The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-01-15
The Wreckers
Francis Lyade
CONTINUED Frum Yesterday

his pocket a piece OF paper that
simply meant ruin to Mr.. Norcross,
and the blowing up Of all tho plans
that had been made and all the
work that had been done. II he
should be allowed 10 get up town
with that warrant the end OF every
thing would be In sight. But how
was I 20 prevent ~
saw where the frishman had put
the warrant: In the righthand. out
side pocket OF hts coat The pocket
wasn't deep enough, and about an
inch OF tho folded paper showed
white against the black of his coat
The three men were on their feet.
and Hatch was reaching Tor the
wall switch which controlled the
single lncandcscent lamp hanging
from the ceiling OF the scale-house
/ IL could only think OF some way
60 blow the place up and snatch
the paper In the confusion.
Up TO that minute had never
thought once OF the pistol l had
taken from Fred Mays drawer. tho
II was stlil sagging In my left hip
pocket. When did think OF IL !
dragged II out with Some silly no.
ton OF trying TO hold tho three men
came out. Hatch's stop 10 light
cigar and to hand out a couple 10
the other two gave me time 20
chuck that notion and grab another,
With the muxzlc OF the automatic
resting In the crack OF the opened
window | took dead aim at the In.
c1ndeScent lamp In the ceiling and
turned her loose for the whole
magaxinefuL
Since the nrs, bullet got the lamp
and left the place black dark.
couldn't see what was happening In
the close little room. But whatever
IL was. there was plenty OF t. |
could hear them gasping and yelling
and knocking one another down as
they fought TO get the door open.
Sticking the empty pistol hack into
my pocket | jumped "a get action.
hurting my sore hand like the mis-.
chief in doing Il.
Hatch was the first man out, but
the big German was 80 close n sec.
ond that he knocked his smaller
partner down and fell over him.
Clanahan kept his feet. lie had a
gun In his hand that looked 10 me.
in the darkness. as big as can.
non. ! was fiatten~d against the
side OF the scale shack. and when
the divc-keeper tried To sidcstep
around the two fallen men who were
blocking the way. snatched the
folded paper from bis pocket.
snatched II and ran as II the dick
ems was after me.
That was a bad nove---the runa-
way. II I had KEEP, stlIi there might
have been n chance for me TO make
n sneak. But when l ran. and fell
over a pile OF loose coal. and got
up and ran again. they were all
three after me. CANADIAN taking
blind shots In the dark with his
cannon rs he came.
Naturally. made straight for the
wagon gate. and forgot. until was
right there. that II. and the wicket
thru one OF the leaves. were both
bullet from Canadians gun spat,ed
into the woodwork and stuck a
splinter into my hand. and turned
and sprinted again. this time for the
gates where the coal cars were
pushed In from the railroad yard.
These. too. were shut and locked.
and when dueked under the near.
est gondola I realized that was
trapped. Before | could climb the
high fence anywhere. they'd get me.
They came up. ali three OF them.
putting and blowing. while ! was
hiding under the gondola.
Its probably that cowboy spotter
OF Norcross. but he can't get
away" Hatch was gritting
ing TarbetI. probably '~The gates
are locked and we can plug him II
he tries to climb the fence. There =
a gun In the scale.house. You two
look under these cars while 60
and get itF'
II was up 10 me 10 move again
Heuckel was striking matches and
holding them 40 that CANADIAN could
look under the cars, and could
feel. IN anticipation. the shock Of a
bullet from the big gun in the dive
keepers fat fist az | crawled eau
tiously out on the far side. Creep,
ing along behind the string OF coal
cars / came presently to the grea,
Eantry crane used for unloading the
fuel II was a huge travelling ma,
chine. straddiing the tracks and a
good part OF the yard. and the
clam shell grab-bucket was down
resting on It's two lips on the
ground.
/ At first I thought OF climbing 10
the framework Of the crane and try.
ing to hide on the big bridge beam.
the clam-sheil bucket we're slightly
Iopen, just wide enough to let me
squeeze In. II they were looking
| for fullsized man--Tarbeil, for In.
stance, who was as husky as n
farm hand - they'd never think OF
that crack In the bucket: and In an
other second had wriggled thru
the v-shaped opening and was sit.
| ting bumped up In one of the halves
OF the clam-shell.
That was a mighty good guess.
When Hatch came back with his
gun they combed that coal yard
with a finetooth comb. using Ian
tern that Hatch had gotten from
somewhere and missing no hole or
corner where man might hide.
| save and excepting only the one
had pre-empted.
AZ IT happened. the search wound
up finally under the crane, with the
three standing 30 near that could
have reached out Of the crack be.
tween the bucket halves and touched
them
/ Der tuyfel has gone NIT himself
Offer der fence, yes?" puffed HenokeL
And then: "vot for iss he shoot off
dem pistols, ennahow?''