The office door opened and the receptionist exited followed by a man in a well- tailored suit

The office door opened and the receptionist exited followed by a man in a well- tailored suit. He approached Orrin and took in his appearance as he extended his hand.

"My receptionist tells me you have some sort of emergency? I'm Hector Newman, Director. Come into my office and we'll discuss this." He led Orrin into his chamber and waved him to a chair.

"Sir, I don't have a lot of time. I need to gat back there and start looking for my agents." Orrin sank into the chair. Mr. Newman looked at him one eyebrow raised.

"Sir…"

"I am Orrin Cobb. I'm the engineer for the Wanderer. We're wasting time here!"

"You're the...then the agents you speak of..." Newman was beginning to think this was some sort of elaborate prank.

"I work for Agents James West and Artemus Gordon. They were on their way to Washington with a casket to deliver to some royal someone or other and the train was hijacked." Orrin interrupted trying to get the Director to see the urgency of the situation.

"Hijacked! Maybe you had better start from the beginning." Newman told him.

As Orrin told him what he knew the receptionist entered the room and Newman had her call some agents in to help. He stared shocked at Orrin's final comment.

"Then he turned and told us that when we got here to tell you that Mike Trayne sends his regards. I didn't want to risk getting them hurt so I came here under full steam." Orrin continued to twist his hat in his hands.

"Mike Trayne...where do I know that name from? Miss Torrence please see if we have anything on a Mike Trayne spelled T-r-a-y-n-e and bring me what you find."

"Yes sir. And sir, a Jeremy Pike is here to see you. He was waiting to see you about his next assignment. He heard the commotion and said he would like to help." She replied as she turned to leave.

"Pike? Excellent, excellent show him in!"

Jeremy entered the office with a file he handed to Newman. Shaking hands with Orrin he took a vacant seat.

"It's good to see you again Orrin. Sorry it has to be under these circumstances." Jeremy said sadly to Orrin who nodded.

"Pike I take it you know Mr. Cobb?" Newman said as he looked over the contents of the file.

"Yes, sir. I've worked aboard the Wanderer from time to time so yes I know him." Jeremy leaned forward and rested his arm on the desk.

"About this case sir. I'd like to help in any way I can. I haven't started my next assignment yet. I was here on a couple days leave before I was to get another job."

"I think I can wire Washington and tell them I have your next job. You know the particulars I take it?"

"Yes sir. I know about Jim and Artemus' mission in New Athens. They told me after the trial."

"Then you know what's in this file." Newman stated.

"Yes sir. In fact that is their file on Trayne. It is probably more detailed than anything you have. They left it in New Athens with the sheriff and I was bringing it to them."

"Excuse me sirs, but I would like to get back to where they uncoupled the cars as soon as possible." Orrin interrupted softly.

"What? Oh yes…I'll issue your official orders later Pike. You leave with Mr. Cobb and keep me informed of what you discover. I'm assigning you to this until it is complete and the agents found." Newman began to furiously scribble notes on the pad in front of him. He stopped them as they opened the door.

"Take a couple of deputies for backup and don't worry about the paperwork. You just go I'll take care of any necessary paperwork."

"Yes sir. And thank you sir." Jeremy said as he and Cobb headed for the door.

"Just bring West and Gordon back and that Trayne fellow as well." Jeremy nodded and left the office happy that he would get to help.

WWWWWWWWWW

Jim paced around the small confines of the holding cell. He had checked everything and found nothing. Trayne had stripped him of everything even the items in his heels. He began to search the cell again for anything he could use as a tool. Turning the cot over he examined it carefully. He pulled the mattress off and tossed it to the side and then he detached one of the springs.

Using the flat end of the spring as a screwdriver Jim put it to the top of the bars trying to loosen the screws that held the bars to the car. He knew it would take him a while as he couldn't maneuver the spring as easily as a screwdriver but Jim was just happy to be able to do anything. Thinking quickly he put the mattress back on the cot and used it as a stool and set to work taking the cell apart.

WWWWWWWWWW

Artie waited until he was fairly certain Trayne had gone then he pulled the file out of his sleeve and reinserted it into the small hole he had started. Coughing and sputtering he worked the file back and forth stopping every now and then to wipe the sweat off his forehead. He took a breather from his task and lay panting, his eyes half closed.

Reaching down Artie gingerly felt his side that had not stopped throbbing since he had begun to work with the file. He could feel the heat radiating from the exit wound and he didn't need a light source to tell him what the wet sticky substance coating his fingers was. Shaking his head he did his best to push it to the back of his mind as he renewed his attack on the coffin. He coughed again but this time he had trouble catching his breath.

Just keep filing Artemus and hope to God the file doesn't give out. You owe Trayne big time for this! Artie began to ferociously push and pull the file making some progress.

WWWWWWWWWW

Jeremy, Orrin and two deputies were aboard the Wanderer's engine and tender car as it pulled away from the St. Louis station. Orrin wanted to push the engine to the limit but his good sense kept him from taxing the engine. As they sped along the track he listened quietly as Jeremy and the deputies formulated a plan to rescue the agents. When they reached an impasse of ideas on how to get onto the train undetected Orrin spoke up.

"Begging your pardon, sir." Orrin paused.

"Don't stand on ceremony Orrin. If you have any ideas I'd love to hear them. You know the train better than anyone. Anything you know can only help us."

"Well…for starters Mr. West should have figured out by now that Mr. Gordon's fancy new fittings won't be working anymore." He paused to check his pocket watch.

"Fittings? What fittings?" Jeremy asked.

Orrin told Jeremy and the deputies about Artie's additions to the Wanderer. He kept the argument he had had with Artemus about the fittings and what they would be used for to himself as at the moment as that wasn't important. When he explained what uncoupling the cars meant to those additions Jeremy smiled knowing the men would find a way to make things work in their favor.

"Mr. Pike there's something else I maybe ought to tell you. I know you know about the secret entrance to the varnish car. But that won't do you no good. It's too hard to sneak in that way. If Trayne is in the parlor he'd gun you down before you got your head out."

"You know of any other way in Cobb?"

"Yes sir. There's a way into the car that has the holding cell, and I'm sure one of my boys is in there by now. There's a piece of wall that moves."

"Orrin can you draw us a diagram of those cars and any other ways in?" Jeremy asked as he pulled out a piece of paper and a deputy produced a pencil.

"Yes sir as soon as we stop for the night I'll do just that." Orrin turned back to the tracks before them a smile on his face.

"Hold on boys we're on our way." He whispered.

WWWWWWWWWW

Trayne sat at the table in the varnish car sipping the Napoleon Brandy he had found, a smug look on his face. He felt like he was on top of the world. He had James West locked in a fancy electrified cell on his own train and Mr. Gordon was tightly ensconced in that coffin. He laughed a hearty snorting laugh from deep within when he thought about Mr. Gordon. He has no idea those festering infection ridden holes in his back and side won't get the chance to do him in. What I added to the meager air supply in his prison ought to be just about all in there by now.

Looking at his pocket watch Trayne decided he was running short on time. He knew that stubborn engineer had probably pushed the train to its limits getting to St. Louis and they should be back with the local constabulary by mid morning. He finished the brandy and set the snifter on the table. Looking around he smiled.

"By the time help arrives I will be long gone as will James West and Artemus Gordon." Trayne's maniacal laughter filled the train echoing off the walls.

WWWWWWWWWW

Jim quickly pulled the screw out careful not to move the bar and began on the next screw. He knew he had to work quickly if he was to get free and help Artie. Concentrating on his task, Jim failed to notice the door as it swung silently open. As Trayne entered the room he looked at his prisoner and a look of anger crossed his features.

Sneaking quietly across the room Trayne reached out and touched the bars of the cage. Nothing happened. Uncoupling the cars must have done something to the power for this cell. Trayne thought as he noiselessly pulled the door open and crept inside the cell.

He stood tapping the head of his cane against his chin watching as Jim worked to unfasten the screw holding the bars to the side of the car. He waited until the screw dropped to the floor and Jim started on the next one. Bringing the cane up Trayne swung it in a downward arc hitting Jim just behind the ear. Trayne laughed as he fell onto the floor in a heap.

WWWWWWWWWW

Shaking his head Artie realized he had fallen asleep. He felt around and realized the file was no longer in his hand. Feeling along the coffin's side he struck the file with the side of his hand and relaxed. Artie's breathing was rapid and he was sweating profusely.

"This can't be right. There's something more than stale air going on here." Artie whispered.

Feeling along the crevice to see how much progress he had made Artie's hand struck something wet. Wishing fervently for a match he felt the item trying to identify it. Stopped by a coughing fit he finally caught his breath and lay still for a moment. Reaching up he again he found the tube. There was something sticky and wet on the end of the tube and Artie pulled his fingers toward his face and smelled the substance trying to figure out what it was.

"Oh my…whatever that is…it's awful!" Artie shook his head and shuddered at the offending odor. "That's nothing I recognize…could it be…nah not even Trayne would stoop that low."

Artie grasped the end of the tube and tried to pull it through the hole. Outside the casket the bottle was pulled tight and he heard a small clink as it hit. He continued to pull on the tubing feeling it give little by little. Suddenly the tubing came free and Artie felt the rush of liquid falling from the bottle as the contents splashed down onto him.

Instinctively Artie tried to put a hand up to protect his face, the amber liquid soaking into his jacket. It dripped off his hand, coating his face, some spilling into his open mouth. Artie spit and sputtered as much of the vile fluid out of his mouth as he could yet he still swallowed a small amount of the liquid.

Within seconds his breathing became strained and his chest felt like a buffalo was sitting on it. Artie clutched his chest and tried to regain control of his breathing. His stomach did flip flops and felt like it was on fire. Artie groaned and held onto his stomach. In a last ditch effort to free himself Artie began to push at the lid of the coffin. The lid didn't even budge as his hands slowly slid down the sides as he slipped into unconsciousness.

WWWWWWWWWW