ts high on the chest,
one to the right, and one to the left. From that on the left ran a
tiny trickle of blood, but that on the right was only a small puncture
in the midst of a bruise. He was far past all help.

"Speak to me!" she pleaded.

His eyes rolled and then checked on her face.

"Done for," he said in a horrible whisper, "that devil done me.
Kid--cut out--this life. I've played this game--myself--an' now--I'm
goin'--to hell for it!"

A great convulsion twisted his face.

"What can I do?" cried Kate.

"Tell the world--I died--game!"

His body writhed, and in the last agony his hand closed hard over
hers. It was like a silent farewell, that strong clasp.

A great hand caught her by the shoulder and jerked her to her feet.

"The charge is goin' off! Jump for it!" shouted Silent in her ear.

She sprang up and at the same time there was a great boom from within
the car. The side bulged out--a section of the top lifted and fell
back with a crash--and Silent ran back into the smoke. Haines, Purvis,
and Kilduff were instantly at the car, taking the ponderous little
canvas sacks of coin as their chief handed them out.

Within two minutes after the explosion ten small sacks were deposited
in the saddlebags on the horses which stood before the station-house.
Silent's whistle called in Terry Jordan and Shorty Rhinehart--a sharp
order forced Kate to climb into her saddle--and the train robbers
struck up the hillside at a racing pace. A confused shouting rose
behind them. Rifles commenced to crack where some of the passengers
had taken up the weapons of the dead guards, but the bullets flew
wide, and the little troop was soon safely out of range.

On the other side of the hill-top they changed their course to the
right. For half an hour the killing pace continued, and then, as there
was not a sign of immediate chase, the lone riders drew down to a
soberer pace. Silent called: "Keep bunched behind me. We're headed for
the old Salton place--an' a long rest."

CHAPTER XIX

REAL MEN

Some people pointed out that Sheriff Gus Morris had never made a
single important arrest in the ten years during which he had held
office, and there were a few slanderers who spoke insinuatingly of the
manner in which the lone riders flourished in Morris's domain. These
"knockers," however, were voted down by the vast majority, who swore
that the sheriff was the finest fellow who ever threw leg over saddle.
They liked him