Part 64 (1/2)

The moment Ashton obeyed, Blake reached over and s.n.a.t.c.hed up the order pad and an indelible pencil. In his other hand he thrust out the pistol to press its muzzle against Ashton's temple.

”Oh!--oh!--don't!” whimpered the coward.

”You skunk!” growled Blake. ”Keep your mouth shut, or I'll smash you like a rattlesnake. I'm going to save my bridge. Don't get in my way!”

He pointed with the pistol toward the rear door of the room. ”What's in there?”

”My--my quarters.”

”Get in there! Stay in! No yawping!” The terse orders ended in a flash of grim humor. ”You're sick. Mind you don't get worse.”

Ashton was already slinking into his apartment.

There was a rumble of freight cars outside. Blake spun about on his heel and rushed out through the vestibule.

CHAPTER x.x.xIII

ABOVE THE ABYSS

A train loaded with steel was backing out to the bridge. Blake ran down the track to the engine and swung up into the cab.

”Stop her!” he shouted.

The engine-driver was among the men who had been introduced to Blake on his visit with Griffith. He recognized the engineer at the first glance.

”h.e.l.lo, Mr. Blake!” he sang out. ”You here?”

”Brakes!” cut in Blake so incisively that the driver closed his throttle and applied the airbrakes with emergency swiftness.

Antic.i.p.ating his questions, Blake tersely explained: ”Bridge in danger.

I'm in charge. Have you a lot of empties handy?”

”How?--bridge?” queried the fireman, peering around at the stranger.

”Dozen empties--” began the driver.

”Good!” said Blake. ”Clear these cars and--”

”What's this?” demanded the yardmaster, who had run up at the sudden stoppage of the train. ”Back on out, Jones. There's the coal to switch.”

”d.a.m.n your coal!” swore Blake. ”Get a big string of empties out the bridge, quick as you can!”

”Who the h.e.l.l are you?” bl.u.s.tered the yardmaster.

”Engineer in charge,” answered Blake, holding out Ashton's order.

”Bridge in danger--error in plans--overloaded--and weather report says wind! Jones, toot up your whistle--fire-call--anything! I want every man of every s.h.i.+ft out here in two shakes.”

Without waiting for orders from the yardmaster, Jones signed to his fireman, reversed, and threw open his throttle. The fireman clutched the whistle-cord and began jerking out a succession of wild shrieks and toots. As the train started away from the bridge, Blake swung to the ground to meet the excited men who came running from all directions.