The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1921-03-18
SYNOPSIS.

CHAPTER I.-Craham Norcross, rail-
road manager, ana his secretary, Jimmie
Dodds, are marooned at send creek ed
ing with a young lady, Sheila Macrae,
and her small cousin. Unseen, they wit
ness a peculiar rrain hollup, in which
a special car is carried OIL
CHAPTER II.-Eorcross recognizes the
car stolen as John ChadWick's, financial
inagntte, whom lie was to meet al fOrtal
City. He and DodGs rescue SnadWlcK'
The latter offers NOrcross the manager
ship of the Pioneer Short Line, which is
in the hands OF eastern specuiators,
headed by Breckenridge Dunton, presi-
dent Of the line Norcr1ss, learning that
Sheila Macrae is stopping at Portal City,
accepts
CHAPTER III.-Dodds overhears con-
versation between Rufus Hatch and Gus
tave Henckel, Portal city tnanGers, IN
which they admit complcity III chadwick
kidnapping, their object being to keep
Chadwick from attending meeting OF
directors to reorganiZe The Pioneer snort
Line, which would jeopardize their inter-
ests.
CHAPTER IV.--To curb the monopoly
controlled by Hatch and Henckel, the Red
Tower corporation, korcross I9rm3 the
Citizens Storage and Warehouse com
pany. He begins to manifest a deep in
terest in Sheila Macrae. Dodds learns
tllat Shella is married, but living apart
from her husband. Norcross does not
know this.
CHAPTER V. - Hatch, aware that
Dodds has knowledge OF his and Iienck-
els participation in the Chadwick KID
naping, offers him inducements to leave
Norcross. Dodds refuses Leaving the
Office he is knocked senseless.. Recov-
ering consciousness, he learns that Nor
cross has disappeared and Is believed to
have resigned and gone east
CHAPTER VI.-Dodds connects Nor
cross disappearance with Vaccinations
OF Hatch aud Ienckel, and on recover
ing strength sets out to solve the mys-
terry
CHAPTER VII With Kirgan, the
roads master mechanic, DOdds gets
line on Norcross' disappearance. They
follow a clue given them Through a
missing locomotive.
CHAPTER VII.-The rescue party finds
and releases Norcross from captivity to
which he had been lured NorcrosS re-
sumes control OF the Pioneer Short Line,
refusing to give place to man whom
Dunton has sent to take charge.
CHAPTER IX.--Dodds follows an ennis
sary of the Red Tower people, spying on
Norcross, to a coal yard, where he over
hears plot to put Norcross out OF
business, and at the risk Of his life frus-
trates it.
CHAPTER Kat the home of Shefla
Macrae Dodds is witness OF strange
actions of a man he believes has de-
signs on the life Of his friend and boss.
He prepares to defend him.
CHAPTER XI-The sudden return of
Shela's uncle drives the intruder away
Later Dodds recognizes MN as LoT ware,
CollingWood, nephew OF President Dun
ton of the Pioneer Short Line. A series
of wrecks on the line. impossible to ex-
plain, cause alarm 10 the management.
CHAPTER XII.-Durgin, night dis
patcher routes passenger and freight
trains to meet on a single track. Dis
asrer is narrowly arerted. Durgin COM
mits suicide, leaving evidence that he
was bribed to bring about collision
CHAPTER XIII.-Evidence accunulates
that Norcross enemies are plotting his
death, but against all advice he decides
on a trip on a special train over the line.
pilot engine, travelling ahead, discovers
displaced rail which would have thrown
the special down mountain side. Nor
cross hears for the tlrst time that Sheila
Macrae is married. He refuses to believe
1t.
CHAPTER XIV.-Hatch and other own
erS of the Red Tower corporation call on
Norcross and inform him they have proof
that in the recent election the road has
made use of bribery. Hatch gives Nor
cross proof that the actual brlbing Mas
done by Howard Collingwood. Hatch
demands Norcross' immediate resignation
as the price of silence. Norcross learns
from Sheila that Collingweod is her hus-
band, and feels the ground has been cut
from under his feet.
CHAPTER XV.-Hatch secures control
of Citizens Storage and Warehouse COM
pany, and engineers strike, to embar-
rass the railroad line. NorcrCss shows
Colingwood how Hatch has used him for
his own ends, to down him (Norcross),
and ColiingWood threatens to kill Hatch.
CHAPTER XVI.-Van Britt general
superintendent, Norcross right-hand man.
resigns, refusing 10 give any satisfactory
reason for the act. Norcross begins to
feel the situation is about hopeless.
CHAPTER XVII-Pioneer Short Line
employees call sympathetic strike. Col
linGWood, drinking heavily and reported
close to insanity remains in hiding.
CHAPTER XVIII. Mine owners"
cnGfter special, the strikers allowing
1t 10 run. President Duuton demands
Norcross immediate resignation. Nor
cross delays Collingwood hires special
engine to follow mine owners party
Hatch is with the mime owners" and
NorcI oss, suspecting Coljinswood plans
10 llill his enemy. follows on another
special, with Sheila, Major I[endrck and
DoddS
CHAPTER XIX.-Collingwood terror
ICES the driver and fireman Of his engine,
and when they jump from the cab. to
save their lives, deliberately drives into
mine owners special. Norcross, though
on the scene, is too late to prevent the
crime. Hatch and eight of his party are
practically killed outright. Norcross.
risking his life. pulls Ccllingwood from
the wreck, and he dies in his wife's
arms,
the body of her husband. The Red Tower
people surrender bribery evidence. giving
up the fight on Norcross 1t transpires
that Van Britt had been largely instrI-
mental in bringing about the strike. to
depress securities of the Pioneer Short
Line. On the break in the market, Nor
cross, with the aid of his friend Chad
wick, succeeds in having shippers, small
buy up the stock, edecting, in the owners
Of the ockjobhers who had been. in con-
troll With his business dream realized,
NorcrosS arranses to so east shortly to
Il &c al md