“Almost too much of a thrill,” conceded Tim. “The fireman fell out of the cab and broke a leg. I finished firing on the run into Vinton and this morning they found the fireman lying along the right-of-way. He was suffering from shock. Lucky thing for him the fire didn’t spread.”
“Then you’ve plenty of material for a corking good yarn,” exclaimed Carson. “Hop in the car and we’ll head for the office.”
Tim and Ralph told everything that had taken place and the managing editor became more enthused as their story progressed.
“You think it may be some members of the old Sky Hawk gang?” he asked.
“I’ve got a hunch that it is,” said Tim.
“That will make a fine angle to bring into the story,” said Carson.
“If I mention that we suspect any of the old gang, it will queer our chances of getting them,” said Tim. “I’ll write you a story every reader of the paper will find interesting but I don’t want to give away whom we suspect. Those oil cans back there may have some fingerprints on them that will prove valuable clues.”
The managing editor finally agreed to Tim’s wishes and when they reached the News building Tim and Ralph went to their typewriters and started writing their stories.
Tim wrote the main story of the attempt to rob the train, making it vivid with glowing descriptions of the train’s race through the flaming timber.
Ralph wrote the story of the investigation and then Tim dashed off a column about the fireman who, his leg broken, had laid along the right-of-way with the flames threatening to bring his death.