house here with you?" asked Haines.

"Not a soul!" stammered the man. "If you're lookin' for money you c'n
run through the house. You won't find a thing worth takin'."

"I don't want money. I want you," said Haines; and immediately
explained, "you're perfectly safe. All you have to do is to be
obliging. As for the money, you just throw open that switch and flag
the train when she rolls along in a few moments. We'll take care of
the rest. You don't have to keep your hands up."

The hands came down slowly. For a brief instant the agent surveyed
Haines and the group of masked men who sat their horses a few paces
away, and then without a word he picked up his flag from behind the
door and walked out of the house. Throughout the affair he never
uttered a syllable. Haines walked up to the head of the siding with
him while he opened the switch and accompanied him back to the point
opposite the station-house to see that he gave the "stop" signal
correctly. In the meantime two of the other outlaws entered the little
station, bound the telegrapher hand and foot, and shattered his
instrument. That would prevent the sending of any call for help after
the hold-up. Purvis and Jordan (since Terry could shoot with his left
hand in case of need) went to the other side of the track and lay down
against the grade. It was their business to open fire on the tops
of the windows as the train drew to a stop. That would keep the
passengers inside. The other four were distributed along the side
nearest to the station-house. Shorty Rhinehart and Bill Kilduff were
to see that no passengers broke out from the train and attempted a
flank attack. Haines would attend to having the fire box of the engine
flooded. For the cracking of the safe, Silent carried the stick of
dynamite.

Now the long wait began. There is a dreamlike quality about bright
mornings in the open country, and everything seemed unreal to Kate.
It was impossible that tragedy should come on such a day. The moments
stole on. She saw Silent glance twice at his watch and scowl.
Evidently the train was late and possibly they would give up the
attempt. Then a light humming caught her ear.

She held her breath and listened again. It was unmistakable--a slight
thing--a tremor to be felt rather than heard. She saw Haines peering
under shaded eyes far down the track, and following the direction of
his gaze she saw a tiny spot of haze on the horizon. The tiny puff of
smoke developed to a