fuse; he almost envied the bohunk in the rear with
the dynamite. With quick hard blows the "rock-hogs" attacked one of
the main central piers with hammer and chisel. They wanted to get it
over; the job was too much exposed to suit them.

Almost at the first blow a rock tumbled from the top of the trestle at
their backs, and immediately a shower of gravel beat on and about them.
Promptly they ran, Werner leading all the way.

From within his shack Koppy witnessed the foiling of his plans.
Mouthing deep maledictions, he saw the Indian dance a few steps on the
trestle, shouting derision at his fleeing followers. And presently the
red-skin clambered down through the network of the trestle and picked
up fuse, dynamite and tools, to carry them stolidly up the slope past
Conrad's shack to the grade. Then in full view of the camp he seated
himself on the grade, rifle across his knee, and began to whittle.

There Torrance, chugging noisily up from his evening dissipation at the
end-of-steel village, found him. Even at a distance the absence of
life about the shack struck the contractor, and the last half mile he
covered with everything open. With the brakes still screeching, he
tumbled off and ran to the door, calling to Tressa. The Indian slipped
through behind him.

"Girl no here."

Torrance whirled, every nerve tingling, fresh fears tumbling through
his brain.

"Out in woods with young brave," continued the Indian, shrugging. "No
watch time."

The contractor struck a match and lit the lamp. The Indian closed the
door and came close to him. In one hand he held several drills and
hammers, in the other a length of fuse and two sticks of dynamite.
Torrance's eyes protruded. He looked from the Indian's tell-tale hands
to his stolid face.

"They drew them away and--and tried to blow up the trestle?"
Self-contempt for the evening's noisy pride swept over Torrance. Then
the trestle faded completely from his mind. Tressa--where was she?

"Stay here," he ordered, rushing to the door. "I'll bring the Police."

Like a toy he lifted the speeder about, and with a heave of powerful
legs sent it away to a flying start.

But Torrance's reaction had carried him too far--just too far. Tressa
was safe. Heppel and eight cruel companions, as directed by Koppy, had
gone on the trail of the two lovers. But when it came the moment to
strike, Adrian Conrad was their master. In the darkness they slunk
away. And the two