Along The Fortune Trail Read Online Free PDF Page B

gone.
     

Chapter 9
     
    L onny removed his bandana, wrapped his hand, and knelt by the safe. The steel was warm but didn't burn Lonny's hand as he slid it into the opening several inches before his forearm stopped the progress. He rotated his hand in an effort to feel anything that might be within reach. He came up empty. Then he put his face to the opening and peered in, hoping to see some sort of riches waiting for him. In the dark interior, he could only detect several shapes. He fished in his shirt pocket and retrieved a stick match, struck it, and held it carefully while slowly slipping his hand into the opening. Lonny anxiously jammed his face to the slit and nearly burned his right eyeball.
    Four medium-size heavy leather satchels were in the main chamber. Lonny felt a rush of excitement, sure that the satchels held the big loot he dreamed of. “Oh yeah, we're gettin these out where they need to be,” he whispered out loud to himself.
    Bones reappeared with the breaker bar and promptly wedged the end into the opening near the hinge. He began to push down on the end of the bar with all he was worth. The steel began creaking and visibly moving, giving immediate hope that fueled Bones's effort even more. Lonny saw an open spot on the bar and joined the battle. They yelled and pushed and shouted and quivered, but soon became aware that there was no more creaking or movement.
    “That son of a bitch ain't goin’ no more. We'll have to wire that second hinge again!” Lonny yelled.
    Bones pulled out a blue and red-wrapped nugget of chewing gum and barely got the wrapping off before he popped it in his mouth and worked his jaws hard and fast to prepare the gum. Seconds later, he pulled the gum from his mouth and molded it into the trough at the nape of the hinge. Pulling two pieces of dynamite from his saddlebags, he twisted the fuses together and stuck the sticks together with another piece of quickly-chewed gum. Bones pushed the bundle against the trough of the hinge where it affixed to the gum. “It's ready to go,” he announced and pulled a couple of stick matches from his front pocket. “Looks like about a twenty second fuse.”
    He lit the fuse and they skedaddled. The explosion rumbled the ground and shocked the air with thunder that reverberated up the canyon walls for several moments after the blast, lingering for a length of time. The duration of it made Lonny suddenly anxious, reminding him that time was not something he had much of.
    Lonny shot into motion, walking briskly toward the vault car and yelling back over his shoulder as he walked. “You get that second one wired and fired right now! I'll get the haul outta this one!”
    Bones instantly yelled back, “There's three sticks left! How do you wanna wire it?” Bones had already figured that wiring one hinge with the rest was the best shot. He was curious what Lonny would recommend.
    Lonny stopped and turned to face Bones, looking him in the eye, but managing only a confused look for several seconds. Finally, in a slightly sedate but stern tone, Lonny said, “Strap the whole wad to the lower hinge. If we get that one, we can pry it open.” He turned and was on the move.
    Bones was gratified to hear Lonny repeat the same strategy. Chances would be excellent of getting into the second safe if they could get a clean blow on one hinge. He popped more gum in his mouth.
    The door on the first vault had been blown off and now rested in the front corner. Lonny's eyes grew big as he surveyed the open vault. Four large brown satchels were smoking, but intact, waiting to be retrieved by Lonny the Kid.
    Bones set the dynamite as Lonny wrapped his hand and began pulling the satchels out with cowboy speed. “Grab those other two bags on your way out,” Lonny said as he hustled out the door with a satchel in each hand.
    Moments later, Bones arrived at the front of the train to find Lonny throwing papers out of one of the open satchels while Cody stood