If Bordine escaped them the country would ring with the news of the attempted tragedy. Dashing with the swiftness of a deer, Jones passed over the bulky form of Perry Jounce, and caught the outlines of the fleeing engineer moving directly toward the foaming creek.
He had him now.
With the creek before, and a determined man with a cocked revolver behind, it did not seem possible for the engineer to escape.
"Halt!"
Was Harry Jones anxious to capture his man alive?
Evidently not, yet the call to halt had the effect desired. Bordine came to a momentary pause on the bank of the brawling creek—long enough for his mad pursuer to take aim and fire.
With the flash and report came a loud cry, as of a human being in pain.
Instantly, on firing, Jones darted forward.
He was just in time to see the engineer plunge headlong into the boiling waters of the creek!
"Good by, young chap. I reckon you won't trouble your betters again," cried the elated homicide. "The Alstine fortune shall yet be smine—selah!"