The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-01-06
The Wreckers
Francis Lynde


Continued From Yesterday,
n was Mira sheiia on the wir~.
and could tell BY the way her
voice sounded that she was might
lily excited.
I've. been oafring you on ev-ry
phone l could think Of was the
way she began: and then: where
Ia Mr.. Van Brittr~
l told her about the wreck. and
said ! was afraid he hadn't got hack
yet heard something that sound
cd like mufficd and half-impatient
'ph. dearrs and then ehe went on.
Il have Just had phone message
nom Mr.. cantreii. tho editor % the
Mcuntainecr. He called tho house
TO try 10 Ind Major kendrick. lie
has heard something which may ex.
plain about Mr.. Norcrusa lie said
he dldnt want to put II on the
wiro-
That was enough for ma Tn go
right over 20 the Mountaineer OF
fice.- I told her. and In just about
two shakes OF a dead lambs tail I
was standing at MIR. Cantrcli's Oh
bow In bis little den ON the third
floor OF the newspaper building
across the avenue.
~Mrs. Macrae tel~phcned your
he asked. pushing his bunch OF
COPY paper aside.
Yes. just q minute ago
I'm give you what ! have. and
you may DO what you pleas. with
H. One OF cur young mcmillan
dcrby-has q clue: a very slight ono
lie has disoovered--in some way
that he didn't care TO explain over
the phone-that there wns a plot OF
some kind conoocted ain the back
room OF a dive on lower Nevada
avenue on tho night Mr.. Norcroas
disappeared. Prom what Branderby
says. take IL that the plot was
overheard. in part. at least. by some
hahitue OF the place who was too
drunk 20 get IL entirely straight and
Ineligible. The plottcrs were four
OF clanahan's men. and. a. Bran
derby got II. they were planning TO
steal a locomotive DO you know
any thtaE about thatT
Il do. The engine was stolen an
right that very night kIrran. our
master-mechanie. has known II was
gone. but he has been keeping quiet
in hopes he'd be able 10 ind the
engine without making any public
stir about IL
The story. as II has been handed
on 10 Branderby. IL pretty badly
muddied.- the editor went ON. There
was something In II about an at.
tempt TO wreck and rob the Fast
Mail. and something else about send
inx q note TO somebody at the Bul
Ard--a note that would do the
business was the way II was put
That note was sent to Mr. Nor
cro~sr- ! broke In excitediy. taking
= running Jump at the guess
IF you win walt untl Brandsroy
comes IN. he may be able to give
you more OF the particulars Can
trcn was beginning TO say; but Eood
wosht--f couldn't wait was scared
stiff for fear I shouldn't be abis TO
w~s back TO the round. hous. before
Ktrgan started out on that engine
rcscuinx trip
That's enough gnwpe6 TN
gone-- and .umbiea down the two
flights Of stairs and sprtntsd for the
railroad yard. reaching the round
house not one halfsecond too soon
Klryan was there. with Gorcher and
two firemsn- They had a light en-
CINE out on IN. tank track and
were nulng her with water.
IT was Kirgan himself who gave
me a hand up the steps to the high
foot plate. Gorcher was oiling around
and the two firemen were up on
the tender.
They took Mr.. Norcross with
them on the Ten. Sixteen was all
could say and then I guess my
late electric knockout got in its
work to pay for the quick sprint
down from the Newspaper office. Tor
keeled over into KIrgan's arms
and sort Of half tainted. 1t seemed
Because. when I came TO, right
good again, Kirran had me up on
the fIreman's boz. with an arm
around me TO hold me there: Billy
Gorcher was on the other side Of
the cab. nIRsling at the throttle,
and the light engine was clicking
| Il off about 50 miles an hour on
the straight piece OF track between
Portal City and Arroyo.