Curiously enough, his leisure extended to practically the same limits. The truth was, in summer, anyway, he had no duties that could seriously claim him. Thus the long

conditions of his existence, but compared with those

esque squalor, to break up the deadly drear of the surrounding plains. The only human diversion that ever marred the calm serenity of the

inspiration which had brought the station into existence. To the north, south, and west the prairie stretched away in the dis

rests to enormous heights out of the dead level of the prairie. A tumbled sea of Nature's wreckage lay strewn about unaccountably, for a distance of somethin

othing to exercise the mind of Mr. Moss. But in winter the track was constantly becoming blocked with snow, while during the spring thaw there

revailed. Therefore Mr. Moss fell back upon the less exciting pastime o

alve for healthy feelings all too long bottled up. Even the streaming sweat suggested to him a feeling that it was at least hygienic, although the moist mi

racter, was the passing of a local freight train. However, a local freight was a matter of no importance whatever. It might come

he opportunity of straightening out the crick in his back, and gazing upon his h

e was sharp and startled. He had heard an unaccustomed sound, distinct but distant. It see

no horse in sight anywhere, and the great hills adjacent offered no inducement whatsoever for any straying quadrupe

d just cut the flakes of tobacco from his plug, and was rolling them in the palms of his hands, when the thought occurred to him to

emaphore, and flung the rusty lever over. His action expressed something of the contempt in which

through the hills. He smiled at the sound, and his smile was largely satirical. He glanced up once, but promptly continued his work. But it was only for a few moments.

egan to clang violently. There was distinctly a note of protest in the sound. Something was wrong. He swung round and looked at his signal. Say-was he

as the bell clanged still more violently, he dashed

trouble, and further amazement waited upon him. The explanation of the mystery lay before his eyes. There at the triangular junction, where the connecting rod linked with the down-ha

ered the hills, left him no time for consideration of the mishap. The protesting train must be passed on without further delay.

g of incredulity swept over him. It was an impossibility for the thing to have happened. The bolt fitted horizontally, and the washered n

ed. It passed him, and he heard its driver hurl some uncomplimentary remark at him as the rattling old kettle clanked by. Then, as the last ca

nt was but a short distance ahead. The conductor and crew of

e all too few. When they came they were more than gratefully received. Now the men we

beginning at the head of the train and passing rapidly down its full length, as the cars closed up on e

head brakeman, s

p aloft an' get a peek out. Say, we sure ain

r the flag station than Mr.

to the roof of the caboose. A moment later

White Point. She's stopped-dead sure. Guess the flag has got us hel

he enactment of a strange scene began at the f

r covering a man's head from under the last box car. Slowly it twisted round till a grimy, dust-c

e same head again and part of a man's body. The second hand reached toward the coupling-pin, which, with a dexterous movement, was slowly and noiselessly removed. The pin was lowered to the length of its chain. Then, once more the hand reached toward the coupling. This time

omptly settled themselves down to await the next call of duty. The conductor's relief at the

ed witheringly. "They got to act fresh, or the company '

oke off l

wheels of the moving train was plainly h

ed to h

cried. "W

With a bound he sprang at the door of the ca

his body, and, behind them, sto

ow easy drawl of the West, whi

gh your figgers that'll cause a hell of a draught. We ain't yearning to make no sort o' mess i

ng absolutely sure of the purpose of these men he thanked his genius of good luck that he had not seen the "pay train" for nearly a month. He