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—YTHAPPY DAYS
li
. “Clint? » You here?”
3 es, yes, but make haste,” and as they
st tarted. toward the door Watkins sprang
in front of t
“ with him !” cried Clint, and as
the two boys leaped at him the man was
thrown violently backwar
‘ew moments the boys were in the
court, but at the same instant shrieks
_end shouts’ were heard, and frightened
men and women came hurrying out.
“Quick!” cried Clinton, seizing Fred’s
‘arm,,, and then, hastening through the
passage into Ash Lane, he ran right into
the policeman he had told to follow him,
and knew that he was safe.
. > CHAPTER XI.
FRED'S STORY —GOLDIE'S WARNING —
“DAVE HAS.“ A NEW JOB—A STRANGE
MEETING.
“How did you find out where I was,
Clint? asked Fre
ot strange old. woman told me.”
/“An old woman?”
“Yes. She was a regular hag. I never
sew her before, but she seemed to know
and you, too.”
3 ay here did you see her?”
y“In Railroad 4 Alley. I was s looking for
you. when I m
The two pave were hurrying toward the
railroad station after having come out of
Ash
The “otlicer had seen them safe out of
the lane and had turned in an alarm of
fire at the same time.
There was considerable excitement in
the lane and neither I’red nor Clint cared
into the ticket seller’s little room, an
then Clint told Fred his adventures from
the time he heard that his friend was
missin;
Then, Fred’ told how he had been de-
“coed. and continued:
Those villains did not keep me long in
the house in the alley, but took me blind-
folded by some back way to the place
where you found me. I couldn’ t fell: ‘how
went, for I couldn’t see a
suppose they were. airaid that I Mieke be
discovered in the .
/i*I don’t believe “ye would have dis-
covered you anywhere if-it hadn’t been
for the old hag. e gave me the first
che. Did you see her at all? Who is
&
e I don’t know. I didn’t see
enybody. but Watkins and Tyler and a
couple of others I don’t know. I thin
they were in the gang that put me on the
railroad trac! 3
“But what. was Watkins going to do
when | I burst into the place in the court?”
out my eyes, he said, I hadn’t
heen afraid of him till then; but at that
{ eried for help and tried to eet away.”
“It was a good thing you did. I knew
that you. were in deadly. peril or you
would never cry out like that, and I just
«lashed in regardless of consequences. I
iad. no idea that I was so strong. Why,
ce
e
“Pm
“that brute went down as if he had been
shot. I suppose. it was the excitement
that made me
ick
i I ever saw any one floored. I'd like to
verve him the same way if I ever meet
aim again, the scoundrel. I'll do more
shan that, too; I’ll shoot him on sight.”
- “But what’s he so down on sou for?
‘Chat’s twice he’s tried to kill you
« “He says he has other reasons than
‘imply because I blocked his game
-vyrecking the train, but he didn’t tell me
vhat they w
ts Dost. vhysterious. The old wo-
nan, too, what had she to do with it?”
don’t. know. said nothing
ibout her. you
TVs, a Fegular witch, old and bent and
hideous. .I never saw her face before. I
“yonder where she came from?”
“It’s a mystery; but, perhaps we will
ise her again. If s! eis down on Wat-
lsins, she may help He_took away
that gard I had, the ¢ one that Dave found.
Lhad it, for I believe that it will
connect Wetherbee with the attempts td
wreck our trains. I think it’s all in the
pebeme to get the mail contract away
é fAVhat t card do you mean?” asked Clint,
ond then Fred told the story of the card,
how it had come into his possession and
y
She was a perfect hag,
the message on i
“Well, I oat say it was important,”
said Clint. “If Wetherbee and Miller are
- going into that sort of business it’s time
people knew about it.”
. Fred Taloweaphed the news of his escape
to Huntington and returned by the first
fast train he could get, going at once to
the superintendent’s office after his ar-
val.
a this is most important, ”" said Mr.
Miller when Fred had told his story, “I
wish you had not lost the card. I know
Mr. “Wetherbee’s handwriting and T
could tell in a moment if he wrote it, It
- was S|
may os Simply that the plotters used his}
nal that connection, or it may be
that “be authorized Watkins to act as he
did. I hope for my brother's sake that
he will be "proved not to have had any-
thing to do with it.”
ie next Ae tne Fred took out the
fast mail as usual and received congratu-
lations all along the line that he was
once more in his accustomed place.
That night he called upon Goldie, as
he usually did two or three times a week,
the girl being particularly glad to see
him, having heard of his adventures,
afraid that Wicked gan will yet
try to do you an injury,” she said. “
must be more cautious and not get in his
clutches again.”
ut it seemed all right, Goldie,” he
answered. “The note was written on offi-
cial paper and I tad no reason to think
it was not genuine. merest
chance Clint happened to come down t
the station, and thus much precious time
s
can’ "t’ think that it was mere chance,”
said Goldie. “It was providence.”
“Yes, I suppose it was. ny rate,
it was very we oiential that he aid come.
He is.a tine fellow, Clint, and he fought
like a
“I would like to know him,” said Goldie
simply; “but, Fred, you must be more
careful’ I am almost’ afraid to have you
on the road for ear something terrible
may yet happen to you
“Oh, I can’t give up the fast mail,” said
Fred hastily, “and as for Wat tkins, he
will give the road a wide berth after this.
There isn’t a man on it who would not
shoot the scoundrel now as soon as he
appeared.”
Nothing was seen of Watkins and the
principal members of his party, although
the officers made a thorough search for
them in and around Minersilte and they
were supposed to have escaped during the
confusion caused by the fire in Fuller’s
Court.
Three or four houses had been burned
to the ground and onlf the prompt ac-
tion of the firemen had prevented the en-
tire court from being demolished, many
declaring that it would have been no
great loss if it had been, as it was not
only an ey esore to the town, but a nest of
crime as well.
Several days passed and matters went
on as before, Fred running the fast mail
a making good | conn¢ctions with the
mails east and w:
It was rumored that.the S. & N. road
was getting ready for another figbt to
secure the mail contract, and the E. W. &
. people did all they could to perfect
their own system of carrying the. mails
and so retain the contract.
“I don’t object to any legitimate means
on the part of the other road to secure
the contract,” said Mr. Miller, “but if T
hear of any ‘underhand business I will do
my best to expose it.”
Dave Pounds, the former mail mes-
senger, who seemed to have taken a great
fancy to Fred, was now a train boy on
the road and traveled on Fred's train,
doing a good trade and being liked by
every one.
One morning, as Fred was starting out,
Clint Putnam, who seemed to good
deal of running back and forth between
Iluntington . pd _Millerville just then,
came along an
“Well, Fred. you “want to make good
time to-day. sou pew you’ve got a new
schedule, don’t y
“ e sure, and I think’ I ‘can beat it.
There are several places where I can make
very fast time, and in a few days I think
they will change the running time.
I’m going with you this morn-
ing, rs I want to see you make the old
‘general’ hum.”
“Oh, I will, you may be sure.”
“All aboard!” shouted the conductor,
waving his hand, and Clint ran oack and
boarded the train as it pulled away. .
ahead of
They reached . Millerville
time and Fred was. greatly congratu-~
lated on his “successful run t an in-
creased Fate of spee
“GC and take lunch with me, you
and Dave.” said Clinton, coming to the
engine, Dave being already there, talking
to
Ait right, I don't care itl z do.
“Gee! you don’t want ?
asked Dave. “eat ve a regular Sell and
I’m only a trai
“that 's all Tight, a said Clint. “You're
a good friend of Fred’s, and,that’s the
sort of fellows I like to travel with.
e three start up the street to-
ether and presently they noticed a crowd
gathered a short distance ahead of them,
seeming to be mostly composed of street
boys, who were laughing and shouting at
m0)
soniThat’s a lot of kids teasing that old
her—and
they sa.
“I don t see why they can’t Iet her alone.”
hey drew nearer Clint recognized
the oud woman who had pointed out Wat-
&
kins on the day that Fred had been de-
coyed by the train wreckers.
he boys were jeering and hooting at
the poor old creature, and one had seized
her ragged shawl and was trying to pull
it atvay, while another was about to touch
a lighted match t
“Burn the witeh ee shouted, and his
companions took up t
“Sha upon yout cried Fred, dash-
ing into’ ‘the crowd. “A nice lot of fel-
lows you are, a dozen of you against one
poor old aw oman.
e dealt” vigorous blows right and
left ana scattered the woman's torment-
ors, Clint and Dave following him up and
administering telling blows to the mis-
vePhey were all put to flight, and then
Pred said kin dly
“You are not ‘hurt, my good woman?
It is a shame that such ruffianism should
eee strange old creature 2 Esea her slit.
tering eyes pon Fred and then, drawing
him aside, si
“You ate "Fred, Freeman—Fast Mail
Fred—aren’ t you
“Yes, 0 you know me?
Fred, ereatly puzzled.
‘his is for you; take good care of it,”
said the woman, and then, thrusting her
shriveled hand into the bosom of. her
ragged, faded dress, she drew, out a card,
put it in ne young engineer’s hand and
hurried a
“Tello! P “eried Fred. “This is strange.”
“What's the ater?” asked Clint.
“This card is the one that Dave gave
me and that Watkins took away. I won-
der how she got hold o!
“The missing postal pea ?”
“Yes. This time I will not lose sight
of it until the superintendent sees it.”
”
answered
CHAPTER XII.
A STRANGE OLD WOMAN-—WARNING OF
DANGER—THE ACCIDENT—IN BAD
HANDS.
“That was the old wi oman I told you of,
the one who set me after Watkins and
helped me rescue you,” said Clinton
“They call her Aunt Sally, the witch,”
said Dave. “Nobody knows what she
does or where she lives,”
“I€ is very strange that she should
come into possession of, this card,” said
fred, putting it_in his’ pecket. ‘What
can she have to do with Watkins and his
gt
“She can’t. be friendly - “to them,” ob-
served Clint, “or she would not have
helped me to find you, nor have given
you this card.”
its all yery curious,” ‘said Fred, mus-
never saw the woman in ms
ine ‘sefore never heard of her even, till
the other day, and yet she seems to know
me and to wish to help me.
“Well, you've got the card again, at all
events.
a
2
co
Yes, and I mean to keep it this time.”
“That's s right. Well, here we are at the
restaurant. Come on; you've got to get
back again, you two, sO we have no time
to
waste,
When they had had their Iuoch Fred
and Dave took leave of Clint and re-
turned to the Station in ample time to
leave by the fast
Just before Pred. started the telegraph
operator came alongside the engine and
“How was it going over the bridge be-
tween Wintringham and Rundown com-
ing up this morning?”
“AN right, although it seemed a_little
shaky. ba That bridge is bad and needs fix-
ing up
“Well, there have been some heavy
rains up in the mountains back of it ast
night and this morning, and since you
came over the river has risen a lot, and
they tell me that you must be careful
when you go over and not to run too
fas
“Ane ight, I-won’t. Much obliged.”
“Oh, that’s all right. They told me. to
let you know. . You don’t suppose I would
let Kou run any risks, do you
T the operator went back to the
station and Fred set out on his home trip.
“That old bridge has been shaky for a
long time” said Brad, “and it eught to
have been fixed up before now.
middle pier never was any too strong. I
don’t believe it’s solid stone all the way
through, I'll bet it’s just loose stone and
dirt instead of solid mason wor!
s a good deal to stand in the
” added Fred, “with the fresh-
nd the ice coming down, and it
wouldn’t_ be strange if it had not been
t, know when it was re-
while I’ve been on the road,
anyhow That ain’t all the trouble. neith-
The bridge frame itself is as shaky
as a man getting over a week's drunk, and
this morning when we come across
=
noticed her shake more’n ordinary, and
the old general just let out a snort and
shook himself, just as if he didn’t like it
for nothing. When the ‘general’ kicks you
can tell that there's something wrong.”
‘They made the ten miles to Wintring-
ham in good time and then kept on to-
ward Rundown, twenty miles further, at
the same fast speed.
When they came in sight of the bridge
Fred slowed up, not because the draw
was open, but because he intended to ask
if everything was all right and to make a
full stop before crossing.
He stopped short within three hundred
feet of it, and the bridge tender, coming
out of his little house, said:
“Well, what’s the matter?”
“That's what I want to kno
turned Tred. “Is the bridge all’ ett
ow
“Sure. She’s as right as ever she was.”
oghe niyer is swollen some, isn’t it?”
all right if the water was up to the Tonk
in
Dave Pounds had come out of the bag-
gage car and was now standing on the end
of the tender holding on to the brake.
“Want an apple, Fred?” he asked, put-
ting bis band in his basket. “Here you
g0—¢
“y What a are you doing there. young fel-
low?” asked Brad. “You ain’t running
this train. You belong Min the baggage
r.
oe phat’s all right," laughed Dave. “I
am of more importance than you think I
am.
aiket her go, Fred!” shouted the con-
=
sB
oe AIL right!” and Fred opened the throt-
tle and started en at a fair rate of spe
toward the bridge.
hey were within a hundred feet of it
when Dave shouted out a sudden warning,
and Brad, who was doing something in
deal tender, kes up and saw him sud-
enly ¢
“Wha hat? he shouted, not under-
standing the boy’s words.
ere was a sudden shriek from the
engine at that moment, and the boy’s
reply was drowned in the din, if he made
on Then, fhe engine.suddenly shot ahead at
a faster. rate. tian it hafheen going, and.
Brad. rather surprised at this, turned. and .
los ke forward,
nt be Fuddenty heard Dave stent
in his ‘sk ‘cll boyish tre
“Jump, Brad!” atte cul
deeper fones an instant later
‘or &n instant it secmed to the fireman
as if all his limbs were paralyze
The engine was rushing forward at iu-
creased speed, having been eut off. from
the train in some manner, and right ahead
of it the suspected bridge seemed toppling ©
and shaking and ready to fall at any mo-
Frid in
All seemed to happen in an instant, and
Brad could never tell just how it did hap-
pen, but the fall of the bridge, the in-
creased speed of the engine, the call for
brakes, the warning cries of Daye and
Fred, the cutting off of the coaches and
the sudden plunge of the engine over the
abutment into the river, seemed: all to
have occurred in the same moment.
Brad jumped, and after that ‘he did
not know anything until he found himself
lying on a bench somewhere with a brake-
man bending over him and asking him if
he was all rig
‘red, after’ getting the conductor's sig-
nal, started ahead at moderate speed, in-
tending to cross the bridge slowly so as
not- to cause too much vibration to the
weakened structure.
ked ahead, saw that everythin
appeared to be as usual, and then wate! hed
his gauge and kept his jnand on the throt-
tle and the lever so as to keep a perfectly
smooth motion.
Suddenly, however, he looked ahead,
scarcely knowing why, an t the same
instant heard Dave cry in a shrill tone of
ala
“Jump, boys, the bridge is falling!”
He saw the framework shake and knew
that in a ‘short time the Nhole structure
would topple into the stre:
He for brakes on “the instant,
jammed | in the throttle and reversed, but
at the next moment he felt the engine
shoot ahead, and looking back, saw that
the coaches had been detached.
was possible to do this if one were
quick enough, and Fred knew that Dave
had done it in order to save the rest of
the train
The en; gine, being cut away, ran ahead,
and Fred Fcnew that he could not stop it
despite haying shut off steam and
verse
“Jum mp.
the bridge toppled, he leaped fram the
leaped far out, escaped the falling
lew through the air Jike an ar-
row, struck the water feet first and sank
deep down in the swollen, turbid, rushing
Brad!” he shouted, and then, as
aters.
\
at,