The Ypsilanti daily press., 1943-07-29
CHAPTER SEVEN

AS. THE station wagon bumped
and jolted over the shally, rock
streWn slope between the highway
and the railroad tracks. Jean sud
denly screamed and pointed.
Through the dusk the figures Of
several men could be seen leaping
from the overturned baggage car.
The first one took look at the sta
.tion wagon approaching, then
turned to run for a car parked
some distance up the roadbed. The
two others followed, one of them
limping as he ram
BE CAREFUL" Jean cried. For
Steve was turning the cars search
light full on the fleeing figures
while he pushed the accelerator to
the floor.
Look, they've got the mail bag
all right" His face was white with
fury. and Jean thought for one ter
rified instant he was going to
smash the station wagon into the
other car. But he glanced at her
suddenly, as though remembering
she was along In the next breath
he had slammed on the brakes,
holding out his arm to keep her
from going through the Windshield
with the violent jerk OF the stop.
Pulling on the emergency, he or
dered. stay here" and flung open
the door.
steve" she cried wildly. steve
don't"
But he was gone, running toward
the car into which the men were
now ping. A shot rang out. Jean
moaned and closed her eyes. But
when they switched open again,
Steve stal was running, returning
the saboteurs' fire as he went.
Their car swerved ahead just as he
reached it. With a long leap, he
made the running board and clung
there. AS the car gathered speed
they pushed him Off. His body
rolled in a cloud OF dust down the
slope toward the tracks.
Jean, screaming, stumbling, was
halfway to him before the bandits
car had reached the highway. She
knelt beside him as he opened his
eyes dizziIy, then sat up.
The rats"
At the dopey belligerence on his
face, Jeans terror abruptly was
released into a hysterical laugh.
She pulled him back when he start
I'd to rise. Lie still a minute till
"e see If you're shot full Of holes"
she ordered.
I'm all right"
Apparently he was, except for
torn clothes, scratches, bruises and
a badly sprained wrist.
Going over to the train!" He
still was painting. stay here"
But jeans spirits were soaring
with the excitement of it now that
the nightmare of the first moments
was over. Il won't stay here. I'm
going with you,' she cried.
The engine still was throbbing,
steam pouring up through the
dusky dcfile of the canyon as they
made their way toward the over
turned cars. Steve halloed, and sud-
denly a head appeared over the
edge Of the open baggage car door.
II was the Mexican engineer. He
and Steve carried out the other vic
tina Mexican trainman, bleeding
and unconscious. They propped
him on ono of the station wagon
seats and Steve supported him
while Jean drove to the company
shack that Steve shared with sew
eral Of the plant engineers.
BY the time she drew I'D before
the lighted, shed-like building. the
Mexican trainmsn had reeaincd
consciousness and was being vio-
lently sick. The engineers face be-
side her was covered with blood
He was muttering Spanish oaths a :
he wiped it from his eyes with a
ragged forearm. jeans fastidious
soul recoiled. She wanted To escape
from the misery, blood and sick |
ness. She told herself they didn't
need her, and turned to tell Steve
she was going to walk to the vii