n fur caps and
snow-sprinkled coats came in. They did not seem to consider it necessary
to wait for permission, and it dawned upon the agent that something
unusual was about to happen.

"We have a little business to put through," said one.

"Well," said the agent brusquely, "I can't attend to you now. You can come
back later--when the train comes in."

One of the newcomers smiled sardonically, and the agent recognized two of
his companions. They were men of some importance in that country, who had,
however joined the homestead movement and were under the ban of the
company's chief supporters, the cattle-barons. There was accordingly no
inducement to waste civility on them; but he had an unpleasant feeling
that unnecessary impertinence would not be advisable.

"It has got to be put through now," said the first of them, with a little
ring in his voice. "We want a locomotive and a calaboose to take us to
Boynton, and we are quite willing to pay anything reasonable."

"It can't be done. We have only the one loco here, and she is wanted to
shove the west-bound train up the long grade to the hills."

"I guess that train will have to get through alone to-night," said another
man.

The agent got up with an impatient gesture. "Now," he said, "I don't feel
like arguing with you. You can't have the loco."

"No?" said the homesteader, with a little laugh. "Well, I figure you're
mistaken. We have taken charge of her already and only want the bill. If
you don't believe me, call your engineer."

The agent strode to the door, and there was a momentary silence after he
called, "Pete!"

Then, a shout came out of the sliding snow: "I can't come."

It broke off with significant suddenness, and the agent turned to the man
who had first spoken. "You are going to be sorry for this, Mr. Grant," he
said and then tried to slip away, but one of the others pulled the door to
and stood with his back to it while Grant, smiling, said, "I'm quite
willing to take my chances. Have the stock-cars passed Perry's siding?"

"I don't know," said the agent.

"Then, hadn't you better call them up and see? We are giving you the first
chance of doing it out of courtesy, but one of us is a good operator."

"I was on the Baltimore and Ohio road," said one man. "You needn't play
any tricks with me."

The agent sat down at the telegraph instrument, and looked up when it
rapped out an answer to his message.

"Stock train left Birch Hollow