Gilpin observer., 1917-07-19

tne IullS ana was OaSneO into SplnterS
"D-n him." growled Jim Blake, as
he threw his rifle over his arm and
crept through the brush; ut was good
shooting, but you can't beat luck like
he's got"
Old Man Pratt owned the claim ad-
joining Stephen Holmes property
know as "The Mountain King" He
had standing offer Of $4,000 for the
undeveloped property.
The old miner was never more sur
prised in his life than when young Ste
phen rushed in on him with q demand
that he issue n check for the stipulated
price forthwith.
"What's the answer?" grinned Pratt,
dubiously. "Any bad news about the
titles?"
Nothing to that" shouted Stephen
''Ive got to have the coin for immedi.
ate use and you're driving. good bar
gain, dad"
Lad, believe you," replied Pratt,
who knew the range to foot; "Ill
give you the check right now."
Five minutes later Helen and Ste
phen were on their way back. They
expected to be in time to meet the de
mands of the men on Dawson's con.
struction, but Holmes, with his de-
posits in every bank on the lumber
lands territory, had resorted to des-
perate measures. He had drawn all
his cash from the Woodsman's bank,
dropping mysterious hints as to the
reason for doing so, and by the time
Helen and Stephen arrived, after a
quick run by train, the run on the
Woodman's was in full swing.
Olson, president of the concern, was
in Quandary. At the head of a
string of banks, he was unable to
make quick transfers of cash between
them on account Of the vile condition
of the roads. Again Helen and her
stalwart friends stepped into the
breach.
The big Mogul engine of the Valley
limited had just been run out of the
roundhouse, ready fired for departure.
Helen had not been operator at Daw-
son for nothing. She knew every move
that was made on the hundred-mile
stretch of road between Dawson and
Ell Portal.
"Quick, Tom," she gasped; 1--WE take
out No. 66. I've driven that engine
two or three times. know every rivet
in her."
With a quick rush the young girl
climbed aboard. Stephen Holmes fol-
lowed by Tom Dawson and two of
Dawson's foremen, followed. A min
ute later the big engine with roar of
exhaust, slid over the switch and was
away.
A shout went up as Behrens and his
aides, Blake and Norton, saw what
had happened. Before No. 66 had
rounded the bend half a mile away,
Engine "a, standing attached to the
outgoing Ell Portal express, had been
detached, and with one of Holmes en-
gineers at the throttle was tearing
after the Mogul at fifty miles an hour
on the opposite track.
Then began one of the most thrilling
races ever engaged In.
Within ten minutes the space be-
tween the two big machines had dimin-
ished to hundred yards. Momentu-
rily 1t was being closed up. Jim Blake,
hanging onto the footrail of No. "a,
pumped away with Winchester rifle
at the occupants of the other cab. 1t
was matter of yards and of prac-
tically certain death for some of the
Dawson crew, when something hap
pened that turned the scales definitely
in their favor.
Dead ahead, on the down track,
which Holmes wild crew used as
though all tracks had been cleared,
lay long freight train.
The danger that &C would be in.
volved in the inevitable wreck was des-
perate. 1t was averted by the narrow
est possible margin.
With levers thrown hard on the re-
verse No. "a hit the string of freight
cars in the tail and telescoped ten of
them, climbing on the wreckage and
rolling helplessly into the ditch.
ave win," screamed Helen, as No, &C
cleared the wreck with only yards to
spare-tearing down the now clear
track toward its destination at Merced.
Fifty thousand dollars in gold await
ed the arrival Of No. GO and It's intrepid
crew. Only time enough to coal and
water was taken before the big mass
or steel, turned about on the Merced
table, was on its way back to Dawson.
The return trip was uneventful and
Helen had just succeeded in rushing
the money to the rear entrance of the
WOOdman's bank when n scena cnn
fronted her for which she was unpre-
pared.
with the fickleness of mobs, that
which had been besieging me Dawson
bank suddenly demanded n scapegoat.
The word had been passed around that
Rupert Holmes was responsible for the
closing of the banks doors.
In an instant the temper of the mob
was aroused. Cries of "Hang him ~