The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1918-02-08

o. Nv VI VII
passes"
They left the room, with Helen still
n prisoner. She had heard all. but
was helpless. Desmond, Burke and
Marshall drove away in one machine,
while the others returned to the shack.
When Desmond reached Mountain
Springs the special was being made
up. Marshall accommodating the en-
CINE, found the fireman oiling. He at
tackled him from behind and the next
moment was rolling him unconscious
over an cmbankment. Returning to the
engine, he went to work in the fire
mans place.
Desmond and Burke, rounding Il cor
ncr, were watching the engineer.
That's old Jake" muttered Desmond.
He can't run Il mile without coffee
and pie"
Jake did head for the lunch room.
Burke, following him, fell to talking
with him ana when Jake ordered cOf-
fee, Burke Gid likewise. Then, empty
ing part Of the small bottle into his
W coffee. he asked Jake to pass the
sugar. As the engineer turned to
reach it, Burke switched cups and
Jake, drinking the drugged beverage,
began before long to show its eff
fccts.
Meantime Roy left the stockholders
ut their car and started along the
frpfn bDnrft rnrroA TnlI,t;, QO1 - he
cautioned the conductor. The latter
tapped his pocket. 1--WE got 1t right
here" Walking Oh, the two reached
the drugged engineer, now half stag
sering. Roy was suspicious. But
Jake never took a drink in his life,"
however, was evidently wrong and to
get out on time. Roy resolved to take
Jake's place himself. "Wire for re-
lief to meet the train at Fielding" was
all he said as he climbed into the en-
CINE.
The Raiders had meant to get the
drugged engineer started in the cab,
SO Marshall could run the train. See
ing Roy, Marshall was Mt n loss for a
moment. Then he picked up the fire.
mans goggles, put them on, and de-
termined to bluff the situation through.
At the Raiders headquarters u light
was flashed on the table. One Of the
men noticed it. It was their telegraph
system, tapped in on the Kay's wires.
One Of them read aloud and Helen
heard: "Number Twenty is on time.
We'd better get down to the trestle."
When they left, Helen tried to break
out. She failed. But a sweater hung on
the wall. From this she u~nraveled a
cord and climbing up the door, threw
the cord through the transom, trying
10 reach the telegraph key. She finally
took a weight, tied this to the string,
by pulling carefully, she could spell
out words. The dispatcher heard her
calling. and took her message.
Crooked fireman on No. 20. The Raiders
will send Nos. 10 and 20 together at Pico
trestle. Stop Is.
The dispatcher, stunned, called Pico;
it was too late to reach No. 10. Helen
again tried to break out. In, the pocket
OF a coat on the wall she found
matches. started a fire, and wrapping
the coat over her head, crouched on
the farther side of the closet till the
door should weaken enough for her to
break through. Watching her chance.
she ran out through the flames, and up
the track she saw the two trains APP
preaching. On a passing track stood a
box car. Running to this. she e.
leased the brake and 1t started down
hill parallel to No. 20, and climbing to
the top, waited for the train to over
take her.
Nearing the trestle, Marshall stripped
of his goggles, and Roy recognized
him. Helen came opposite the cab just
as ths two men grappled. Marshall
Roy down as Helen, with q leap,
landed In the cab.
But Marshall picked Roy up, threw
him bodily through the gangway and
the engine was crossing the creek,
Roy plunged headlong into the water.
The rufiian turned back. Helen, CATCH
Ing up an iron bar, struck him heav-
lily across the head. As he dropped,
she shut OF the throttle and threw on
the emergency air. Then, swinging to
the side OF the cab, she leaped yer
the trestle into the creek. Roy almost
dead, felt an encircling arm and Helen
to swim with him for shore.
In spite Of everything, the two trains
came together. So much had their
speed been checked that no lives were
lost. but the engines were badly
smashed and the crews, rushing out, /
INV the Raiders at the edge Of the wa. /
ter. They started after them, firing |
10 they ran on. The Raiders took to
their heels, returning the gunfire over
their shoulders while they retreated.
reaching shore with her bur
den. heard the shooting and dropping
to the ground. held Roy out Of range.
Two Of the Raiders, wounded, were
caught-but the others got away. The
men hurried toward Roy and
Che Ind urovontod n fNf01