The Adair County news., 1921-03-30
Continued from Page 2.
6gure running down the garden walk.
SIS Mr.. Cardigan hurt?" she demand


6uousiy. Nobody hurt 'cept the Black
Hiaorca. am taking him to your
company hospital. miss. He tried to
shoot my boss, so / shot him myself
once through the leg. Now my boss
says: Take him to the Laguna Grande
hos.sitaI. George Me, I would drop
Chi greaser in the bay If was the
boss"
s'i'e laughed Historically. "on your
way back from the hospital stop and
pics me up. George" she ordered.
Re touched his broad hat, and she
re'"rned to the house to dress.
Meanwhile Colonel Pennington had
re he'd the crossing once more, SIM
uitaneousiy with the arrival of Sam
Perkins. the chief of police, accom-
paEsed by two automobiles crammed
with patrolmen. Perkins strutted up
70 Bryce Cardigan and Buck 0gilvy.
that's the meaning of all this row,
NJ Cardigan?" he demanded.
something has slipped. SAM"
Be- retorted pleasantly. you've
ben calling me Bryce for the past
tW enty years, and now you're mister
tn@ met The meaning Of this row,
yoT ask7" Bryce continued. swell,
Tn, engaged IN making a jump cross
inE 81 Colonel Pennington's tracks,
under temporary franchise granted
me by the city council of Sequoia.
He's the franchise" And he thrust
the document under the police chiefs
no =.
''This is the first I've heard about
any franchise" Sam Perkins replied
susi''ciOusly. Seems to me you been
mi~tHy secret about this Job. How do
j know this amt a forgeryf"
Call up the mayor and ask him."
Bryce suggested.
I'm do that" quoth Mr.. Perkins
pOT.derousiy. "And In the meantime,
don't do any more digging or rail-cut-
ling" He hurried away to his auto
mobile. leaving a lieutenant in charge
Of fine squad.
ALSO in the meantime, young man."
Colonel Pennington announced, you
will pardon me If take possession Of
my locomotive and fat cars. I OBJ
sezze you have finished unloading
those rails"
Help yourself, Colonel" Bryce re-
piled with an assumption Of hearth
ness he was far from feeling. -
Thank you so much, Cardigan"
With the greatest good nature in life,
Pennington climbed into the cab,
rea ched for the beli-cord, and rang
the bell vigorously.
Then he permitted himself a tri-
uni liant loot Of the whistle, after
whitsi he threw of the air and gently
0peI,ed the throttle. he was not 10
conatiVe engineer but he had ridden
in tie cab of his own locomotive and
felt quite confident of his ability in
q p'Hch.
With a creak and bump the train
starred, and the Colonel ran 1T slowly
M until the locomotive stood on the
tracks exactly where Buck 0glivy had
bec,i cutting in his crossing; where
upon the Colonel locked the brakes,
opered his exhaust, and blew the boil
er down. And when the last ounce Of
steam had escaped, he descended and
milingiy accosted Bryce Cardigan.
''That engine being my property" he
announced, ''Pll take the short end Of
any bet you care to make, young man,
that It will sit on those tracks until
your temporary franchise expires.
Gut in your tunp-crossing now, If you
can, you whelp, and be ID to You.
I've got you blockedT
81 rather imagine this nice gentle
man has il on us, old DEAR" chirped
Buck Ogilvy pIaintively. "WellI We
did our damndest, which angels can't
do no more. Let us gather up our
tools and go home, my son, for some
thing tells me that if / hang around
here I'll bust one of two things-this
sleeK scoundrel's gray head or one Of
my belIicose veinsI Hellol Whom
have we here?"
Bryce turned and found himself
facing Shirley Sumner. Her tender
lip was quivering, and the tears shone
I'm her eyes like stars. He stared at
her in silence.
sMy friend" she murmured tremu-
lousy, "didn't / tell you would not
permit you to build the N. @. or"
He bowed his head in rage and
shame at his defeat. Buck ogilvy
took him by the arm. Bryce, old
chap, this is one of those occasions
where silence is golden. Speak not
I'll do 1t for you Miss Sumner" he
continued, "and Colonel Pennington
favoring that triumphant rascal
with an equally gracious bow, "we
leave you in possession of the field
teml orarily. However, If anybody
should drive up in a hack and lear
out and ask you. just tell him Bocl
Ogilvy has another trump tucked away
II his kimono.n
Bryce turned to go, but with a sud
den impulse Shirley laid her hand OF
his arm-his left arm. "Bryce!" sh'
murmured
He lifted her hand gently from BIZ
forearm, led her to the front of tn
locomotive. and held her hand I'D t
the headlight. Her fingers were GRIN
co.. NTH hl0od