Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, February 12, 1916, Page 3

SATURDAY; FEBRUARY' 12, 1016 About The City Born, to Mr. and Mrs. Byron C. Rawdon at their home near Wilton, Friday, Feb. 11, 1916, a daughter. Mrs. George Ostrander of Turtle River was among the out-of-town vis- itors and shoppers in Bemidji yester- day. Miss Lillian Booth, who was oper- ated on for appendicitis some time ago, is reported to be improving to- day. ——— WHAT WILL PEOPLE SAY?— Adv. d212 Mrs. R. S. Salscheider went to Minneapolis and St. Paul Friday eve- ning where she will visit with rela- tives. George L. Carver left Friday eve- ning for Kelliher where he is spend- ing several days attending to his real estate Interests. Judge A. M. Crowell, who was re- cently operated on for a complica- tion of diseases, is reported to be im- proving daily. Please come in and see me. Capt. Mac’s News Stand.—Adv. d212 Miss Dorothy Torrance, daughter of Attorney and Mrs. G. M. Torrance, is i1l at her home on Bemidji avenue with lagrippe. M. H. Hazen, a hotel proprietor of Kelliher, arrived in the city this morning for a short visit with rela- tives and friends. Floyd Hyatt arrived in the city this morning from Boy River, where he has spent some time attending to matters of business. H. J. Koors returned this morning to his home after spending the past few days in the northern part of the county on business. One of these nice days you ought to go to Hakkerup’s and have your picture taken.—Adv. 14tf Attorney T. C. Bailey left this morning for Brainerd where he will spend today attending to business af- fairs and legal matters. Miss May Milner arrived in the city Thursday night from her home in the southern part of the state, for a short v'sit with relatives. Miss Gladys Johnson drove to Be- midji from her home at Frohn yes- terday to attend to some matters of business and visit with friends. John McCaffery arrived in the city yesterday from his home at Grafton, N .D, to spend a short time visiting as the guest of friends and relatives here. Roses, carnations and violets at the Greenhouse for valentines. Phone 166. A. E. Webster.—Adv. dz12 Ben Iverson, president of the town board of Pinewood, arrived in the city this morning for a short visit with friends and on matters of busi- ness. L. W. Griffith, formerly of the Ar- mour company’s plant of this city, left today for Aberdeen, S. D., where he has been placed in charge of the Armour plant. Allen Henry, while working in a lumber camp at Schley, was injured yesterday, by wrenching his knee. He was taken to St. Anthony’s hos- pital in this city. F. G .Lyons, traveling passenger Why “Anuric” is an INSURANCE- Against Sudden Death. Before an Insurance Company will take a risk on your life the examining physician will test the urine and report ‘whether you are a good risk. en your kidneys get sluggish and clog, you suffer from backache, sick-head- ache, dizzy spells, or the twinges and pains of lumbago, rheumatism and gout. The urine is often cloudy, full of sediment; channels often get sore and sleep_is disturbed two or three times a night. This is the time you should consulé some‘%:yuwpm of wide experience—such as Dr. Pierce of the Invalids’ Hotel and Surgical Institute, Buffalo, N. Y. Send him 10 cents for sample package of his new discovery, “ Anuric.” rite him your symptoms and send a sample of urine for test. Experience has taught Dr. Pierce that “Anuric” is the most powerful agent in dissolving uric_acid, as hot water melts sugar; besides being absolutely harmless it is endowed with other properties, for it preserves the kidneys 1o a healthy condition by thoroughly cleansing them. Being 50 many times more active than lithia, it clears the heart valves of any sandy substances ‘which may clog them and checks the degeneration of the blood - vessels, as well as regulating blood pressure. “Anuric” is a regular insurance and lifesaver for all big meateatersand those who deposit lime-salts in their joints. Ask the druggist for “Anuric” put up by Dr. Pierce, in 50-cent packages. e BE(IA Medical Dr. Pierce’s Golden ca) %‘:g;:v::yt? Tfils ig a blood cleanser and alterative that starts the liver and stom- fih into vigorous sction. It thus assists e body to m: which feeds_theheart, nerves, brain-and organs of the bodl ‘The organs ‘{l o thal e e chd Sronaats 1o ‘of tired, “and-faflh - agent of the Rock Island" raiiroad; left yesterday morning for the Twin Cities, after having: spent Thursday here on business. Rev. T. H. Dahl of Minneapolis ar- rived in the city yesterday to assist in the dedication services which are being held in the Norwegian Luth- eran church today. B. W. Lakin, of the logging de- NEAL of the NAVY Partment of the -Crookston Lumber company, left yesterday for Duluth where he intends to spend a few days on a business visit. Mr. and Mrs. B. O. Nelson return- ed Thursday night to their home at Tenstrike, after having spent the day in Bemidji attending the sessions of the district court. Mrs. Fred Swinson, after spending By WILLIAM HAMILTON OSBORNE Author of **Red Mouse," **Ranning Fight,"* **Catspaw, ** **Blue Buckle,”* etc. Novelised from the Photo Play of the Same Name Produced by the Pathe Exchange, Inc. (Copyright, 1915, by Willlam Hamilton Osborne) SYNOPSIS, On the day of the eruption of Mount Pelee Capt. John Hardin of the steamer incess rescues five-year-old Annette lington from an open boat, but is forced to leave behind her father and his com- panions, Ilington is assaulted by Her- nandez and Ponto in a vain attempt to get papers which Ilington has managed to send aboard the Princess with his daughter, papers proving his title to and telling the whereabouts of the lost island of Cinnabar. Ilington’s injury causes his mind to become a blank. Thirteen years elapse. Hernandez, now an oplum smug- gler, with Ponto, inez, a female accom- plice, and the mindless brute" that once was Tlington, come to Seaport, where the widow of Captain Hardin is lving with her son Neal and Anneite Ilington, and glyot to steal the papers left to Annette her father. Neal tries for admission to the Naval academy, but through the treachery of Joey Welcher Is defeated by Joey and disgraced. Neal enlists in the navy. Inez sets a trap for Joey and the conspirators get him in their power. An- nette discovers that heat applied to the map reveals the location of the lost is- land. In a struggle for possession of the map Hernandez, Annette and Neal each secure a portion. Annette salls on the Coronado in search of her father. The crew mutiny, and are overcome by a boarding party from U. S. Destroyer Jackson, led by Neal. In Martinique An- nette and Neal are captured, but are res- cued by a sponge diver. Inez forges iden- tification papers for herself as Annette. In an insurrection Neal and Annette aro again, captured, carried to the Sun City and Annette is offered as a sacrifice to the sun god. They are rescued by ma- rines from the Albany. Landed in Tortu- g2 Annette and Neal are captured and exposed to yellow fever Infection by Her- ez, but are rescued by sailors from the Albany. ¥ TENTH INSTALLMENT THE ROLLING TERROR CHAPTER XLIV. Across Country. Parly next morning, out of that pathless mire, strode back the Brute, picking his perilous way with the in- stinct of some cunning, cautious ani- mal, and guiding—in fact, bearing on his shoulders half the time—the luck- less Ponto. That individual, his ugli- ness enhanced by the clotted blood that dressed his disheveled hair, and decorated his countenance, was still dazed. He had vague recollections as to what had happened. He knew that at the command of Hernandez, his side partner in crime, he had plunged once more into the deadly morass for the purpose of finishing by violence the deed that had commenced in cun- ning. He had followed the Brute—he remembered that. He dozed off into satisfaction. He woke with a jolt. It was a heavy Jolt. When his eyes opened he was on the ground, supine. He started to leap to his feet, then sank back again, heavy with the pain of his wound. A laugh behind him startled him and brought him to his senses. He turned swiftly, feeling for his knife— the knife that wasn’t there. There was another laugh—the laugh of his side partner, Hernandez. “Fool,” said Hernandez, addressing Ponto. 5 Ponto changed his demeanor. He drew himself up to his squatty height and folded his arms. “Did 1 not as you said?’ replied Ponto. “I went into that hell and killed them both—I did it single-hand- ed—I, Ponto.” His answer was a sneer. Hernan- dez stretched fofth a hand and clutched Ponto by the shoulder. He dragged his lieutenant to the edge of the clump of trees aird underbrush, where they were standing. He parted the branches of a tree. He handed Ponto a pair of binoculars. “Take one swift look, my Ponto,” he sneered, “only one.” Ponto took more than one—he held his eyes glued to the glasses. Then he fell back in amazement. “They live!” he cried. “Both of them!” He stared at Hernandez almost in affright. “What does it mean?” he re- peated. “It means,” sald Hernandez, grimly, “that I sent 2 boy to do a man’s job. You were quite right. I should have gone myself.” Down on the wharf Annette Ilington and her party were about to embark in one of the launches of the cruiser Albany that lay still anchored in the harbor. In Annette’s " party were Mademoiselle Irene Courtier, Mrs. Hardin, Neal's mother; Neal Hardin himself, a warrant officer upon the Albany, and the surgeon of the cruis- er.. There were one or two other men in uniform, an assistant surgeon pos- fbly, and an ensign. There were bluejackets. But above all, there were natives galore. Natives by the dozens, by the hundreds, and all in rags. The whole village had turned-out to do homage. “The little white angel,” murmured grateful mothers, sinking down in An- mette’s path and kissing her dress as she went by. Unseen by any of the party—save by Joe Welcher, Inez swerved aside and slipped a note into the hands of a native, and handed him a coin. Then she leaped lightly into the | launch -and the launch steamed away, | followed by .the:cheers and the tears of the Tortugans on:the.wharf. Back in the jungle, three men wait- ed for advice. They had not long to walt A treacherous looking: nstive slipped through the undergrowth and advanced swiftly toward Hernandez, { “The epistle, Senor Capitan,” he said. It was the note from Inez Cas- tro. Hernandez geized it eagerly and read: i “We are bound for La Plaza. Meet, me there. Meantime | shall do my best to secure Annette’s precious locket and the map. Your route lies across the country. Adios. I. C.” CHAPTER XLV. Inez Shows Her Hand. i “First and foremost, Miss Ilington,”! said the captain of the Albany after; Annette’s party had boarded the cruiser, “now that you are once more safe, permit me to return to you the map of the Lost Isle, which I have ex- amined with intetest. Following your directions, 1 subjected it to heat, and I brought out the hidden latitude and longitude—18 degrees 30 minutes north and 123 degrees and 40 minutes west.” He paused a moment. “Do you know,” he said, “there’s something about that logation that sticks in my mind—some vague rumor.” “The isle contains mines,” said Annette. “It's not that,” returned the com- mander, “it was merly the locality. I traced it on our map. It was about there that the government—” He broke off, checking himself quickly. “4h, yes, 1 remember now,” he said, “well, never mind. But, here also is your locket. Now you've got them, have you—all safe,” “Thanks for keeping them safe,” said Annette, secreting them in the bosom of her dress. “So far, so good,” went on the cap- tain. “I have to say further that the officers’ quarters have been placed at your disposal until we reach La Plaza. ‘There you can get a train, “It’s a short ride on that road to Chantillo,” went on the captain, “and at Chantillo you can catch the boat for most of the Lowee California and California ports.” Across country Hernandez, Ponto and the Brute were traveling hard. The indomitable will of Hernandez kept them ever going on and on. “You understand,” oried he, “we must make La Plaza before the Al- bany gets there. We go cross-coun- try—she goes by shore. T'll knife you both if you fail me at this time.” Finally, on a moonlight night, Her- nandez halted at a forest opening that looked down toward shore. He glanced across the sea. “It is she—the Albany,” he cried; “look, Ponto. She is at hand. Itis a matter of hours now, one would say, rather than days.” er a rest he reconmoitered. In the valley he saw a light or two, fil. tering through ‘the foliage. Again they mounted and descended the hill into civilization.' They knocked on the door of an adobe hut. A native opened and shambled out, gun in hand, quicksilver The Hand of Inez Was Quicker Than Annette’s Voice. ‘to meet them. Seeing the Brute, he drew back in terror. “It is nothing, friend,” said Hernan dez, “here is a coin. Where lies. La Plaza?” “But five miles farther on—close by shore,” returned the native. “A bagatelle,” said_ Hernandeg, ‘“come on.” Meantime Inez Castro, on board the Albany, had become unusually active. She had ascertained the time of arri- val of the Albany at La Plaza—the schedule time. Joe Welgher bunked in with Neal— in the quarters of the warrant offi- cers. It was nearly evening when Inez Castro, using Joe as usual to do her bidding, whispercd in his ear. Joe, like a whipped dog, did, through fear of her, what he otherwise would have been afraid to do. He slipped into Neal's. quarters, and laid his hands upon .an object or two, twisted them into a little bundle and took: them back fo Inez. Inez took them:to; Rer cabin. 3 e Friday ‘in Bemidji as the guest of friends and attending to week-end shopping, returned to her home at Frohn last evening. Mrs. W. H. Rice arrived in the city yesterday from her home at Northern and spent the day shopping and call- ing on friends. She returned to her home in the evening. Miss Medora Rice, a student in the Over at La Plaza—La Plaza by tha Sea—Hernandez sought the shore and | found what he wanted—it was a fish- ing boat with & kicker in it—the only motorboat in the place. It was well manned, with a crew of six of the | most disreputable-looking characters that ever drew the breath of life. Her- nandeg talked to them—with money. “No lights,” he cautioned, “and muffie that kicker. And be quick about it now.” “It is all right, senor,” said the man at:the tiller; “we are about all hours of the night. No one thinks of us, one way or the other.” He pointed | out to sea. “You perceive,” he said, “there are other fisher boats.” “Good,” said Hernandez, “the more the merrier.” ‘Without lights they kicked to with- in almost hailing distance of the Al- bany. Then Hernandez. showed @& light. It was immediately answered from the deck. “It is good,” he said, “we understand each other.” Inez hastened from the deck and en- tered her cabin. Her cabin was Annette’s as well. Her plans well laid—and she had felt they were the only plans to make—she retired for the night, but noé to sleep. At three o’clock she rose, and un- twisted the bundle that Joe had filched for her. She sighed with satis- faction as she shook it out of its folds. It was a uniform—one of Neal's. She donned it swiftly—hur- riedly—silently. There was no light in the cabin, save the moon, sifting in through port holes. Annette’s face was bathed in light. But Annette was fast asleep. She was totally oblivious to the presence of the prowling figure in male upiform who stole near and ever nearer—who now groped about her neck, . . Suddenly, with one quick and final tug Inez wrenched at the chamois bag. . . . Annette woke with a scream upon her lips. But the hand of Inez was quicker than Annette’s voice, Inez's hand closed over Annette—her knee crushed down her breast. The wildcat in Annette rose. She was a fine fighter. She squirmed with one twist out of the grasp of this unseen foe, and grappled with her as- sailant. Inez was no match for her, and soon found it out. . . . Annette dragged her to the ray of moonlight and looked at her. She gasped and dropped her hold. “You—Irene Courtier,” she cried. But Irene—Inez Castro if you please —was no longer there. In that in- stant—and that was the instant for the last few seconds she had waited for—in that instant she had leaped to her feet and made her getaway. And Irez knew the Albany—every part of that huge battleship she had studied with the care of an engineer. She knew just what to do and where to go, and how to elude pursuit. She rushed to one spot where safety lay, rekched the rail, leaped over it, and with the agility of a professional diver struck the water with scarcely a splash. “Now,” said Hernandez to his helms- man, “like mad for that spot of white.” Ines, fresh and supple notwithstand- ing her struggle—in fact the struggle had nerved her up—swam toward the fishing boat and the boat steamed toward her. Within a short time— almost less time than it takes to tell {t—Ponto was once more kicking the Brute. And the Brute in turn leaned over the side of the kicker, and with the sweep of one powerful hand and arm, drew a dripping object from the water. It was Ines, gasping for breath. “Now, like the devil for the shore,” whispered Hernandez. They obeyed. But if Inez now gasped for breath, Ahnette had ceased to.gasp for breath. Her first coherent thought was to feel for her chamois bag. It was safe. Her next effort was speech. 8he screamed at the top of her lungs. Her. third was action. She darted to the deck and gave the alarm. Within a moment a launch was manned and had put off from the cruiser—Neal in command. Suddenly one of Neal’s men point- ed toward the shore. The searchlight of tise cruiser was playing upon a kicker;making full speed south. “That’s our boat,” said Neal, “like the devil now.” In five minutes thgy caught her. Neal saw at a.glance she showed no lights. It convincea him. Without a word he swung his launch alongside and his men leaped across the gun- wale. Every jack tar either-had his man by the throat, or was tickling his ribs with a knife, “We've got ‘em all,” said some- body. “Where’s the woman ?” queried Neal. But there was no woman—no Inez Castro. What's more there was no Hernandez, no Ponto, no Brute. “No use,” said Neal, “the birds have flown. No use chasing them,” he con- ceded, “when those birds fly, they fly. ‘We've got to give ’em credit.” “Annette,” he told that young lady later, “I think now we're safe. The Job all along has been an inside job— Irene Courtier has been handing you —yes and me—over to the enemry. That was the game—and the game is ended. That's the way it looks to me.” — CHAPTER XLVL A Hold-Up. ‘The captain of .the cruiser Albany had his men: scour the gopntry round about, but—as had ever bgen the ca: with Hernandez and his himble-footed crew—without result. “At any rat. '-he sgld, “the rascals have run away—they've probably shown us their heels for all time. You . ‘Chaatillo, Bemidji: high :school, left last night for Tenstrike where. she ‘will.-visit over Sunday with her:parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Rice. Albert Brabets, the Nymore barber who froze his: hands and feet, some time ago, is. still in a critical condi- tion at the hospital. No amputa- tions have: been made. The Bemidji. International Rag- take that one-horse-train:here—well escort you to the train. Over af Chantillo lies the Missouri, a first: class battleship. I'll give you a note to her commander. Hé'll see you safe on board the South California boat.” Neal and a small guard of marines constituted Annette’s escort. Annette laughed when she saw the station—laughed more when she saw the train. It consisted of the sorriest engine she had ever seen—also the most diminutive and battered coach.’ “Look here,” said Neal to Annette, “come inside the station. I want to show you something.” Annette knew . . . inside she broke down and cried like a child. “It’s good-by now, Neal,” she said, “I don’t know what I'm going to do without you. . . . I feel like « . . almost going back . . .” “By George,” said Neal- “I wish You'll stick it out. I I'm sure. But, if it's but no. know you will. “Look—See!” Exclaimed the Brute. tough on you—think of me. chucking up my job . . A tin horn blew outside. that?” cried Annette. Mrs. Hardin and Joe Welcher rushed into the station. “The train—the; train,” they cried. . They were quite right. The engi- neer was already pulling his rusty lev- er. The train actually was starting up, stationary though it had seemed. “Go ahead little one,” said Neal, “good luck.” Half a mile farther down the track, out of the jungle crept two figures— each with gun in hand, each with a black mask upon his face. Across the track they piled a tree or two—these trees had been plucked up by the roots by one of these masked men. After completing this self-appointed task, they crept back into the jungle and waited patiently. Finally one of the men prodded the other. “Now,” he commanded, “here she comes.” A faint tin horn whistle was heard around the curve. The fast mail of the Chantillo line approached. She approached, but seeing the obstruc- tion on the track, she hesitated, halted, came to a full stop. The two masked men leaped upon the engine and held up the crew with their ever-ready guns, Hernandez stepped into the car be- hind. He fired three shots. He aimeg at no one. The shots had their ef- fect—on two pergons at least. ' Joe Welcher ducked at once. Mrs. Har- din followed suit. No one was hit. Annette alone retained her nerve. “So,” she said fearlessly, “it's you again. And where is your charming friend, Miss Irene Courtler?” “Brute,” cried Hernandez, throwing oft his mask, “bring those two men here.” The Brute brought them. “Take the bell cord,” said Hernandez to the train crew, “and tie this young girl up.” Hernandez, still with his gun on guard, bent over the girl. He piunged 1 feel like “.W-what'n: his hand into her breast, and with a |! jerk tore the chamois bag from her neck. “T'll tie this man myself,” sald Her- nandez, approaching Joe Welcher.. He leaned.over Joe, and wound some cord loosely about his hands. “I'll need you,” he whispered, “but make no mistake. when I'm around.” He left the Brute on guard and marched the crew back to the engine. “How near are we to the nearest sta- tion?” he queried, “tell me truth.” “Not for miles, sénor,” they gasped, “only = little farther on in'a deserted station, Montrada. No trains stop there. It {8 discontinued.” “Any occupant§?’ queried Hernan- dez. “None—it s deserted. It is even haunted, senor.” “How—haunted ?” e “Something there goes click—alick p—oliok—clck—always when'we Pase.” | talk of a detachment coming over- 1| important,” Mistakes are fatal |’ gers last_evening started -a_week’s tour at various places south and west of Bemidji where they will furnish music for dancing parties. The Bemidji band orchestra gave| a dancing party in the city hall last night. Despite the fact that the crowd was limited, all there enjoyed themselves to the fullest extreme. Miss Mina Lind left last evening Hernandez chuckled to himself. “A telegraph instrument,” he said to him- nelf. “I'thought so—that's the-sha we passed this morning. Now,” he commanded, “come out here and clear the track of these obstructions—no, you do it," he commanded the Brute. The Brute ran from his position in the car, leaped to the ground, and with a twist or two of one hand tossed the felled trees from the track. : “Now,” said Hernandez, “run us down to that shed. I don’t know what T'm going to do just yet, but I'll find out there.” i He whistled softly. A third figure emerged from the forest, tripped across the rails and entered the bag- gage car. This was Inez Castro. She passed on into the passenger end of the coach. She smiled gently at An- nette. 8o, my charming friend,” she said, “at last you have seen fit to intrust your treasures to Senorita Inez Cas- tro. Good, my little one.” They reached the ancient shed. Over its closed doorway was an old sign, “Montrada.” "Hernandez broke open the door by means of his usual agency—the Brute, Hernandez darted to the keys—he was a soldier of fortune and this learn- ing was one of his equipments. Bound as she was in the car, Annette could hear what. the instrument said, for, singularly enough, Hernandez, when he first called, used the Spanish tongue; later he clicked in English words. It was clear that Ponto was at the other end of the wire, and some- where near La Plaza. b “What news, good Ponto?” he in- quired over the keys. “Any danger of pursuit?” And Ponto answered: “That,” he said, “I cannot tell. But much activ- ity. There is talk of war. There is land.” “By train?” “By train,” said Ponto, telegraph- ically speaking. “And the next train?” “Days off,” said Ponto. “Good!” “Wait,” said Ponto, “there is more news. I shall call you up again.” “What news?” “I do not know. going on. There is something I shall find out in an hour.” CHAPTER XLVIIL. The Troop Train. Ponto’s information was quite cor- reot. It had to be, or he could never have qualified as the partner of Her- nandez. On Neal’s return from the railrogd station at La Plaza he found an under- current of excitement present upon the cruiser Albany. Half an hour after his return the captain of the cruiser had received a wireless from Washington. It was significant in its tenor. The ‘wireless operator handed it to him as it was received. The captain glanced at it. “It looks he said; “decode it at once.” It was decoded. said: GENERAL ORDERS FROM NAVY DEPARTMENT. Deciphered From Code “G.” War imminent with Allemania. Keep all ships prepared for action. Trans- fer all possible men to Pacific squad- ron. Recommend meritorious warrant officers for promotion to commission. HUTCHINSON, Chief of Staff. An order from Washington is an order. An order when war is imminent i8 a double quick order. The captain of the cruiser Albany had been wait- ing for double quick orders—he had smelled them in the air. He had felt them in his bones. In one hour he had plcked his men. The first man he summoned was Neal. “Neal,” he said, calling him by name, “I've recommended you for a commission.” T Neal jumped out of his shoes al- most. “I—a commission,” he gasped; “why—I thought—I can’t understand This is what it “Don’t think,” said the captain sharply; “we’ve got to act.” He handed Neal typewritten instruc- tions. “Youll get your commission in due form. My recommendations go —particularly at a time like this. Take fifty men at once—and proceed to join the battleship Missouri at Chantillo. That’s all.” Neal saluted and swung about. “Wait,” sald the captain. Neal waited. “I just want to shake hands, old man,” said the captain. “You deserve your luck if ever man did. Good-by.” An hour afterwards Neal and his squad were at La Plaza once more, ‘consulting the railread master. , “We want a train, and right away,” sald Neal. “The road will make its fortune. 1t will declare a dividend. When does she go?” “Not for two days or so. The en: gine—the good one—she is be repair.” i “What can we do?” said Neal. The station master brightened. He desired at all costs to get this squad ‘of Americanos out of town. They were rioters—at least so Ponto had in- formed him. Yes, they must go. “Ah, senor,” he said, “I have idea. ‘There are dirt train cars—no engine— but' what you call, almost gravity road from here to Chantillo—all downhill almost all the way.” ! “Show me,” said Neal. » He was shown. “Well,” he said to his men, “what do you say, boys. ‘They’ll rock us some, but they're the best. we can do. Isthe road clear?” “Clear all the way, senor. The last ihin—the -little train—she have ar- rived at Chantillo now.” ! “We're game,” said his men; “come lon!” 5 They came on—that is they got on ‘whole squad. A crowd of natives for Kelliher where she will spend a short time visiting as the guest of Miss Jean Begsley.. She expects to return the latter part of next week. Herbert Raco, Frank Phibbs and Warren Edwards accompanied the Bemidji high school basket ball team to Brainerd this morning, to lend their efforts in rooting for the quint. — A regular meeting of the 0. H. .- 3aw them off. One of these natives, hid- den from view by the others, crawled under the foremost car and did some- thing. He crawled to the second and did something—to the third and did something. What he did no one knew. Down the line at the deserted shack labeled “Montrada,” Hernandez came out from within, with complete satis- faction written on his face. Hernandez sauntered out™ and glanced up the track. The track was straight and downhill all the way. It Wwas like a canyon cut through a mass of undergrowth and heavy trees. There was nothing to distract the attention —it was a.clean cut avenue as far as the eye could reach. He watched. Up the track somewhere the troop train was shooting curves with spright- 1y lurches. “Getting a bit too lively,” said Neal; “better apply the brakes.” The order was obeyed—so far as the will was concerned. But the man at the brakes shook his head. “Brakes won't work,” he said. “No matter,” said Neal, “we reach the bottom of this hill three miles out of Chantillo. Then we go up. We're bound to slacken up some- time.” One of his men plucked him by the sleeve. “What’s that?” he cried, point- ing down through the canyon, flanked by trees. “Look ahead.” “By George!” said Neal, “a train. The brakes—every man jack of you— the brakes!” The brakes wouldn't work. “Funny,” said Neal; “we tried before we started. Funny they won't work.” It may or may not have been funny—but it was the fact. The brakes would not work. “We’re in for it,” said Neal. “Boys, every man jack of you—you've got to face this. That jungle is soft stuff— it’s a velvet lining. We may get scratched, but we can’t get hurt. Every man of you get ready and when I say the word slide off—as easy as you can—but slide. Guns and equipment first—then yourselves—when I say the word.” Squatted on the edge of the jungle was the Brute. He looked up the track, idly following Hernandez’ gaze. Sud- denly he rose—quivering with excite- ment. “Look—see,” he said. His glance turned dumbly from the onrushing troop train to the stationary one. An- other man might have rushed to the latter and warned its occupants or car- ried them out. But not the Brute. He had a glimmering. He started off. “Come back,” said Hernandez, “you beast.” The Brute never heard him. He only heard the onrushing train. He seized a loose rail lying by the track. He thrust it under the stationary rail —the nearest him—he thrust it into the roadbed. He jerked and strove at it like a demon. ‘Within, Joe Welcher heard it com- ing. He looked now. He gave one gasp, made one dive, and plunged into the safety of the jungle. Hernandez dared not move. Safety lay in his remaining up track—out of the danger zone below. He felt that the Brute was doing fruitless work-—— that no man, no human agency within a minute’s time could raise that rail. He didn’t know—there was something superhuman within the Brute. He was more than a man—he was a man- driven beast—perhaps God-driven. He plied his giant lever like a giant. Neal realized at last what was meant He knew now that that train was An- Leaped Upon the Engine and Held Up‘ the Crew. [} nette’s train. His men were offt—all of them. He alone remained, rooted to the spot. He was powerless to do anything. Suddenly—obeying the in- stinct of safety—for he could do noth- ing else—training had taught him that a foolish risk of life was suicide —obeying the instinct of self-preserva- tion, he leaped, leaped safely. At that instant with one final grunt —one final heave—the Brute bent his mighty shoulders in one last desper- ate thrust—and sent the rail spinning, loose, detached, uprooted, to one side. The next instant the troop train—< empty as it was—reached the broken track and left it. With the roar of thunder it plunged, plowed through the soft earth and plunged pell mell. through the deserted shed, missing the train by a mere hairsbreadth. An instant later Hernandez plunged to the jungle. The Brute followed as a guilty dog follows its master impering with fear. 2 (TO BE CONTINUED,)