Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-19

changed his role Of invalid for that Of . fairly
good gymnast, for the two ofncials found his
crutch and cane lying abandoned, with the
car window standing open beside his seat. He
had evidently slipped out through this window
when the train halted at the water tank
81 don't like IT," said Harrington, gravely.
az wonder what his game WASP"
The train pulled out Of Folsom, the crew
stin discussing the odd disappearance Of the
lame passenger. Hawkins had passed the story
on TO the enginemen. About seven miles out
of Folsom the fireman reached for his scoop
to shovel some coal for the upgrade.
1.-THE Swell Head" (railway slang for con-
ductor) els suspicious about that cripple" he
engine. why, the guy was only little rat
Imagine him."
A startled cry broke from Engineer Tubbs
and, following the direction Of his gaze, the
fireman looked over his shoulder.
The red glow from the opened hrebox re-
vealed q huge, black-bearded man standing on
the coal tender, rifle at his shoulder.
CUP with your paws-both Of you'll" he roar
ed.
Taken completely by surprise, the two en-
ginemen raised their arms.
"Now shovel in the coal and open the throt-
tie wide"
But we may crash into another train" pro-
tested the engineer.
so much the betterI" came the callous reply.
cit viii save us dynamite"
With his rifle still pointed at the two men,
the black bearded fellow closely watched every
move in the cab The engineer, as ordered, gave
his charge full throttle and she leaped forward.
They had Travelled only few miles, however,
when some distance ahead q bonfire came into
view beside the tracks. Nearing this fire, Tubbs
was directed to close the throttle and apply the
air. Two men were seen standing by the signal
fire-one short and stocky, the other 1.-THE and
slender. The train presently came to dead
stop, whereupon the bandit ordered the engine
men to call out ExpreSsman Hami Scott. The
engineer, fireman and expressman were then
guarded by this first outlaw while the two men
by the fire entered the express car.
among the passengers in the coaches, two
sheri1s travelling on duty. Directly he discov-
cred the trouble, Conductor Harrington sum-
moned them, but the officers were armed only
with pistols and no match for dead-shot ban
dts equipped with high-powered rifles. Har-
rington and the two sheriffs held q hurried
consultation.
The train was headed almost due east. The
bandits had their signal FIRE on the left, or
northern SIDE and had entered the express car
from that side Their horses, Harrington had
noted, were tied to a fence post on the right
side Of the line in readiness for quick get
away. Harrington and the two sheriffs began
cropping their way through the darkness around
the end Of the train to the south side. Har-
rington intended to cut the ponies loose, stam-
pede them and so leave the bandits afoot.
Suddenly there came q munled boom, the
ground shuddered, the train rocked from one
end TO the other and woman passengers were
heard TO scream in terror. Next instant show
er Of debris rained down upon the three crouch
ing men. The roof Of the express car, diSlodged
hV the terrific charge Of dynamite used to blow