Front matter

THE

YOUNG RAILROADERS

THE NEXT MOMENT THE MIDWAY JUNCTION GHOST STEPPED GRIMLY FROM HIS BOX.

THE

YOUNG RAILROADERS

TALES OF ADVENTURE

AND INGENUITY

BY

F. LOVELL COOMBS

With Illustrations

by F. B. MASTERS

NEW YORK

THE CENTURY CO.

1910

Copyright, 1909, 1910, by

The Century Co.

Published September, 1910

Electrotyped and Printed by

C. H. Simonds & Co., Boston

To

B. R. C. AND K. L. C.

A REMEMBRANCE

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. One Kind Of Wireless 3

II. An Original Emergency Battery 24

III. A Tinker Who Made Good 38

IV. The Other Tinker Also Makes Good 54

V. An Electrical Detective 68

VI. Jack Has His Adventure 86

VII. A Race Through The Flames 102

VIII. The Secret Telegram 117

IX. Jack Plays Reporter, With Unexpected Results 132

X. A Runaway Train 146

XI. The Haunted Station 163

XII. In A Bad Fix, And Out 180

XIII. Professor Click, Mind Reader 198

XIV. The Last Of The Freight Thieves 225

XV. The Dude Operator 246

XVI. A Dramatic Flagging 262

XVII. Wilson Again Distinguishes Himself 279

XVIII. With The Construction Train 295

XIX. The Enemy’s Hand Again, And A Capture 310

XX. A Prisoner 325

XXI. Turning The Tables 337

XXII. The Defense Of The Viaduct 357

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

The next moment the Midway Junction ghost stepped grimly from his box. Frontispiece

“Now I am going to cut your cords,” Alex went on softly. 8

Held it over the bull’s-eye, alternately covering and uncovering the stream of light. 14

Threw himself at the front door, pounding upon it with his fists. 28

In the middle of the floor, the center of all eyes, hurriedly working with chisel and hammer. 34

He was gazing into the barrel of a revolver. 58

But the response click did not come. 64

The clerk was colorless, but only faltered an instant. 78

“There!” said Jack, pointing in triumph. 84

Looped it over the topmost strand, near one of the posts. 94

There, in the corner of the big barn, Jack sent as he had never sent before. 100

With a rush they dashed into the wall of smoke. 108

Closer came the roaring monster. 114

“Come on! Come on!” exclaimed the man in the doorway. 124

“How did you do it, Smarty?” snapped the shorter man. 130

They whirled by, and the rest was lost. 154

The engineer stepped down from his cab to grasp Alex’s hand. 158

The wait was not long. 162

Jack made out a thin, clean-shaven face bending over a dark-lantern. 176

The stranger drew the chair immediately before him, and seating himself, leaned forward secretively. 182

“And it’s awfully like the light, jumpy sending of a girl!” 196

The next instant Jack felt himself hurled out into the darkness. 234

He saw the detective led by, his arms bound behind him. 242

Jack rose to his knees, and began working his way forward from tie to tie. 272

With the sharp words he again grasped the key. 276

With the boys’ prisoner securely bound to the saddle of the wandering horse, the Indian was off across the plain. 372

The Indian pulled up in a cloud of dust. 376

THE YOUNG RAILROADERS

THE YOUNG RAILROADERS