said Jack, quietly.
"How so?" asked Timberlake, with a puzzled look.
"Because I have got such an engine."
"You have?"
"Just finished building it."
"And it runs by electricity?"
"Entirely so."
"Without tracks?"
"On the ground."
"And at fifty miles an hour?"
"Yes. I have tested her to that speed."
"This, if true, is most extraordinary."
"No, it isn't. I have constructed such machines before."
"I've been told you are an inventor of electrical contrivances."
"Do you doubt the probability of such an engine?"
"Candidly, I do."
"Do you want me to prove it?"
"By all means."
"Then come with me. I'll show it to you."
"I am burning with curiosity to see the wonderful affair."
Jack smiled and led his caller out into the yard.
Proceeding to the door of the workshop he opened it with a latch key andthey entered a very large room.
It was cast in gloom.
Jack turned a switch on the wall.
Instantly scores of brilliant incandescent electric lamps were put incircuit and blazed out, illuminating the room as if by day.
A strange-looking vehicle in the form of a stage was disclosed standingin the middle of the apartment.
Jack pointed at it and said:
"There's the machine that will do all I claimed for it."
"By thunder, that's an odd looking affair!"
"She certainly is a peculiar carriage."
"Yet she is very handsome, light, and durable."
"Lift one end of her. You will be amazed at her weight."
"How can one man lift such a heavy thing as that?"
"Try, and you'll see."
The sheriff complied.
He was astonished to find he could raise her,
Jack burst out laughing at his amazed expression.
"I can't imagine what material she can be made of!" said the officer.
"It's aluminum," replied Jack, "Have you a revolver?"
"Yes--a 32 calibre weapon."
"If you will put a bullet through her I'll give you $10,000."
Timberlake's surprise increased, and he drew his weapon.
Aiming it at the vehicle in various places he blazed away.
Six shots were thus fired.
He then closely examined the Terror, as the stage was named, andalthough he saw where each of the heavy caliber bullets had struck themachine, he failed to find a perforation.
In fact he picked up the bullets from the ground fused and battered outof shape.
Jack watched him with an amused smile.
"What do you think of that for bullet-proof armor?" he asked.
"It is simply wonderful--extraordinary!"
Timberlake scanned the engine with newly awakened interest.
It was about thirty feet long, by ten in breadth, rode on four broadcogged wheels, and was set on strong, flexible springs.
Under the middle of the car was a powerful motor for revolving thewheels, in front of the dashboard was a projecting ram over which stooda search-light of 90,000 candle power, above the forward wheels were airbrakes, the driver's seat was in front, and before it stood a steeringwheel and several levers.
All the actions of the Terror were controlled by these levers.
Each side of the car was indented with four windows and fourbull's-eyes, there was a door front and back, and a rear platform fromwhich hung a ladder to get on and off.
The lower section of the walls consisted of metal plates, while theupper part was made of aluminum wire netting, there was a smallsmokestack on top of the roof, and on each side a railed platform.
Her interior was divided by partitions into three rooms, the forward onebeing a general living room containing bunks for sleeping, the middleone was a combined dining room and kitchen, the cooking being done on anelectric stove, and the rear room was for storage.
In it water and provisions, arms and ammunition, tools and many otheruseful articles were to be stowed.
There were two compartments--one under the sleeping room floor in whichstood the mechanism for running the Terror, and the other beneath thestore room floor, in which stood a small powerful dynamo which operatedautomatically by a spring clockwork.
All the room lamps and the search-light derived their current from thedynamo, while it worked the motor, and that in turn operated the drivingwheel machinery.
"It don't require a skilled electrician to see how the Terror operates."said Jack, as he showed the sheriff the interior, "for I have based herconstruction upon the simplest known principles."
"Oh, I can readily see how she ought to work."
"I'll give you an example," said Jack, seating himself behind thesteering wheel and pulling a lever.
That set the clockwork in motion, it spun the dynamo armature, a currentwas generated, flashed into the motor, the shaft operated the machinery,and the Terror rolled ahead.
When she reached the end of the room he reversed the lever and shebacked to the other wall.
He then ran her around the room in a circle, steering by the wheel, andattained a tremendous velocity; he put on the brakes and she stoppedwithin a few feet, and he turned a switch that caused the search-lightand lamps in her to glow.
By the time he finished the sheriff was wild with admiration of theextraordinary vehicle.
"For what purpose did you build her? he asked Jack, when they finishedmaneuvering her, and alighted.
"Just for fun, I have plenty of money and leisure, and a strong likingfor building these electrical inventions."
"But why did you say she could catch Jesse James' horse Siroc?"
"Simply because I have made up my mind to do so?"
"What! Go to Missouri in pursuit of the James Boys?" asked Timberlake,as he took up Jack's remark.
"Yes, sir. I or the bank have lost five thousand dollars by a mean trickthe bandit king played on me, and I mean to recover it."
"League yourself with the State Government against the outlaws, and youmay not only recover the stolen money, but you stand a mighty goodchance of winning the standing reward of five thousand dollars for thearrest and conviction of the James Boys."
"The money is no temptation to me whatever," asserted Jack. "I don'tneed it. But you must consider that I was greatly chagrined andmortified when I discovered what a clever game had been played upon me,and I am very anxious to even matters up with those villains. Besides, Irather like the wild, exciting adventures in view if I run after thoseoutlaws."
"You must not forget that it may cost your life."
"Oh, I am aware of that! And say---"
"Well?"
"How would you like to accompany us?"
"First-rate. I would be of great help to you, too, as I am familiar withall parts of the State."
"That settles the matter then. You go with us."
"When will you depart?"
"I'm going to write to the Governor of Missouri, and I'll go just assoon as I get a reply from him."
"I'll write him at the same time then, and I feel confident that wewon't be there long before we break up that gang of outlaws, and havethe James Boys behind the bars."
CHAPTER IV.OFF FOR MISSOURI.
The sheriff resolved to remain in Wrightstown, and start from there onthe Terror, with Jack and his two friends.
While awaiting a reply from the Governor of Missouri he put up at theSea Spider house, and went daily to the young inventor's workshop tohelp get the engine ready.
Jack had to purchase many necessary articles to equip the electricengine, and while they were stocking her, he said one day to Timberlake:
"As you are the sheriff of Clay County, Missouri, I cannot understandwhat, right you had to desert your post of duty there, and go off on achase after the James Boys all the way to New York."
&nbs
p; "That mystery can easily be explained," replied Timberlake with a smile."I was taking a vacation, to which I am entitled, when I learned oftheir proposed trip to the metropolis to see the sights. Instead oftaking a rest, I became excited into a longing to capture them, andstarted in pursuit as a detective would have done."
"Oh, that accounts for it!"
"You see I always carry with me a warrant for the arrest of the JamesBoys and their gang, and therefore was prepared to take them had luckfavored me."
Just then Tim stumped up to them, and proffering a plug of tobacco tothe sheriff he asked:
"Have a chew?"
"No, I never use plug."
"Yer werry welcome, said Tim, and he took a bite.
"Don't