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14
HAPPY
DAYS
: talked | with White Lake, but with a
of wien ms who are holding Calvert "Blue
io
“then something is really wrong?”
“Yes.
“Is there anything 1 can do, Mr. Smart?”
Te .
Ollie now rushed into Colonel Chipman’s
office. He told the whole story very rapidly
to the colonel, who listened with horror.
“My soul!” exclaimed the railroad mag-
“That is dreadful, Ollie. What shall
“Simply hold a train in readiness at this
station. If I telegraph for relief send ii
e.
jo that,” cried the colonel, et
. joring one out of the office.
with y my boy, and bring a ay ite of
this awiul “utair safely.”
CHAPTER XXIII.
ONCE MOKE AT TH THROTTLE.
Ollie at once rushed down to the railroad
yard. He made his way through the car
Shed to the vound house.
Old Ninety-Four, handsome and grand, a
veritable monarch of the rail, stood panting
and blowing in her berth, all ready for a
run.
Her brass work shone brightly and in the
cab window shone still more brightly the
genial face of Larry Fogarty.
“Good morning, Colonel Smart,” he cried,
roguishly, giving hi: “What
In spite of the serious matters on his
mind Ollie laughed and pointed u finger re-
provingly at the young joker,
“Don’t you nee call me colonel again,
u rogue, or I'll give you a trouncing.”
“Better spell able,” cried Lar
“You know I'm joking, too, but ‘look here,
Larry, there is dangerous work for. us
three,” . a
“Us three?”
“Yes, you and I and OJd Ninety-Four.”
The young engineer started.
“Howly smoke!” he ejaculated.
£ now, Ollie?”
“You know Job Preston at Calvert?”
“Shure Ido. He gave us always a merry
signal when we rode by on the express.”
“Well, poor Job is probably dead now.
‘He has been shot full of holes by the Frisby
ang. They have taken possession of the
telegraph station, cut all wires beyond and
are answering our operator here for the
purpose of trapping the extra, which has
large sums of money in. the express car.”
Larry held up his hands.
“For the land of St. Pathrick!” he
gasped. “It’s the worruk av that skulkin’
divi, young Warne er.”
“What's
«shure we'll male it his last job.’ ”
“T hope we may. Now, you see trains
are shortly due from the other end of the
line, from White Lake and beyond, They
will be held up at Calvert also, There
will be much trouble there if action is not
made at once. .
“Well, sor, phwat kin we do?
“T am going to call out the vigilants. I
will have one hundred armed men a ie
depot as quickly as I can. I want you to
hitch Ninety-Four to a train of four cars
and report at the depot platform at once.’
Larry instantly released the brake and
. placed his hand on the throttle.
“AN roight, sor!” he cried.
orders.”
Ollie hastened away with all speed to the
office of the city marshal. In a very short
space of time the call for the vigilants was
sent out.
The report ran like wildfire through the
town. There was no delay nor hesitation.
Men came tumbling over cach other to join
the gi
Tn an Fi ncredibly short space of time the
one hundred armed men called for were on
hand. Then arrangements were made for
giving the outlaws a surprise.
The extra had been held at Studley and
was sidetracked there. The relief train
would run past and take the place of the
extra. Everything about the train was to
be arranged so outlaws would
_never dream that it was an explosive bomb
“thrown into their midst. .
The vigilants were to hide in the bottom
of the cars until the outlaws boarded the
hen they were to rush onto
“I bave me
was Ollie’s plan and there seemed
no reason why it should not work well.
When all was ready Ollie went along to the
cab and Teaped, up beside Larry and his
mate.
“Larry,” be fala, “T don’t want to usurp
t would you mind if I ru
Calvert myself?”
“Shure, sor, it will be loike old toimes,”
wish ye was to do it all
don't know how I've
5
“Don’t flatter me, Larry,” protested Ollie,
with a laugh, as he sat in the engineer’s
chair. “Now, we're off! Ah. it is very nice
to be general Superintendent of the rail-
road, but I s never cease to love Old
Ninety-Four.”
The train sped out of Sterling and into
the open country. Larry and his mate
watched the young engineer with deep in-
terest and admiration,
The steady, smooth running of the train,
the evenness of speed, the skillful taking
of curves showed that Ollie’s-hand had lost
none of its cunning.
“ re, Ollie,” cried Larry, with a
deep sigh. “I'll niver be able to run a loky-
motive like thot. It’s the boss of them all,
yez are,
“Pshaw! You must have kissed the
blarney stone, Larry,” laughed Ollie.
would spoil the most modest man on earth.”
m rushed the train and Old Ninety-Four
seemed to gather speed as she ran. It was
a wonderfu.
Nearer every moment they drew to Stud-
ley. Suddenly, oilie reached up and pulled
the whistle v:
Shriek after hriek went up and then the
red signal at the station disappeared and
the white took its place. Ollie knew that
he had a clear trac
The station agent and a crowd stood on
the piatform. The extra was on a siding
“Ollie *pulled the throttle wide open. The
relief train went down through Studley
like a meteor. Clickety, clackety-clack they
went over frogs and switches until once
more the clear track showed ahead,
It was an excitin;
Now they were stretching away on the
run to Calvert. rhe mountain passes
loomed up close at
Soon the special was thundering through
deep cuts and making sharp curves.
held Old Ninety-Four well in hand. He
sat half out of the window and watched the
track anes.
uddet Larry gave a shrill whistle.
Ollie stinctively put on the air-brakes a
trifle,
They rounded an abrupt curve and there,
only half a mile away, was the lone station
of Calvert. -
Iiere mountain roads met and the moun-
tain people drove {own to the train to get
their mail” It was a wild, lawless reson
and a insterate people re dwelt
r place to hol
inot t has ave been selected. Tew
tion and ordinarily a special would not
have stopped here.
But Ollie saw the red danger signal set.
He knew that it would not be changed, but
to Keep up the bluff he whistled.
Shrilly Old Ninety-Four’s whistle pealed
trough the gorge; A man stood on the
Station platform and held out a flag,
It was a danger signal pl<’n enough and
meant a-stop. Under ordinary circum-
stances any caisinees would have been com-
pelled t
So Ollie set the sinbrakes and softly and
easily the train glided e station
platform. Then ouie saw that the switch
ahi S open and had hé kept on he
would have been side-trackes
nm on the platform was not the
Calvert operator. Indeed, as the train
stopped he drew a revolver and made a
rush for the cab,
“Now, Larry,” cried Ollie.
quick!”
The young Irishman needed no second
bidding,
“Whurroo!” he yelled. “Bad cess to ye!
Down with ye for an omadhau:
He covered. the villain with a rifle. Th
train robber fired and the bullet shattered
the window of the cab. ~
Instantly Larry pulled the trigger and
the train robber sank down upon the
orm, ‘Then tnere followed a scene ‘whieh
baffles descriptio
From the station and the sides of the
cut there sprang half a hundred armed
men. At their head were Frisby and Jack
Warner. A terrible yell went up.
“Head him off
CHAPTER XXIV.”
THE PLAYING OF THE LAST CARD.
moment the train robbers be-
Hewat fae the special was at their mercy.
Already they saw the treasure in the pay
ear in Their possession.
ut the next instant their hopes were
‘attered, A most astounding surprise
greeted them,
vom the car windows were thrust rifle
muzzles. Men poured out of the car doors
armed with Winchesters,
Aghast, Frisby took in the situation. .He
saw that it as a The bandits had
caught a Tart;
‘he chanee of scene was startling. Dis-
mayed and panic stricken, Frisby’s men
tried to flee.
ut the plans of the vigilants had been
well laid.
The bandits were cut off from retreat up
the pass by means of vigtlants leaping from
the rear of the train. These were instantly
compelled to surrender,
Those who retreated into the station were
captured, ew sought flight down the
track, where a hand-car was in waiting,
and they alone escaped.
Half a dozen of the bandits were shot.
The others, except four or five on the hand
car, were made prisoners. Not one of the
vigilants was even scratched.
was a complete and over ybelming vic-
tory and a final defeat for Frisby.
he pandit chief himself was among the
priso:
The vigilants were wildly triumphant.
here was one sad spectacle, however,
which marred the pleasure of the occasion.
This was the hard fate of Preston, the op-
erator.
Iie lay dead in his office, with a dozen
bullet wouuds in his body, It was a fiend-
ish murder.
There was talk of lynching, but Ollie re-
monstrated with the vigilants and the pris-
oners were placed in the express car to be
taken back to Sterling. |
“Shure it’s too bad thot young Warner
“I'd rather have seen
him captured than any of the rest.”
“Yes,” agr fe) “He deserves pun-
ishment, but never fear. He will get it all
right,
“Shure I hope so.”
“Larry,” said Ollie, “this is probably my
last trip on Old Ninety-Four, but I love the
old engine with all my heart and when she
goes into ordinary I shall feel that. I have
lost one of my dearest friends.”
arry averted his face and began to
shovel coal.
Ney that be many a long day off, sor,”
said. .
y
o
On the trip back to Sterling Larry held
the throttle and Ollie gave him much praise
for his skill, This pleased the young. Irish-
man
When Sterling was reached an immense
crowd was at the station. The reception of
the canis with their prisoners was an
excitin;
Colo! el Chipman was perhaps the most
delighted of anybody. He fairly embraced
Ollie and said:
“It is all owing’ to you, my boy.
not have been done by anybody else.
“Oh, pshaw!” said Ollie, with a laugh,
“You give me too much praise, Colonel
Chip)
"No, T don't.”
“T do not deserve it.”
“You deserve it all.”
But the happiest hour of Ollie’s life was
that evening in the parlor at Ingleside,
Colonel Chipman’s residence. The young
superintendent had called to consult with
the president of the road.
ous Chipman was out and Bessie
She went impulsively
1 it could
came into the room.
up to one, 5
“TJ want to congratulate you, Ollie, upon
your Splendid success and bravery’ in cap-
turing Frisby and his gang. Papa has teld
me all about. it.”
It was then that Ollie Smart showed his
bravery in most conspicuous fashion. Asa
plucky youth should, he did not falter, but,
catching Bessie’s hands in his he drew her
o him and s:
“There is 2 greater victory which I hope
to win and the prize is the fairest and dear-
ct on earth. can you guess what I mean?
Snel T los
e full moment they looked into each
othe ors eyes. Then Bessie’s whole soul
went forth in her reply:
“The victory was won long ago and you
queror.
When Ollie Smart went back to Ms oftiee
he was the happiest young man on
chosen the path of honor ‘and
truth and it had brought him that which
any noble minded, upright young American
Jad is free to win, and sure to gain in yhis
land of freedom, the assurance of wealth,
happy home and a true American girl for
his wife.
Can we ask more for our hero, the young
engineer of Old Ninety-Four?
Frisby and his men were justly dealt with
by the low. The fate of Jack Warner was
never kno’
The Sterling & White Lake road is rap-
idly extending and developing into a great
trunk line and wealth and honor and pros-
perity are all with Colonel Chipman and
his young partner, Oliver Smart, erstwhilt
boy engineer of Old Ninety-Four.
(THE END.]
The Captain of No. 9
‘THE BOY LOGGERS OF
LOON LAKE.
Ny JAMES PD. MONTAGUE,
Author of “Wall Street Will,” “The Boy
Rough Riders," “The Boy Sheriff,”
“Hustling Harry,” etc, etc.
CHAPTER VII.
INDIAN JOE PKOVES HIMSELF A TRUE FRIEND.
If Dick Fowler had been a coward he
would have shown it then, when Indian
Joe stood facing him with the knife raised
above his heart.
“You wouldn't kill me, Joe, would you?”
he said, quietly. “If there is any fellow in
“You are right,” replied Joe. “I do know
it. That's acted toward you to
night as I did. Dick Fowler, I had rather
stick the knife into my own heart ten
times over than to hurt one hair of your
head, but you shall have’ your revenge on
me if you want it. Oh, yes; you shal
As he thus spoke Indian Joe, with sev-
eral quick strokes of the knife; cut Dick
free,
“There, take it, Dick! Take it!” he cried,
extending the knife at the same time. “Kill
e@ if you want to—I'll never say a word.”
jbo up the knife,” replied Dick. “Put
t up, Joe. I am Satistie that you did not
mean to do me any w
“You have, nothing aeainst me, then?”
“Noth! 3
* “You alieve I meant to do the right yt
thing? That I acted for the best? Dick
Fowler, you once saved my life and I'd die sab
to save yours. That’s an Indian every “Heh
time!” at 108
Joe was terribly excited. Dick under. jt!
stood him now and he quieted him with a te
ew friendly word ‘at
“I o do it, Dick, ” explained Joe, “{ fy cnlt
just hed to. You see, Bill Tweedie came $ Dit a
to No. 8 and stirred the boys oD He swore «ill &¢!
tit. Iknew joi
made you would jump in, hit or miss, so 3 »
got Paul Bates and Ned Tuell to join me {iit
and we came here to save ro in the only j:110¥
way it could possibly be done.” sie
af
“T guess that’s right,” replied Dick, sadly,
“It’s a bad job, Joe, ”
here. We must get Mr. Bartlett’ 's horse and
sleigh out of the barn; then we’
further. «I've got something more to an
ey, this time the hut was all in flames and
t seemed only a question of a few gnoments
before the barn must catch fire,
The two boys jumped in and soon had the
horse and sleigh safe.
They~/had~scarcely accomplished this
when the roof of the hut fell with a crash
and a few minutes later the sides crumbled
away and the barn began to blaze.
It was practleally over now, Camp No,
was no mo:
Meanwhile pick and Indian” Joe had been
coming to an understanding.
Joc revealed the whole plot and informed
Dick that the plan was to strike down
Loon Lake to the Madawaska River an
thence down the river to the “Grand Falls,”
they were called, which lay on the
boundary line between Maine and -New
Brunswic!
“We can head ’em off if they are going
that way, Joe,” Dick de: clared.
“Of course we can.”
“Nou know the old logging trail to the
falls made five years ago, when we haule
that big lot of spruce below the falls.”
©
p
a
man in
Tweedie,
can cut across that way, but what can we
do against that gang after we get there—
that’s the rub?’
“It’s hard telling. The chances that we
shall be able to do anything are mighty
slim, I must admit, but I s:
make some move for Miss Jessie’ 's sake.
“Yes, and for our own, Your money and
mine has gone off in that cash box, Dick.
Besides, there’s all that belongs to the boys
, No, 3, No.
. Not one of them was let into this deal ot
although they were all willing to go on the
strike. That scoundrel Tweedie just took }
in enough to back him up and in spite of +
all his fine talk about the wrongs of the
poor loggers, he is perfectly willing to rob » 4,
them of their hard earned wages. That's *s
the white man for you, No Indian would
ever act like that.”
was a poor time to enter into a dis-
cussion about the respective merits of the
red and white races, so Dick said nothing,
but went on with his harnessing, for he was iy 4,
now hitching up preparatory to making a
start. i
“Shall I drive?” asked Joe bal
“] wish you would, I’ll get in the back “i
seat.”
SB
Not sit in here with me, Die €attop
“What for? It will ride better the other ny
Ww:
“It will ride all right. - You will see. I fry be
want your compan. I can’t talk to you »
if you are back ther a
Dick thought there was something in ay
the wind, but he knew that Indian Joe had 4,
a peculiar way of expressing himself, so he Swi
said nothing, but got upon the seat beside ~;y, 4
him and tucked the blankets in, while Joe. 3,
started down for the Carrying Place. when : Gh
it would be necessary for them to {ura off
in order to get on the old wood t) *
e boys continued to diseuss. “ihe site My.)
pation until they reached the Carrying ty recap
Just as Joe was about to turn up the | we
creek two men armed with shotguns sprang hy ‘
S. mn
“I see you chsh
have got Dick all righ
It was Paul Bates and Ned Truetl, the j
two loggers who had helped to capture mt
ick,
“Jump in, boys!” cried Joe, “Dick knows ! “4 Joy
all now and he has nothing against you. J watt
we are off for Grand Falls to ont in ahead «4
Bill Tweedie’s gang if w
the camps who has stood ou friend I am
the one and you know it, t
eel
= a SS.
er
ick knew now why Indian Jou wanted ;
the back seat left vacant.