.
Could George Storm have turned
bandit? Was he running amuck?
Would he take the life of an old and
unorending friend without provoca-
ton? These and similar queries
raced through his head when storm.
Addressing him with shout by an
old-time familiar nickname. asked
where the box car of ore was, that had
stood on the siding.
The agent now saw everything dou-
Bile but look as he would he could see
no car. Not until now had he given
the presence of tie box car a thought.
He knew the train had not taken ii be-
cause it was not ready. He knew the
conductor had started without it-but
where was it? The car of ore had
disappeared completely.
Storm was talking fast and the sit
uation was made clearer to the star
tied agent when he learned the wagon
guards had been held up. To Helen.
who thought in tremendous ellipses
and reached the end of situations be-
fore others had charted their begin
nings, there was only one possible So
luton to the mystery and to solve it
they must chase the freight train.
She so declared and Storm approved.
That day mere chance, which had
so often contributed TO the discom-
future of Storm and Helen. came to
their aid. The freight train stopped
at Arden for water. This embarrassed
Lug and Bill, who, perspiring at every
pore were catching sackfuls of
quartz as fast as they could along the
track. What was of more moment,
the engineers stop for water enabled
Helen and Storm with their team to
gain on the train.
Helen rose in her seat. Drive
close, George" she cried Il can
make the train from here and give the
alarm"
Don't attempt It."
Before he could make a successful
effort tS'stop her she jumped from the
Transfers seat to the side ladder OF
the nearest box car.
The watchful thieves. whose atten.
ton had already been drawn to the
pursuing wagon. decided 1t was time
to make getaway. Bill started out
of the car, but a shot from Storm, who
saw the move and recognized the Grim
inal. was warning enough to Bill He
hastily lodged inside and led the way
TO the little square door at the end
OF the car. Out of this, followed by
Lug. he crawled to make the top OF
the train.
Storm, determining to be in at the
finish, saw only one way II compass
ing his resolve. He took from the box
seat the drivers rope and as the team
dashed alongside the train, Storm
swung the rope in a loop over the
nearest brakewheel, secured his rifle
and swinging out from the wagon
made his way. hand over hand to the