The Dolores star., 1921-03-04


Ocilvy held lantern up to the Colo
nels face and surveyed Pennington
calmly.
Colonel" he began with exasperat-
Ing politeness. Il presume you are
Colonel Pennington my name Is
Buchanan y. Oglivy, and I am in
charge Of these operations. am the
vice president and general manager OF
the n. c. O., and I am engaged In the
blithe task Of making jump crossing
OF your rails. Have a cigar" And he
thrust n perfecto under the Colonel's
nose. Pennington struck It to the
ground. and on the instant. half n
dozen rough rascals emptied their
shovels over him. He was deluged
with dirt.
"Srand back. Colonel stand back, II
you please. You're in the way OF the
shovelers,' Buck Ogilvy warned him
soothingly.
Bryce Cardigan came over. and at
sight OF him Pennington choked with
fury. "You-you-" he sputtered, un-
able to say more.
.'Tm the n. c. o." Bryce replied.
mice little fiction that Of yours about
the switch-engine being laid up In the
shops and the Laurel creek bridge be-
ing unsafe for this big mogul." He
looked Pennington over with frank ad.
miration. You're certainly on the
job. Colonel. I'll say that much for
you"
You've stolen my engine" Penning-
ton almost screamed. "Tll have the
law on you for grand larceny"
'Tuttut, You don't know who
stole your engine. For all you know.
your own engine crew may have run
It down here"
"Fll attend to you, SIR" Pennington
replied, and he turned TO enter Mayor
Poundstonc's little fiivver.
Not tonight, at least" Bryce re-
torted gently. Having gone this far,
] would be poor general to permit
you to escape now with the news Of
your discovery. You'd be down here
In an hour with couple Of hundred
members OF your mill crew and give
us the rush. You will obllge me. Colo
mel Pennington. by remaining exactly
where you are until give you permis-
sion 10 depart"
And IL I refuse"
Then I shall mnnhandle you. truss
you up like fowl In the tonneau OF
your car. and gng you"
To Bryce's infinite surprise the Colo
mel smiled. "Oh. very well !" he re-
piled. Il guess you've got the bulge
on me. young man. Do you mind II
sit in the warm cab Of my own en-.
cine: l came away in such a hurry
] quite forgot my overcoat"
Not nt all. III sit up there and
keep you company"
Half an hour passed. An automo-
bile came slowly up Water street and
paused half q block away, evidently
reconnoitering the situation. Instant
~ the Colonel thrust his head out the
cab window.
"SeNton!" he shouted. "CardIgan's
cutting In n crossing. He's holding
me here against my will. Get the mill
crew together and phone for Rondeau
and his woods-crew. Send the switch
engine and couple Of fats up for
them. Phone Poundstone. Tell him
to have the chief Of police"
Bryce Cnrdigan's great hand closed
over the Colonels neck. while down
Water street a dark streak that was
Buck Ogilvy sped toward the automo-
bile, intending to climb In and make
Pennington's manager a prisoner also.
He was too late. however Sexton
swung his car and departed at full
speed down Water street, leaving the
disappointed Buck to return painting
to the scene of operations.
Bryce Cardigan released his hold on
Pennington's neck. you win. Colo
mel" he announced. "No good can
come of holding you here any longer.
Into your car and on your way"
THANK you. young man." the Colo
mel answered. and there was a metal
lie ring In his voice. He looked at
his watch In the glare of torch.
PLENTY Of time" he murmured. Cur
few shall not ring tonight" Quite
deliberately he climbed into the
mayors late source of woe and
breezed away.
Colonel Pennington did not at once
return to his home, however. Instead
he drove up to the business center OF
the town. The streets were deserted
but one snloon-the Sawdust Pile
was still open.
Pennington strobe through the bar
and into the back room, where mum.
ber of poker games were In progress
For a moment he stood, his cold
ophidian glance circling the room un.
til II came to rest on no less per
sonage than the Black Minorca, an
individual with whom the reader has
already had some slight acquaintance
II will be recalled that the Black
Minorcn led the futile rush against
Bryce Cardigan that day in Penning
toms woods.
The Colonel approached the table