The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1942-11-19
CHAPTER XIX

Collins job was to assemble the
bombs and release all mechanical
restraints so that impact on the
noses would explode them. He start
ed to wind the vanes.
Meanwhile, Curt and Mc1nnis put
saws to use. They cut half through
all the ground supports which held
the heavy wall firm, then sheered
through the ceiling ties. So much
wasn't necessary, perhaps, but it
helped. Thus, an explosion OF dyna-
mite outside this wall would force
it back against the noses OF the
bombs.
They then planted the dynamite,
dragged the two motors to the spot,
measured the fuse. Against the
chance that Collins might not proba-
bly, set the bombs-for they were,
after all, foreign to nina can OF
black powder was planted in the
cockpit of each machine. At length
the three charges were set, with
fuses that would allow Collins time
to get away.
Curt grumbled. collins wants
pictures. But we can't risk lighting
up the window strip by the flash so
early. He'll have to take them
when he's ready to light the fuses"
They looked in on Collins. In the
dead air of the tight-closed room
he'd sweated through all his clothes,
his face was shiny wet. No picnic,
this. He knew what his chances
were if he guessed wrong on these
bombs.
"Okay," he told them, ''1'm about
set. Only three noses left to screw
in, then all pins to remove"
cts late" worried Curt. "Close
to one-thirty! Took us longer than
we'd expected. Stats will be phon-
ing them any minute now"
"Yeh. You two get going"
"Might's we'll" But Curt was re-
luctant. Then, you've no watch,
Collins, take mine. It's synchro-
nized with Monahan's."
Curt and McInnis snatched up
punches of tinder-dry grass from
sheltered spots as they ran to the
front of the hangers. Curt was get
ting anxious.
His worry was short-lived! Curt
and McInnis were brought up short
as they rounded the end of the hang
ars. The tennis court at the other
end of the field was now ablaze with
lights!
Even as they stared, small band
of men was emerging from behind
the office building headed this way.
"Six of them, Jerry! The two of us
can't count on holding off that gang
with pistol fret"
"Blaze the grass, Curt! All the
, way to the fence and around the 9th,
, er side of the hangers to the rear
, fenceI"
, Curt lit his first bunch of finder
: planted it, raced on with another
McInnis did likewise, heading
around the other end of the long
building. They met at the back. By
now there was swiftly creeping
5 line of fire behind them blocking of
: the hangers within this entire cor
r ner of the field.
e Curt and McInnis raced acros.
Y the black fields, stumbling constant
a ly but making ground. There wer,
: shouts behind them.
i Then came the furious chuggin,
S of a motorcar, headed from the up
f per end of the field.
" 'They expect to get behind us
O Jerry, head us off! Well have t
" stop that before they reach on
s carl"
J. They were close to the airfiel,
branch. They turned, running at to-
e speed toward the car, which hadn'
o yet rounded the curve of mountain
v side. There were half-rotted log
If left from clearing the field. Curt an
h McInnis had perhaps minute an
h a half-a minute. They tugged an
( hauled at one of the logs. Rains ha
a sunk it into the ground, set it. The
II pried it loose and slung it across tn
tracks. The driver would see il
but not in time to stop.
Then came the car Around tn
curve of mountainside it sped.
- - hit the log, bounced from the rail:
=. - turned over. But not before a ifs
" ure had snapped open the door an
e shot from it. A man rolled owe
1e and over, then scrambled to his fee
~ "Toenjes!" shouted Curt joyfully
a. Toenjes it was-a wild man in tn
i, flare of the cars headlights whic
" still worked, curiously enough, or
ae of them slanting skyward. He had
II gun in his hand but was helple;
81 from both the glare of lights and tt
loss of his glasses.
Curt coolly put bullet into Il
mans shoulder. Explain tn;
away, my fine friend" he grunte,
an "when the investigation breaks
e. GERRY! They planned on Lee ar
IS. the kids as hostages if got wis,
of That business works two ways. We
ar- take Toenjes with us. Then if thinl
don't go well at Tempujo-"
"Okay. Grab him."
B. Between them Curt and McInn
,e, seized the raging, helpless man al
he hustled him along the tracks towal
all their car.
an They kept glancing up toward t
radio sation high above. No ligh
showed, it was a black mountai