He had soon outdistanced his companions. Now he was getting close to the lumber yard. It was in an isolated section of the town, down near the railroad tracks which ran alongside of it. Here there were but few footmarks, and Joe could easily make out the long prints of a man’s feet pointing straight for the yard.
Another minute and Joe had entered the yard. He wound his way in and out among the piles of lumber, hoping at every turn to catch sight of the madman.
Suddenly he heard a shout that came from somewhere above him. He looked up and saw a sight that seemed to turn his blood cold.
There, on an enormous pile of lumber that towered thirty feet into the air, stood a man holding a baby in his arms. He had caught sight of Joe and hailed him as though he wanted to have a talk with him. But just then a torrent of men, young and old, who had followed Joe, poured into the yard, and a yell went up as they saw the tall figure outlined against the sky.
In that wild yell the madman scented danger. He lifted his helpless burden high above his head.
“Keep back!” he shouted. “If you don’t I’ll throw the baby on the railroad tracks!”