The Dolores star., 1921-12-23


hackers had gone to Strathcona on q
mining deal, and had started to drive
to the gold camp In an auto to get his
man.
Before leaving Portal City he had
written a letter to Mrs. Sheila, tell
ing her what he was going to do, and
that when he got through with 1t,
she would be free. The letter, which
had been left at the hotel, had ueen
delayed In delivery-had. in fact, Just
been sent out to the majors house by
the night clerk who had found 1t.
Long before the story could get It.
self fully told. the different gaps in
1t were filling themselves up for me
and for Mr.. Norcross, as well. guess.
When Mrs. Sheila came to the auto
drive part of 1t, the boss whirled and
shot an order at me.
Jimmie, chase into the dispatcher's
office and find out the name of the
man who chartered that following en-
gine!" he snapped; and went on the
run, remembering that in the strike
excitement and hustle II hadn't oc-
CURED TO anybody to ask the mans
name or that of the particular mine
owner" who had chartered the special
train
DonOhue got the Strathcona opera
tor In less than half minute after
! fired my order at him, and the an
swer came almost without a break:
"Charter of special train was to II.
Hatch, of Portal City, and of engine
416 to man named Collingwood."
Gosh but this did settle It didn't
run back to the office with the news
flew. 1t was like firing a gun amongst
the three who were waiting, but 1t
had to be done. The major groaned
and said, "Oh, good God!' and Mrs.
Sheila sat down and put her face in
her hands. The boss was the only
one who knew what to do and he did
1t: vanished like a shot in the direc-
ton of the dispatcher's office.
In about fifteen of the longest min
utes I ever lived he came back, shak-
Ing his head. l knew what he had
been doing, or trying to do. There
was one night telegraph station on
the branch-at a mining-camp half
way down the grade on Slide Noun
tain-and he had been trying to get
word there to stop the wild engine.
"He has either bribed or bullied
his engine crew." he told the major.
II wired and had stop signal set
for them at the Antonio mine, but
they overran It, going at full speed
down the hill"
1t was plain enough now what Col
lingwood was trying to do. The mur-
der mania had got firm hold Of Its
weapon. Collingwood knew that
Hatch was on the special, and lie was
going to chase that one-car train until
1t made a stop somewhere and then
smash into 1t for blood. After Mr..
Norcross had talked hurriedly for a
minute or two with the major he went
back to the dispatcher's room and
went with him.
The boss grabbed up an official
time-card and began to study 1t hur-
riedly and to jot down figures won
dered II he wasn't tempted-just the
least little bit in the world. you know.
Here was thing itself up-a thing
for which he wasn't in the least re-
sponsible-and If 1t should work out to
the catastrophe that nobody seemed to
be able to prevent. the chief Of the
grafters, and probably number of
his nearest hackers, would be wiped
off the books; and Coliingwoods death,
which, in ali human probability. was
equally certain. would set Mrs. Sheila
free.
He must be thinking Of 1t, argued
he couldn't be a human man and not
be thinking Of 1t. But he never
stopped his hasty figuring for a single
instant until ne broke off to bark out
at Kirgan. who was standing by:
"Quick. Mart! want a light en-
gine, and somebody to run It! Jump
for 1t, mani"
Kirgan, big and slow-motioned at
most times, was of like shot. Then
the boss hurried back, down the hall
to his own Offices. and again tagged
him. The old major was standing at
a window with his hands behind him
and Mrs. Sheila was sitting just as
we had left her. with the big terror
still in her eyes and her face as white
as a sheet.
1--WE can't stop him without throw.
ing a switch in front of him. and that
would mean death to him and his two
enginemen," said the boss, talking
straight at the major. and as II he
were trying TO ignore Mrs. Sheila.
'T'm going to take long chance and
run down the line to meet them.
There's \ bare possibility that I can
contrive to get between the train and
the engine. and II I can"
Mrs. Sheila was on her feet and she
had her hands clasped as II she were
going to make a prayer to the boss.
And It was pretty nearly that.
Take me-" she begged; "oh, please
take me. It's my right to gow
saw that the chief was going to
turn Mrs. Sheila down-which was,
I