,*APT] ,,XIV

,SPE$

  ,M ?AN F\R MON?S _H PASS$ S9CE !
3TRACT _H BE5 SIGN$1 :5 ,TOM MADE 8 F/
Y>D-TE/ (! ,H]CULES #JJJA4 ,=A MON? NO?+
_H BE5 SE5 OR HE>D ( ,&Y ,O',MALLEY1 ^:
ID5T;Y Z ! SPY1 SET 0,MONTAGNE ,LEWIS
6CRIPPLE ,TOM'S ATTEMPT 6HELP !
,H5DRICKTON & ,PAS ,ALOS ,RAILROAD1 _H
BE5 DET]M9$ 2Y ANY D\BT4
  ,! PRIVATE 9QUIRY AG5T T ,TOM _H 5GAG$
6F9D ,O',MALLEY _H BE5 UNSU3ESS;L 9 8
"W4 ,! SPY _H 4APPE>$ F ,%OPTON &!
VIC9;Y4 ,N"E!.S1 ! 9V5TOR DID N =A MO;T
OV]LOOK ! POSSIBIL;Y T ! 5EMY MI<T AG
/RIKE4
  ,E NI<T ! ELECTRIC CURR5T 0 TURN$ 96!
WIRES T CAPP$ ! /OCKADE (! ,SWIFT
,3/RUC;N ,-PANY 5CLOSURE4 ,KOKU B1T A
PA? >.D ! 5CLOSURE AT NI<T1 GETT+ S*
%ORT SLEEP Z HE SEEM$ 6NE$ 9 ! =ENOON4
  8,DAT CRAZY CANNIBAL10 GRUM#D ,RAD1
8GOT X 9 8 HAID DAT HE'S GW9E 6HE'P
,MASSA ,TOM 0WALK9' \ O' NI<TS L HE 0
DIS "H ,WE/]N1 DE GRT SPR9T]1 ,MA LAWSY
ME6 ,KOKU A9'T GOT BRA9S 5 6FILL UP A
HIC'RY NUT %ELL4 ,DAT HE A9'T40
  ,NO?+ ANYBODY ELSE CD D = ,TOM "E
SATISFI$ ,RAD4 ,! COLOR$ MAN FULLY
2LIEV$ T HE 0 ! ONLY P]SON RE,Y NEC =
,TOM'S SU3ESS & P1CE ( M9D4 ,9 FACT1
,RAD ?"\ T EV5 ,N$ ,NEWTON'S DUTIES Z
F9ANCIAL MANAG] (! FIRM 7 SC>CELY ( Z M*
IMPORT.E4
  ,:5 HE HE>D T ,TOM 0 GO+ ,WE/1 AF A
"T1 )! ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE1 6TRY X \ ON
! TRACKS (! ,H4 & ,P4 ,A41 ,RAD 0 Q SURE
T IF HE DID N G AL;G1 ! TE/ WD N -E \
"R4
  8,O' C\RSE YO'LL NE$ ME1 ,MASSA ,TOM10
HE SD1 3FID5TLY4 8,CDN'T GIT AL;G WID\T
ME NOH[4 ,YO' "KS1 SIR1 ,I ALLUS HAS 6G
,8L;G WID YO0' 6FIX ?+S40
  8,DON'T Y ?9K "F W NE$ Y "H1 ,RAD80
,TOM ASK$ ! FAI?;L OLD FELL[4 8,Y'RE
GETT+ OLD--0
  8,ME GITT9' OLD80 CRI$1 ! COLOR$ MAN4
8,HUH6 ,YO' DON'T "K ,8B\T DIS "H *ILE4
,I DON'T PURPOSE "E 6GIT OLD4 ,I BE5
GRAY-HAID$ S9CE 2FO0' YO' 0 BORN2 B ,I
A9'T OLD YIT60
  ,MR4 ,DAMON *.ED 6BE PRES5T AT ?
3V]S,N1 & HE 0 HI<LY AMUS$1 YET "S:AT
IMPRESS$1 TOO1 0! COLOR$ MAN'S /ATE;T4
  8,B.S MY [N ANTIQU;Y60 HE EXCLAIM$4
8,I AGREE ) ,RAD1 ,TOM4 ,X'S U OLD
FELL[S :O "K :AT 6D :5 AN EM]G5CY ( ANY
K9D >ISES4 ,EXP]I;E T1*ES M ?AN
9SPIR,N40
  8,OH10 SD ,TOM1 LAU<+1 8,I D N D5Y !
VALUE ( OLD FRS AT ANY /AGE (! GAME40
  8,B.S MY ROV+ NATURE6 ,I AM GLAD 6HE>
Y SAY T4 ,= ,I TELL Y "R N[1 ,TOM1 ,I
WANT 6BE \ "! :5 Y MAKE YR F9AL TE/ (!
LOCOMOTIVE40
  8,D Y M1N T Y W G ,WE/ :5 ,I TAKE \ !
,H]CULES ,?REE-,"\S-,"O80 CRI$ ,TOM4
  8,X'S J :AT ,I WANT 6D4 ,B.S MY
TRAVEL+ BAG1 ,TOM6 ,I M1N 6BE PRES5T AT
YR F9AL TRIUMPH40
  8,:AT W HAPP5 6YR BUFF ,ORP+TONS :ILE
Y >E G"O80 ASK$ ! "Y 9V5TOR1 GRAVELY4
  8,I H GOT MY S]VANT TRA9$ 6LOOK AF ^?
*ICK5S10 DCLD ,MR4 ,DAMON4 8,& ? 9V5;N (
YRS IS RE,Y M IMPORTANT ?AN EV5 MY BUFF
,ORP+TONS40
  8,J ! SAME10 REM>K$ ,TOM 6HIS E35TRIC
FR1 :5 ,RAD _H LEFT ! ROOM14 8,I'VE GOT
6FIX X S T ,ERADICATE /AYS AT HOME ) "F4
,HE DOESN'T RE,Y "K H[ OLD & BROK5 HE IS
--POOR FELL[40
  8,HIS HE>T IS GRE51 ,TOM4 ,T'S :AT IS
! MATT] ) ,RAD40
  8,HE IS A LOYAL OLD FELL[4 ,B ,I %
TAKE ,KOKU ) ME1 N ,RAD10 &! "Y 9V5TOR
SPOKE DECID$LY4 8,& T IS GO+ 6TR\# POOR
,RAD A LOT40
  ,! PROSPECT ( GO+ ,WE/1 H["E1 0 N !
MA9 SUBJECT ( ,TOM'S ?"\S AT ? "T4 ,Z !
WEEKS PASS$ &! 5D (! SIX MON?S ( EXP]I;T
CAME NE>]1 ! 9V5TOR 0 M & M TR\#D 0!
PR9CIPAL DI6ICULTY : _H F ! F/ 3FRONT$
HM4 ,SPE$4
  ,T 0 ! M>K HE _H SET HMF4 ,A MAXIMUM
SPE$ ( TWO MILES A M9UTE ON A LEVEL
TRACK =! ,H]CULES #JJJA4 ,)! SPE$ ALR
ATTA9$ 0BO? /1M & ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES 9
! M REC5T PA/1 ? 0 0NO M1NS AN IMPOSSI#
ATTA9;T1 Z ,TOM Q WELL KNEW4
  ,B HE 2CAME 3V9C$ T ! 3DI;NS "U : HE
LABOR$ MADE X IMPOSSI# = HM 6BE POSITIVE
( J H[ GRT A SPE$ ON A /RAI<T1 LEVEL
TRACK 8 9V5;N WD ATTA94
  ,"! 0 NO ELECTRIFI$ /RET* ( RAILROAD
NE> ,%OPTON ON : ! ,H]CULES #JJJA MI<T 2
TE/$4 ,! TRACK 9SIDE ! ,SWIFT ,-PANY'S
5CLOSURE DID N (F] ! 3DI;NS ! 9V5TOR
NE$$4 ,HE FELT BALK$4
  8,I 2LIEVE ,I H HIT ! "R IDEA 9 MY
IMPROVE;TS ON ! ,J&EL PAT5TS10 HE TOLD
,N$ ,NEWTON :5 !Y 7 4CUSS+ ! MATT]4 8,B
2LIEV+ IS "O ?+4 ,"K+ IS ANO!R60
  8,!ORETIC,Y X "WS \ ALL "R1 ,I
SUPPOSE80 "Q$ ,N$4
  8,Q4 ,I C PROVE ON PAP] T ,I'VE GOT !
SPE$4 ,B T ISN'T 5\<4 ,Y C SEE T40
  8,IMPOSSI# 6BE SURE ON ! TRACKAGE ALR
BUILT "H1 ,TOM80
  8,I HAV5'T D>$ GIVE H] ALL %E'LL
TAKE10 GRUM#D ,TOM4 8,IF ,I DID1 ,I FE>
%E'D JUMP ! RAILS & ,I'D H A WRECK ON MY
H&S40
  8,& MAYBE KILL YRF60 EXCLAIM$ ,N$4 8,Y
WANT 6H A C>E40
  8,OH1 T'S ALL "R6 ,I'VE TAK5 RISKS 2F4
,I DON'T WANT 6RISK ! SAFETY (!
LOCOMOTIVE1 : IS M IMPORTANT4 ,T MA*9E
HAS CO/ U A LOT ( M"OY40
  8,I'LL SAY S60 AGRE$ ,N$4 8,Y'LL H
6WAIT TILL Y C GET ! LOCOMOTIVE \ "! ON
! ,H4 & ,P4 ,A4 TRACKS 2F Y GET A FAIR
SPE$-TE/40
  8,& SUPPOSE 9/1D (A TRIUMPH X IS A
FIASCO80 ,TOM SD1 D\BT;LLY4 8,I TELL Y
/RAI<T1 ,N$3 ,I N"E 0 S UNC]TA9 AB !
\TCOME ( "O ( MY 9V5;NS S9CE ,I 2GAN
DA2L+ ) MOTIVE EQUALS P[]40
  8,WE CD BUILD S"EAL MILES ( /RAI<T
TRACK 9 ! WA/E GR.D 2H ! "WS10 ,N$ SD1
?"\;LLY4
  8,N A *.E6 ,"! IS NEI "T NOR M"OY = S*
"W4 ,2SS1 ,I %D H 6REBUILD MY TRANS=M+
/,N IF ,I SUPPLI$ L;G] 3DUIT WIRES )
CURR5T40
  8,Y DON'T RE,Y 3SID] T Y H FAIL$1 D Y1
,TOM80 & ,N$'S ANXIETY MADE 8 VOICE S.D
V WOE;L 9DE$4
  8,I TELL Y T MY 2LIEF DOESN'T SATISFY
ME4 ,I HATE 6G ,WE/ )\T 2+ SURE--
POSITIVE4 ,I WANT 6"K6 ,I H TRI$ !
LOCOMOTIVE \ 9 ! Y>D HALF A DOZ5 "TS4 ,X
RUNS L A F9E WAT*4 ,"! DOESN'T SEEM 6BE
A ?+ ! MATT] ) X N[4 ,B :AT SPE$ C ,I
ATTA980
  8,I DON'T SEE B Y'LL H 6RISK X1 ,TOM40
  8,I M1N 6GIVE H] "O M TE/4 ,I'LL RUN
H] \ TN :5 "! IS NOBODY AB B ! WAT*M5--&
Y1 IF Y WANT 6-E4 ,I'LL >RANGE )!
,ELECTRIC ,-PANY = ALL ! CURR5T !Y C
SP>E4 ,0G+]6 ,I'VE GOT 6TAKE "S RISK40
  8,0! WAY1 ,TOM10 SD 8 *UM1 8DID X "E
/RIKE Y Z ODD T T PRIVATE DETECTIVE
AG5CY N"E GOT ANY TRACE ( ,O',MALLEY80
  8,WELL1 HE'S G"O AWAY4 ,WE NE$N'T
WORRY AB HM4 ,MAYBE ! DETECTIVE WASN'T V
SM>T1 AT T40
  8,& YET HE 0 "H 9 T[N AF Y PUT !
9QUIRY ON FOOT4 ,I SAW HM 9 ! BANK4 ,HE
CAME "! O3A.N,Y4 ,& EI HE1 OR "SBODY HE
HIR$1 PLAC$ T BOMB 9 ! LOCOMOTIVE40
  8,ALL ^? 2+ FACTS1 :AT ( X80
  8,2SS1 "! 0 T O!R FELL[--! MAN )!
,VANDYKE BE>D4 ,MI<T 2 A %Y/] LAWY]1 OR
"S?+ (! K9D4 ,HE WASN'T SPOTT$1 EI40
  8,6TELL ! TRU?1 ,I DIDN'T BO!R 6GIVE !
,DETECTIVE ,AG5CY ! DESCRIP;N ( T FELL[1
AL? Y GAVE X 6ME10 & ,TOM LAU<$4 8,I M/
3FESS T ,I DEP5D M ^U MY MAN-TRAP
ELECTRIC WIRES 6PROTECT ! 9V5;N ?AN ,I D
ON ! PRIVATE 9QUIRY AG5T40
  8,X'S FUNNY1 J ! SAME4 ,IF ,I _H ANO!R
JOB =A DETECTIVE ,I %D N SUBMIT X 6!
,BLATZ ,AG5CY10 GRUM#D ,N$4
  8,I FANCY ,MONTAGNE ,LEWIS & 8 CR[D
CALL$ (F _! ,WILD ,WE/ GUNMAN10 SD ,TOM4
8,IN ANY CASE1 E ATTEMPT HE MADE 6BO!R U
TURN$ \ A FIZZLE4 ,I AM N1 H["E1 =GETT+
PRECAU;NS1 MY BOY40
  ,N$ ,NEWTON R1LIZ$ T 8 *UM _H DET]M9$
6MAKE ?
NI<T TE/ (! ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE !
PIVOTAL TRIAL (! :OLE A6AIR4 ,HE CAME
BACK 6! "WS AF D9N] & 0 LET 9 0! (FICE
WAT*MAN AT AB N9E O'C4
  8,MR4 ,TOM "H YET80 HE ASK$ ! MAN4
  8,YES1 ,MR4 ,NEWTON4 ,! "Y BOSS DIDN'T
G HOME 6SUPP]1 EV54 ,T COLOR$ MAN BR"\
"S?+ D[N = HM1 & HE'S 9 ! %$ YET40
  8,RAD IS "H1 Y M1N80
  8,YES1 SIR4 ,AT L1/1 HE DIDN'T G \ ?
WAY1 & WE WAT*M5 H 9/RUC;NS 6LET NOBODY
9 OR \ 0! Y>D GATES AT NI<T40
  8,I'LL SAY ,TOM IS 2+ C>E;L10 ?"\ ,N$1
Z HE /EPP$ \ "? ! RUNWAY T[>D ! EREC;N
%$4
  ,2F HE R1*$ ! 5TR.E 6! HUGE %$1 H["E1
,N$ *.ED 6LOOK D[N ! 5CLOSURE4 ,"! 7
S"EAL >C LI<TS BURN+1 B EV5 ^! ONLY
FURNI%$ A DIM ILLUM9,N =! :OLE Y>D4
  ,HE SUPPOS$ T F\R WAT*M5 7 TRAMP+ _!
S"EAL B1TS AL;G ! 9SIDE (! /OCKADE &
CLOSE 6! TROLLEY-TRACK4 ,B :5 HE SAW AN
9/ANT GL1M ( LI<T D[N "!1 CLOSE 6! GR.D1
,N$ DID N 2LIEVE T X 0 ! FLA% (A TOR* 9
! H& ( ANY S5TRY4
  8,FUNNY10 HE MUTT]$4 8,T'S \TSIDE !
F;E1 OR ,I'M M* MISTAK54 ,I WOND] N[--0
  ,HE TURN$ F ! DOOR (! %$1 LEFT !
RUNWAY1 & 2GAN WALK+ T[>D ! 4TANT PO9T
AT : HE _H SE5 ! MY/]I\S FLA% ( LI<T4



