The Washington times., 1938-03-03

way down the slope, he SAW the
engine labor into motion. Il gath.
cred speed slowly, but 1t was
enough.
POGO pulled up his horse ana
watched it bleakly, and felt hope
die within him. Kate Shayne was
on the train, and Espey Cardowan
had her. For the first time. tast-
ing the CALLING and bitter impo-
tence Of it, he knew that 1t was
not to prove to her that hc could
be honest that he had done this.
CHASEs AFTER COACH
It was something more, a strong
ana viii feeling that he wanted
to be with her always, a feeling
that hurt more than paiu now,
that he felt. He turned wearily to
look back up the long slope. A few
mounted figures were skylined on
it. They would be the vanguard
Of the army, who had followed
him all these hours. He would
wait here and surrender to them,
for he was through.
He looked OFF across the wide
valley again to the thread OF the
railroad track. Everything he ever
wanted, ever hoped for, every.
thing that was clean and decent
and dependable in his life had
vanished there forever.
But as he looked, he saw q rail-
road coach back through that por-
tai of rocks, coming slowly into
sight. Holding his breatn, he
watched 1t lumber slowly through
and tilt down grade, gathering
speed each second.
And then something exploded
in him. He rowelled the chestnut
savagely and shot down the grade.
He let the horse have its head,
and watched the car, keeping his
seat In the saddle by instinct.
When he saw the coach reach the
valley floor, sweep aside in Q half
circle onto the Christian City spur
heading west, he shouted with 10Y
and yanked the cheStnut's head,
swinging off on the same angle
the car was travelling.
When he finally thundered onto
the valley floor, the coach, 50 yards
distant, and Q little ahead Of him,
thundered around a curve and out
of sight. He rounded the bend on
the track now and saw the car
ahead. He could look clear
: through its corridor and see two
people at the front bending their
strength into the braking. And
one Of them was Kate shayne, the
other Cardowan.
HELLO. JOKER"
Inch by inch the chestnut
fought, running now like any good
horse will on CUTS and CUTS alone.
They pulled closer. Now the
chestnut'S head was almost touch
ing the coach end. POGO prayed
that Cardowan would not look
back.
Then gently, with his knee, he
urged the geldins off the ties to
the side, and let him run. The
chestnut took to the grass grown
right Of way, which was easier
footing, and gained in Q long
glorious burst Of speed. Finally,
when POGO could reach out and
almost catch the rail, he shook
hiE off foot out Of the stirrup.
he'd his breath and lunged.
He caught the rail with one
hand and kicked his feet clear Of
the stirrupS as the horse swerved
off to the side. For a moment,
POGO dangled by one hand from
the rail, then he got his other
hard on the grip and pulled him.
; self up.
He sat there a few seconds, get
tings his breath. loosening his
guns in their holsters. Then he
rose and swung through the door.
Kate and Cardowan he could see
Through the corridor, pulling at
the brake.
POGO walked down the aisle
softly, swiftly, his hands at his
sides, When he reached the rear
door. he raised his voice, saying:
Hello, Joker"
Cardowan whirled, along with
Kate POGO wanted to look at her
face, to take her in his arms, to
tell her everything that had been
frozen inside him, but he could
not.
y, (TO be COntlnued)