Page:Boys' Life Mar 1, 1911.djvu/5

Rh ; "for the very good reason that I wrote the law by which the Sunset company got powers to build that branch line. In regard to the clause referring to the passenger train, the original draft read that a first-class passenger train should be run over the branch on or before this very day. By a very small error on the part of my clerk, who copied this draft and perhaps found some difficulty in reading my handwriting—which at times is rather bad—the law, now, instead of 'on or before' reads 'on and before.' A very small clerical error, as I say, but one of very considerable importance to the Sunset people because the franchise expires today, and although it is absolutely necessary that to retain his privileges John Fletcher should run a passenger train through Arundel County today, I know for a positive fact that he will do nothing of the kind, for he has not the faintest suspicion of that small clerical error."

"Why," said the colonel, in a high, trembling voice, "if this is true the Sunset is at our mercy."

"Well, it's true," answered the lawyer with a chuckle as he rose to his feet. "It's true, and Arundel County, indignant with its treatment by the Sunset, is with us to a man. The moment twelve o'clock strikes tonight the Sunset franchise is so much waste-paper, and at the first stroke of the hour there will be a gang of men at work tearing up the Sunset tracks in Arundel County."

Jack Fletcher had found it hard to remain impassive while this conversation was in progress, and now could scarcely control his impulse to rush after the men as they left the car and denounce Aylward for his treachery and ingratitude to John Fletcher.

Although Jack had missed a good deal of the conversation on account of the train noises he had heard sufficient to enable him to understand very clearly the danger with which the Sunset line was threatened. His heart beat more rapidly as the danger to the line was impressed on his mind.

"If nothing is done about this," he thought, "and soon at that, it will be too late. If it has escaped the notice of the Sunset line that they should run a passenger train over the Arundel County line today there will be the dickens to pay."

To seek Winter, the conductor, was Jack's next thought. Perhaps he might have some helpful suggestion to offer. He found him punching tickets in the smoking-car, and took an early opportunity of having a quiet talk with him.

"You don't believe there's anything in this?" gasped Winter, when he heard the story.

"I think there's so much in it," said Jack earnestly, "that we must telegraph to my uncle the first station we come to."

"Bassett's Crossing, about an hour ahead, is the first telegraph station."

"The driver must pull up at Bassett's, then," said Jack, "and I'll send the message."

"But we can't stop there," cried Winter, apprehensively. "Remember this is the express. Sullivan will be screaming mad if I tell him to stop there."

"Who's Sullivan?" asked Jack sharply.

"The driver," replied Winter.

"Well, you tell the driver that he's got to stop at Bassett's."

"But," protested Winter, "the mails—our connections."

"Look here," said Jack, facing the conductor squarely; "just get it into your head that this message will be sent from Bassett's. The train need not be stoppecd, but Sullivan can just slack her so that you can drop off the front with the message and climb back on the rear car. We must get a passenger train over the Arundel County branch today. Perhaps you don't realize how important that is. Some day that branch will be the most important section of the line, and there will be plenty of passenger and freight trains over it."

Jack then wrote in a leaf of his pocket-book this message, and handed it to Winter:—

"John Fletcher, Sunset Line, Chicago—Will a passenger train be sent over the Arundel County branch today? Reply to Bywater station.—Jack Fletcher."

While the train was running to Bassett's Crossing Jack discussed with Winter as to what was likely to happen if John Fletcher did not know, and had not provided against the flaw in the franchise.

"It's impossible to get a special made up nearer than Chicago," said Winter, "and that's three hundred miles from Bywater; then the branch to the Arundel County boundary is one hundred and fifty miles."

"Four hundred and fifty miles," said Jack. "Why, good heavens, Winter, that's a nine-hour run, and it's only six hours to the time limit now."

"Yes," said Winter, "and according to the time-card there's not a passenger train nearer than Kendal, and that's going west as fast as it can travel."

It was a hopeless outlook then, unless John Fletcher, knowing of the necessity, had already arranged for a passenger train to Arundel.

Just outside Bassett's Crossing the great express slowed down, and Jack went to the observation car to meet Winter as he climbed back to the train after giving Jack's message to the telegraph operator. He craned his neck out of a window to see if Winter had got off the train safely. So engrossed was he that he did not see Aylward had entered the car after him.

Presently Jack saw Winter jump from the front of the train, dash into the waiting-room of the weather-beaten station, and then rush out again and signal to the engineer to put on speed.

The next moment the conductor had scrambled aboard the observation-car and was by Jack's side.

"Did you get the message off?" Jack asked.

"Yes, all right," replied Winter, breathlessly.

"Well, that'll perhaps stir up the president, and I don't think the Kansas Central will have it all their own way if he scents their game."

Suddenly Winter gripped his arm warningly, and Jack, turning, suddenly saw the astonished face of the treacherous lawyer, Aylward, peering over his shoulder.

But Jack calmly and without a word left the compartment.

Just before they got to Bywater Jack met