White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1923-05-04
INSTALLMENT NO. Z.

As the last letter was dropped back
into the pouch, the postman said:
mo chance. Picked up half hour
ago, guess. When'd you mail it?"
about an hour ago.
Lord" grinned the mail man,
that letters gone down town, and
back up again by now. You'll find it
on the mall car OF the Diamond Elk
press if it goes West
The fear-stricken man waited for
no further explanation. He dashed
away toward his hotel, reached his
room, and breathlessly directed the
valet to pack his clothing.
Here's your pay" he shot back
as he flew through the door, Good
luck. Thanks" And he was off, stop
ping only long enough at the desk
down stairs to pay his bill. AS he
started away, the clerk handed him
message which he slipped unthinking-
ly into his pocket, and he took up
again his race down the street to-
ward the garage in which he kept his
new racing car He headed for the
Grand Central station, and bolted
through the great arched doorway,
making straight for the train sheds.
AS he reached the gates, a policeman
asked him what train he wished to
catch, and when he informed him, the
policeman showed him back with a
gruff:
Gone four minutes ago"
John Emerson, frantically realiz-
ing that it was necessary for him in
some way to overtake that letter, do
it how he might, thought deeply and
quickly as he stood there Lightning
like, an idea came to his rescue.
Can | catch the Diamond Express?"
he asked feverishly.
Don't know how, brother" re-
piled a sleepy red-cap.
"Whassat?" inquired the chief Of
the red-caps, as he overheard the
question.
I'm desperate" John calculated.
Got to catch that train. Important.
Life and death. Any chance?'
"She stops at Harmon to change
to steam engine" the captain In.
formed him. Got a carr"
Eyes, and fast one"
Good road all the way up. Several
miles up the Hudson. Might get it.
doubt it, though. Up the river road"
But the quaking John Emerson
waited for no more. He slid into his
seat, stepped on the accelerator, and
his big engine snorted as the car
leaped away.
Through the densest traffic he nosed
his way north at double the speed
allowed under the law But he cared
not, nor did he remember, about speed
laws now. He must catch the
Diamond Express. He did not even
stop to consider what it might mean
to him If he failed AS his low slung
speedster spurted out of the traffic
and into the country boulevard above
New York City he opened the throttle,
held tightly to his emergency brake,
and sailed through the cool night
air like an aviator. His speed was
sickening. He pressed his foot down
upon the accelerator until that In
strument would plunge no further,
then he leaned forward in his seat
until his chest lay heavily against
his steering wheel.
The heavily traversed roadway was
we'll supplied with motorcycle police
men and Already two had hailed the
mad driver, but without avail. The
road now began swerving to the left
then to the right, but it seemed to
him he could detect railroad track
nearby when his car came furthest to
the left. The minutes passed quickly
and finally through the tears that
now were filling his eyes, he thought
he saw the dim red tail-light of q
speeding train lar aneau. TWO min
utes passed, and the red light grew
more distinct 1t was the train!
The car raced to the top of a hill
and once over it it picked up speed
with amazing rapidity, and presently
John Emerson thrilled as he showed
alongside the plunging train and
gained car at almost each turn of
his head. Now he was alongside it,
what would he do? Would he keep on
beside it? His gasoline might give
out. Suddenly, as If he had plunged
headlong into a tunnel, he saw no
Instruments If Ounlity is