The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1920-09-09

didn't. Cheer up, MORA " tell you
what I'll do I'll advance you two
months salary for-weli. yonii need
a lot of clothes and things IN Sequoia
that you don't need here. And I'm
glad I've managed to settle the Nc
iaslsh hash without kicking up n row
and hurting your feelings. Poor OLD
Macl Pm sorry can't bear with him.
but we simply have TO have the logs
you know"
He rose. stopped, and pinched her
ear: for had he not known her since
childhood. and had they rot gathered
huckleberries together In the long
ago? She was sister to him-just an
other one of his problems-and noth'
ing more. Report on the job as soon
as possible, MORA" he called to her
from the gate.
Presently. when Moira lifted her
Madonna glance TO the frieze OF tim.
Der on the skyline. there was a new
glory in her eyes and 10, II was au'
tumn in the woods. for over that NIL
Prince Charming had come to her. and
life was all crimson and gold
When the train loaded with Cardi-
gan logs crawled in on the main track
and stopped at the log-landing In Pen
nington's camp, the locomotive IN
coupled and backed In on the siding
for the purpose of kicking the caboose
In which Shirley and Colonel Penning'
ton had ridden to the woods, out onto
the main line again-where, owing 10
slight downhill grade. the caboose
controlled by the brakeman could
coast gently forward and be hooked
onto the end of the log train for the
return journey to SeQuoia.
Throughout the afternoon Shirley.
following the battle royal between
Bryce and the Pennington retainers,
had sat disnally In the caboose. She
was prey to many conflicting emo
tions: but having had what her sex
term "a good cry" she had to great
extent recovered her customary poise
and was busily specializing on the
rapidity with which she could leave
Sequoia and forget she had ever met
Bryce Car,ilgan--when the log train
rumbled into the landing and the last
of the long string Of trucks came 10 a
stop directly opposite the caboose.
Shirley happened to be looking
through the grimy caboose window at
that moment. On the top log OF the
load the object Of her unhappy specu
10 nrornnf1v nJfffn
oblivious of the fact that he was back
once more in the haunt of his enemies,
although knowledge that the double
bitted ak he had so unceremoniously
borrowed of Colonel Pennington was
driven deep into the log beside him
with the haft convenient to his hand.
probably had much to do with Bryce's
air of detached Indifference.
Shirley told herself that should he
move. should he show the slightest
disposition TO raise his head and bring
his eyes on a level with hers. she
would dodge away from the window
In time to escape his scrutiny.
She reckoned without the engine.
With a smart bump II struck the ca
boose and shunted II briskly up the
siding; at the sound Of the impact
Bryce raised his troubled glance just
in time to see Shirley's body. yield
Ing to the shock, sway into full view
at the window.
With difficulty he suppressed grin.
''rll bet my immortal soul she was
In a. mo, hr tCon.
found the lucki Another meeting this
afternoon would be embarrassing"
Tactfully he resumed his study of his
feet, not even looking up when the
caboose. after gaining the main track.
slid gently down the slight grade and
was coupled to the rear logging truck.
He heard the engineer shout to the
brakeman--who had ridden down from
the head OF the train to unlock the
siding switch and couple the caboose
to hurry up. lock the switch, and
get back aboard the engine.
Cant get this DANCED key to turn
in the lock-" the brakeman shouted
presently. Locks rusty, and some
things gone bust inside"
Minutes passed Bryce's assumed
abstraction became real. for he had
many matters to occupy his busy
brain, and It was impossible for him to
sit idle without adverting to some of
them. Presently he was subconscious-
iy aware that the train was moving
gently forward; almost Immediately,
1t seemed TO him. the long string of
trucks had gathered their customary
speed; and then suddenly II dawned
upon Bryce that the train had started
Off without single jerk-and that 1t
was gathering Roadway rapidly.
He looked ahead--and his hair grew
creepy at the roots. There was no To-
connective attached to the trainl It
was running away down two per
cent grade, and 6ecatss 81 the ire
mendous weight OF the train, 1t was
gathering momentum at fearful rate.
The reason for the runaway dawned
| on Bryce instantly. The road, being
privately owned. was, like most log
| ging roads, neglected as to roadbed
and rolling stock; also II was under
manned. and the brakeman. who also
acted as switchman. had failed to SET
the hand-brakes on the leading truck
| after the engineer had locked the air
brakes. As result, during the FIVE or
six minutes required to spot In" the