The Argosy, March 1907 — page 29: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

255, y te tet. — 4 THE PLACE, the constant sequence of malevolent at- tacks was his utter failure to place any responsibility for them. Search as he would, he could find no tangible proof as to the perpetrators. Moreover, his enemies began to extend their spiteful operations to the line upon which he was employed. Scarcely a morning passed that re- ports were not brought to him of some depredations committed during the night. Wires were cut, culverts under- mined, switches turned, and rails pried loose. He called upon the authorities for protection, and employed on behalf of the company three hundred guards to patrol the track night and day; but all his precautions proved absolutely futile. The guerrilla warfare continued unin- terrupted. At length word was brought to him one day that the massive and costly iron bridge in course of construction just be- yond the limits of Berkely had _ been damaged by the inexplicable discharge of a quantity of powder. He hurried at once to the scene and made a most rigid investigation, but, as usual, found that no one was able to account either for the presence of .the explosive or for the manner in which it had been set off. There was plenty. for him to do, however, in directing the repairs, and he remained upon the spot all day, over- seeing the men and expediting their efforts. When the six-o’clock whistle blew he was out upon the center span examining the‘ riveting of some bolts which had just been put in. Becoming absorbed in his task, he did not realize for some moments that the others had all left. Then recalling the frequent assaults made upon him, alittle thrill of anxiety struck him for a moment, and he lost no time in getting back to the shore. But with his feet once more upon firm ground he smiled at his fears, for there upon the rails stood a hand-car thought- fully left for his convenience, and ahead of him lay a straight stretch of track, leading down to where the lights of Berkely shone through the dusk. He mounted, accordingly, upon his clumsy vehicle, and seizing the bar, began THE TIME, AND THE MAN, to-pump up and down with a right good | will, for the sooner he reached Berkely the sooner he would stretch his legs under a supper-table. Now, when one is driving a hand-car — with all one’s strength one doesn’t pay much heed to the scenery on either hand, so it is therefore not to be wondered at that Gardiner’s first suspicion of any- thing being wrong came when he found himself jostling over some rough and uneven rails. Then: in an instant it flashed over him what had happened. ‘Some one has thrown the switch,” was his swift conclusion, “and _ has shifted me on to the siding which leads down to old abandoned Mine No. 3.” At the same second, and almost in- voluntarily, he threw himself forward to trip the brake and stop the car. That quick movement probably saved his life; for as he leaned over, a coup- ling-pin wielded with murderous force missed his skull by a hairbreadth, and escaping the hand which held it, crashed through the timbers at the front end of the car. The assailant, who, all unknown to him, had leaped light as a cat upon his refuge, probably at the moment when it had turned into the siding, was over- balanced by the effort of striking, and lurched heavily against him. Instantly Gardiner gripped the fel- low, and the two went down in a heap on the floor of the car, twisted and turned the other’s face came into view, and Davis’s heart leaped in exultation. there was no doubting the identity of his would-be assassin. It was Jim Spear, and Carainer had — his proof at last. It is one thing, however, to hook an eel, and another to bring him to land, as the engineer speedily discovered: Ren- dered desperate by the knowledge that he had been recognized, Spear writhed and twisted in the other’s grasp, and whenever he could get an arm free rained vicious blows upon his opponent. It was rough-and-tumble fighting of. the fiercest description. Not a word ‘was spoken; both men reserved all their energy for action,.and only their hoarse . panting rose above the rattle of the wheels. but as they- For even in this half-light - 601 _~ o Eomicbooks.co A yt ei ted ee