"The engineer is laughing at you, Black," jeered Tom.

"Let him," sneered the other. "I have the good fortune to know
where the laugh belongs."

Toot! toot! too-oot-oot! Something else was coming down the track
from Lineville. Then it passed the beholders in the thicket---a full
train of engine and seven cars.

"Good old Harry Hazelton!" glowed Tom Reade. "I'll wager that
was Harry's thought---a pilot ahead, and then the real train!"

"Small good it will do," laughed 'Gene Black disagreeably.

Then, a new thought striking him, he added:

"Bill Hoskins, you and some of the men get the dynamite under
the track opposite here. You know how to do it! Hustle!"

"You bet I know how," growled Bill eagerly, as he stepped forward,
picking out the fellows he wanted as his helpers. "I'll have
the blast against the roadbed here ready in five minutes, Black."

"Now, you'll have three trains stalled along the line tonight,
Cub Reade," laughed Black sneeringly. "Getting any train as
far as this won't count for a copper's worth! Your road has
to get a through train all the way into Lineville before midnight.
We'll blow out the roadbed here, and then where are you?"

CHAPTER XXIV

CONCLUSION

At these words even the brief hope that had been in Tom Reade's
mind, died out.

With the roadbed gone at this point also, he did not see the slightest
chance for the S.B. & L. to save its charter or its property rights.

"Here's the racketty stuff," went on Hoskins, indicating the boxes.
"That small box has the fuses. Get the stuff along, and I'll lay
the magneto wire."

"Not quite so hastily!" sternly broke in a new voice.

Tom Reade fairly yelled for joy, for the new speaker, as he knew
at the first sound, was Dave Fulsbee.

The amazed and dismayed scoundrels huddled closer together for a
moment in the middle of the thicket.

"Spread, men! Don't let one of 'em get out alive!" sounded Dave
Fulsbee's voice.

The scurrying steps of Fulsbee's men could be heard apparently
surrounding the thicket.

With an exclamation of rage, Black made a dash for freedom.

"Stand where you are, Black, if you want to live!" warned Dave.
"No use to make a kick you rascals! We've got you covered, and
the first man who makes a move will eat his breakfast in another
world. Now, listen to me. One at a time you fellows step up
to me, drop your weapons on the ground, where I can see you do
it, and then come out here, one a