Issued weekly. By Subscrjption iS ti RY RA SNS SN y , SAAN i i i} voz leh ge Sea1sag J0]09 j}esuNW Aq siOjOD _ZP'z 6 ' ' i F narntes 28 | 222 (Den Witbiame S ‘91 | 28°08 | 6L2S | e278 HN TN NY AN SISSON SERN A ANN Ra AARNE RY RRA nt i} \ S BS i NK i A SSA SUS ARR Nit . Ht SNS SNS AN Ht ay NN ASN A S250 Per Vear. EE et Th a ge ee ae ATTRIT Ria A BINS SS AH SHEN 4 f ee I Sonate ARNT SW SS Rint SRS NIN X ARAN y AU AANA NON TNS ANN URSA SAORI SHS RN Nt RIAN SAH i Ay i a i RAN IAS A at Ai NO NNN NN AA a ANU SRS AN iy SHANE NON RAIA *) INOS RS ARNT RU SRS a WN Rh NY HSS RAR \ Rah NA ‘ ‘ SI \\ IAQ AA KY MSS SS AN Nth NY NN nN aN Nt s Ss \ TAT RRR a Ny WS SAI hh SAN NY SN) RRR RNY ISOS SESS RX SRR \ RA \ A \ \S \\ NAS NY MQ SN WY IX ARRAN AWS RQ : TOM HUNG FROM THE WIRES, AN APPALLING SCENE OF WRECK ‘ ‘ S \ \* IQS \\ \ \ \ \\ \ AY SY) \ \ \ RRVY < NY) RN \ NN A \\ AK NA ~~ \\ \\ SY \ WS SY \\ Post Office by S AND RUIN BENEATH i ih | TREET & SMITH, 238 William Price, Five @ ae A nn Seu HIM. Seti.p owe / H. K. MULFORD GO, PHILADELPHIA, Pa, LABORATORY and BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS PIERRE L. RUSSELL 219 COMMERCE ST. DALLAS, TEXAS IN CHARGE DALLAS DEporT | YOUR ORDERS WILL HAVE PROr’ ATTENTION AND SHIPMENT 4 |” oy: cM) ae AF avd pr0vocicat " propucTS == “What, Mansur ?” “Suppose we wait till to-morrow and see.” * Tom knew that this was a promise. The next afternoon, awakening from a doze on the couch, he caught the sound of a voice in the next room that aroused him like a stimulant. “Harry!” he murmured. “It is Penfield.” ‘ “Yes, Mr. Mansur,” Harry was saying— Si s.a puzzle, “Which girl he likes best—er?”’ “No—what has become of them.” “Oh! ah! S-st—he’s stirring about.” Tom was immensely pleased to see his old Harry railroad comrade from Melrose. “How’s this?” he questioned. “Off on a “leave?” “Yes, Tom, since last Monday, and up to next Monday.” “T didn’t see you, Monday, Harry?” inti- mated Tom, half-smilingly. COMRADES, “I was here, though.” “Oh, were your” “He was,” nodded Mansur. “He came promptly when I wired him what you had run up against.” “They told me that your sturdy frame would soon rally, Tom,” explained Harry. 9 “T wanted to rally your mind as well, so- “T understand,” said Tom, in a low tone. “You have been trying to find Ruth and Edith for me?” | 8Yes Tom.” “And you have not succeeded?” “T have failed.” “Where can they be? here, supine, idle, not knowing: I can’t lie 39 Harry! Mansur’s great hand came against Tom’s breast as he sprang up from the couch. It was strong, powerful as a rock crusher, yet it pressed Tom back very gently. Hasy, : fireman. son!” soothed the tender-hearted “Why, I never*saw such a fellow— kicking all the time!’ “Kicking 2? “Ain't ye? death for tear those villains, Flere you was worrited to Jordan and Kemp, had got on the track of the oS They hadn’ ee thankful !” hon, but “Next point, both the girls might have been burned in that blazing building. Not so. They escaped—they’re safe—be more thankful yet!’ “That's so!’ murmured Tom, too weak at present to fight Mansur’s rugged logic. Harry left Tom the next day, with a defi- nite arrangement existing between them.. Tom agreed “to rest easy and hope for the best,’ of success from a more persistent and sys- ’ and his comrade prophesied all kinds tematic search for Ruth and Edith. As Tom got about, however, he grew rest- less—he would stand at the window of the room looking over toward the round-house in a rapt, longing way. Le “Getting dissatisfied?” intimated Mansur, - who watched his every move like a mother a “No—just ambitious,” declared Tom. “Humph—think you'll pull any levers for -a month to come?” “Certainly, I will!” “Certainly, you won't! Why, you’d trem- ble like a baby after two minutes of the old hustling. Your nerves are shook—it’s a rest, Wright, and something light and easy till you work ’em back to the old guage.” ~ “Nonsense!” iets 30. “TH play no invalid act for a month—nor a week, either, mind you!” insisted Tom. Mansur saw what was working in his.com- panion’s mind. Next day he brought up the master me- chanic of section 2. His name was Doherty, and he was a good friend of Tom’s. “Well, Wright,’ he proposed, cheerily, “they tell me you’re thinking of reporting for duty?” Piiay 1?” “Sure!” promptly answered the official— but with a smile. “Ofcourse you’ve got the sense to know, though, that you can’t start in with the old rough and tumble twelve hours’ run, without eating or sleeping, look- ing out for forty cars, and taking the jar of the heavy grades.” Tom was silent. “We wouldn’t let you if you wanted,” stated the official, definitely. “Moderate oc- cutpation, though—why, it wouldn't be a bad idea, seeing that you’re bored with idleness, and ambitious.” f he master mechanic reflected for a min- ute or two. Suddenly he slapped his knee. _“& good idea!’ he said, “and you’re the very person. You know something about mechanics, Wright?” 5 - “Why—something,” nodded Tom mod- estly. wonderful improvement or invention. “COMRADES. oe “He knows it all!” blurted Mansur. “That’s the line he studied at college, and since he struck the metals he’s been eternally — | poking around, not to find out what a rod or a valve can do, but why and how she does it.” The master mechanic took out his memo- randum book. | : : He selected a paper from it and handed it to Tom. “This is business.” es ae observed Mansur abruptly. “Guess I’ll stroll over to the yards and have some fun watching that new fireman they’ve put in my place blow out another cylinder head or two!” ‘Tom became immediately interested as he looked over the written sheet that his supe- rior had handed to him. : A glance had shown him that the master mechanic was not playing with him, The official’s face was thoroughly earnest and business-like. : “You see what the paper is?” he remarked . as Tom finished its inspection. eves: Sr “Tt is an agreement whereby I furnish one Joel Lanphere the sum of five hundred dol- lars, as needed, to develop a new railroad. device.” “T see that, sir.” “You know we all like to make a little Well, this struck me as a show. Of course there are money on the side, Wright? ten cranks a day pestering the company and its employees for a chance to exploit some Most of them are visionaries—the balance fakes. I He strikes me as a wise, earnest fellow, with something don’t believe this man is a fake. good in view and grasp.” “And you are backing him; is that it?” “l’ve agreed to furnish the funds to develop and patent his invention—yes. He’s—draws a mere trifle, and I think he’s square as they make ’em.” COMRADES. “What is his scheme, Mr. Dohefty ?” “Automatic freight car coupler and non- derailer.” “That is ro “Well, let him tell you. That’s what I ~ want you for—to look it over and study the man up a bit.” “And report?” “Same as if you was drawing pay from the company.” “Oh, this will be a pleasure.” “Make it business, too—I’ll have it no other way, Wright.” “Where is he?” “Near by. Wait a minute.” The master mechanic wrote a note of in- troduction on one side of a card, a name and address on the reverse. “There you are, Wright,” he said, handing the card to Tom. ‘Of course, this is strictly confidential.” , Tom bowed. “Vou'll find Lanphere queer. Humor that, Most I care to know is the essence of his scheme. If it does its work—how ?”’ “Won't he tell that?” “He don’t seem to want to. Insists on my believing blindly in him till he’s got the patent papers safe in hand.” Tom was glad to have something to oc- cupy his mind, and this new mission inter- ested him. | oo ‘For the first time in a week he went out into the sunshine and the clear, bracing air, feeling as if he was on earth once more. After half an hour’s walk Tom reached an old rickety building answering to the ad- dress given him by the master mechanic. - A moment later he knocked at the room door of the old inventor. - CHAPTER V. ~ AN INTERESTING HALF HOUR. Tom was sharply challenged at the door, suspiciously regarded as he was admitted to a bare-looking apartment. “T come from Mr. Doherty,” he explained, “Well?” = = “The master mechanic of the A. and R. He has sent you a note.” = Tom studied his host as the latter hurriedly . read the few lines traced on the card of intro-. duction. He was a nervous, wiry old man, spare of- face and frame, and with bright, restless eyes. : : Tom, a close student of human nature,” singled out Lanphere rather as a person wrought up with anxiety, the burden of some great secret, than as a crank. The old inventor weighed the contents of the card carefully. Then he) looked Tom over and over, through and through. “Wright?” he observed. Tom bowed. Slate your. OYes sire” “The card’s all right. course, my friend = “And mine,” said Tom. “Yes, if you're Wright.” “Which I am—oh, I see!” interjected Tom with a smile. : “Vou will exctise me, but——” “Certainly. I appreciate your caution en- tirely, sir,” said Tom, quietly. He divined that for some reason the old man was suspicious of outsiders, fearful of © being imposed on. oo. Tom showed letters and cards that at once set Lanphere at rest as to his identity. “Be seated,” said the old man, unbending, “Vour face otight to be sufficient recommen- dation for me, Mr. Wright,” he observed; Mr. Doherty is, of __ a COMRADES. apologetically, “but I have grown to be a ‘soured, suspicious person of late, and with reason,” he concluded, oe a weary and bit- ter sigh. Lanphere carefully locked the door. Tom had time to look over the room. Now A long table that suggested a working bench was covered with an enveloping piece of canvas. _ Tom believed that this concealed the in- vention in which Mr,. Doherty had taken a moneyed interest. Lanphere followed Tom’s glance and nodded abruptly. | The agreement with the master mechanic was “Ves,” he said, “that is my invention. an that things were to be kept very quiet until I secured my patent. Still, if you are inter- ested and he chooses to confide in you, I will not for this once object to showing my device to a third party.” Lanphere arranged the shades at the win- dows so that by no possibility could the in- ‘mates of neighboring rooms or outsiders 2 gain a glance into the place. Then he drew off the canvas covering the table. -Tom’s eyes expressed a great deal of curi- _osity and expectation. : A model railroad track showed, with a model freight train upon it. The rails formed switches, splits and sid-_ ings. “What is the idea, Mr. Lanphere? ?” insin- uated Tom. : “Just this—they ve got air brakes pretty nearly down to perfection, as you know?” “Ves the present system is wonderfully reliable and correct.” “At the same time it is expensive, and as you know, although the law insists upon their use on all trains, not forty per cent. of the freight cars in the country are supplied i) ae air brake apparatus.” “I suppose that is about the average,” said Tom. SS i “It will be a great many years before small and distant railroads adopt the air system _ entire. That means a big margin for opera- My automatic brake beats the air. It is perfect, without a flaw. tion. But that is not my - main claim.” “What is, then, Mr. Tanphere ce “This. I-stop, uncouple and absolutely prevent a derail or a smash-up by one and ‘the same automatic movement.” “Ts it possible!” “T will show you what I mean.” “1 shall be. interested.” ‘““Now—observe.” The old dummy tracks all but four cars. inventor removed from the These he ran down to the remote end of his operating table. Near a switch he placed a tiny obstruction on the track. | “Now.” he said, “imagine that this isa reg- | ular freight-train going thirty miles an hour on a steep down grade.” ) “A inderstand, © “Imagine that obstruction in oe to be -an iron billet heavy enough to wreck the big- - gest locomotive.” NESS 2 OT a broken ral a Be oe ionceene: you like. In other words, the first car is to strike an obstacle and go over—a wreck. The second is provided with my mechanism.” Tom watched and waited attentively. He started them. Tom kept his eye on the model train as the “P start tne cars. inventor gave it a swilt piusho. Upon meeting the obstruction the first car raised, sagged, went off the rails, and swung tumbling on its side clear of them, leaving a ae gap where it had torn up a rail. ; It seemed inevitable that the second car would follow, yet instantaneously something released-the coupling. 14 7 TOMRADES. As speedily the momentum was checked, and from under the car a long half of a rail _ran out, dropping to the roadbed. | Held firm and fast to the tracks, the sec- ond car stood unharmed, and those follow- ing as checked, was scarcely a jar in the sudden stoppage. Tom instantly recognized the utility of summarily there the device. “Why!” he exclaimed, “you paca do away with smash-ups?” “At the sacrifice of the first vehicle, en- gine or car, whichever it may chance to be. The first deviation from the roadbed is a warning, and the mechanism is set instantly for every car behind in the train.” “Tt will operate on actual rolling stock?” “Do I not demonstrate?” challenged Lan- phere. “You have a remarkable invention,” said om. Twice Lanphere operated the device— Tom was more pleased and also more puz- zled than before. He was too honorable to seek to pry into that wonderful series of springs, levers and clamps, boxed up under the test car out of sight, and representing what the master me- chanic had described as “the essence”’ of the device. After a thoughtful spell, Tom said: “Mr. Lanphere, you have here a valuable eee It is a life saver and a ptoperty saver.’ “Yes, it does away icithy nine-tenths of the danger resultant from freighting.”’ said T om, you alone know.” “Of course,’ “how it is done “Tt is a secret for the present.”’ “The master mechanic expressed a great desire to know the mechanical details of the device.” | “Naturally so! naturally so!” murmured Lanphere softly. ‘You, too, I apprehend, are pretty curious, Mr. Wright?” insinuated — the old inventor, with the ghost of a smile. “Certainly,” oO “I would like to tell you, Mr. Wright,” said the inventor, with great spontaneity, “I need advice, help, sympathy, but I fear to Your young, bright face wins We trust others. me, yet—no! no! I must avoid risks. ‘are all human !” Tom saw that some abrupt impulse had stirred the friendless old man—it passed away. “You see,’ he said—but earnestly—to Tom, “several times this valuable invention has very nearly been wrested from me.” — “You have shown it to others?’’. aes “Oh, yes! to sell it, for several months, I have been trying to place it, but found Mr. Doherty I have met nobody who ey uUnth i would invest blindly.” “In fact, it is a good deal to ask, don t 3 you think?” insinuated Tom. “That is true—yes, it is,” confessed the inventor. He reflected deeply again, and he again looked wistfully at Tom’s clear, frank face. He arose and threw the covering over his’ invention with a deep sigh. “Mr. Wright,” he said, as Tom also arose, . Me Doherty has, indeed, expressed a noble con- “vou have put an idea in my~head. fidence in blindly backing me on my mere word of honor. Come-and see me to-mor- : row. Iam half-inclined to make you a con- fidant, as his representative, in some things that would relieve my mind, even if it did not lend to the more rapid furtherance of our mutual plans.’ a9 “Thank you,” said Dor “Come at—eleven.” ‘Ves sa. Tom departed, having spent one of the most interesting half hours of his life. “Mr, Lanphere has a great invention,” COMRADES. he reported to the master mechanic that evening. “Ah, you think so, Wright?” asked Do- herty. “I do—and something else.” “What’s that, now 2” “Some great secret on his mind, sir.” “What can it be?” murmured the master mechanic, curiously. “T don’t know, Mr. Doherty,” said Tom, “but I believe that he is on the verge of dis- closing it.” CHAPTER Viv SMASHED! At eleven o’clock the next morning Tom was promptly on hand at the room of the old inventor. Lanphere seemed glad to see him, al- though he betrayed a nervous flightiness that Tom could not at once understand. “I have decided to take Mr. Doherty into my confidence, Mr. Wright,” he announced, - as Tom went to look at the dummy train, naturally attracted. by the puzzling little device. “You will find him worthy,” suggested — Tom. : “Yes, I think it best,” went on Lanphere in an anxious, musing tone. ‘For one rea- son, { am inclined to believe that some one has traced me down to my present place of ~ abode.” “Some one uniriendly to you?” Tom in- quired. “Oh! most unfriendly to me. Some one after the secret of my invention, and that,” declared Lanphere with emotion, “that means my life, for all my hopes are wrapped seap an it!” _ “Why do you think that enemies are seek- ing you out, Mr. Lanphere?” asked Tom. “T have reasons—deep, sure,” murmured ‘the inventor. ‘“‘Of course I am full of ner- - PE ities 15 vous fancies, for my mind is on a terrible strain, but I feel sure that some one was prowling about in the hall outside there last night.” Tom was silent, doubting if there was any basis for the fears expressed by the old man, “About midnight-I woke up, and I assure ~ you I could have sworn that some one stood near the invention!” “A man?” “Yes. He fitted away. Again I could swear that I heard him lock the door after him, and his quick footsteps descend the stairs.” “Did you find anything disturbed about the train ?”’ : “Apparently not.” “Then you dreamed it, probably, Mr. Lan- “Still, if you feel sure of what you say, why not communicate phere,” suggested Tom. matters to your partner, Mr. Doherty, and have him place you in quarters where you will be positively safe from intrusion and interference?” “Yes,” sighed the inventor, anxiously, “that must be done. Mr. Wright, it will be necessary for me to have the help of some outside person now.” “How is that?” “To write out the specifications required by the patent office at Washington.” My handwriting is poor, my mind wrecked with trouble and care.» This must be done.” Tom immediately reflected that here “would be possible occupation for himself in congenial work until he got strong enough to go back to engineering. He did not suggest it, however, but stood looking interestingly over the model train. “Let me again show you how it operates,” proposed the old man. “T shall be pleased,” said Tom, “Then, I think if you have time, we will go and have a little talk with Mr. Doherty over things in general.” 16 “I have the time. My time belongs to the master mechanic just at present.” “So Mr. Doherty gave me to understand, and that is why I speak so = with you,’” observed Lanphere. Immediately both were engrossed at the long operating table. The old inventor was getting ready to re- peat the test run of the day previous. Tom had thought a good deal over the de- vice, and he was watching every point. +3 Their backs were to the door. “I will simply set the compensating rail this time,” explained Lanphere, “to show you that with this provision made it is prac- tically impossible for a wreck of any, except the pilot car, to take place.” He drew back the train of four cars to propel them forward. A light step sounded behind the two ab- sorbed experimenters. Neither noted it, nor the shadow falling across the floor where they bent side by side. It was the shadow of an uplifted hand—of a hand holding a ae but heavy sledge- hammer.