-clad slopes of the great hills crowded in upon the railroad

abutment of hill which left the track a mere ribbon, like the track of some invertebrate, laboriously making its way through surroundings all uncongenial and antagonistic. Yet the station was but a few hund

alley, while a depressing superheat enervated all life, except the profusion of vegetation which beautified the rugged slopes. For the most part the stillness was profound, only the most trifling sounds disturbing it

erruption. Had not the train, with its all unconscious driver, passed upon its rumbling way toward Amberley? Had not all suspicion been lulled in the mind of the bucolic agent, who was even now laboriously expending a maximum of energy for a minimum return of culinary delicacies i

held the train crew at bay. All were masked with one exception, and he, from

n of lawless exhilaration as the work proceeded. Compared with his fellows, who were of the well-known type of ruffian, in whom the remoter prairie lands abound, he looked wholly out of place in such a transaction. His air was that of a town-bred man, and his clothing, too, suggested a refinement of tailoring, particularly the rather loose cord

p stroke of an axe ripped out the head, revealing within the neatly packed keg of spirit, embedded so carefully in its setting of sugar. The cargo had been well shipped by men skilled in the subtle art of contraband. It was billed, and the barrels were addressed, to a firm in Calford whose reputation for integr

d and bestowed in the wagon. There wer

tones, urged his m

eady voice, while he strove with his somewha

im single-handed, and one of h

the loco driver'll whistle for brakes." He laughed with a pleasant, half humorous chuckle. "If t

nt of the West. The man near

e's a cinch. Guess Fyles'll kick thirteen

quired the lea

folks reckon tha

he shouldered a keg and

he hawked and spat. "When that blamed train gets around Amberley he'll hate h

r's dark smile. But

isted into the wagon. The lea

stress. Yet it was not wholly an expression of relief. If anything,

d him. Then, as the face of the man who had been co

n the wagon

to the driving seat, an

leader went on. "Guess we'll need to ride hard if

winked a

t busy. Ho, boys!" And he chirrupped his horses out of the shal

ing after it. Then he turned to th

n stand by on horseback, and hold the train crew while

t these men that there was no necessity to question. Hardy ruffians as they were they knew well enough that if

ll. They were pensive eyes, almost regretful, and somehow his whole face had changed from its look of daring to match them. The exhila

e heard the horses come up; he heard the two men clamber from the caboose

luminous eyes. He dashed off into the bush to mount his hor

hoofs, which rapidly died out. Then again t

irlwind of heated blasphemy set in, which might well have scorched the wooden sides of the car. T

ll dash for the open. In a moment they were crowding the trackside, staring with stupid eyes

e first to gather hi

. Then he added, with less ferocity

comrades in the aggrieved fashio

White Point's around the corner. And that's where we'll find that hop-headed agent-if he ain't done up. Anyways, if he ain't-why, I guess we'll just set him

time that day. His stomach had forced on him the conviction

he lean-to, where his kindling and fuel were kept, he flung the implements inside it, as though glad to be rid of the burden of his labors. Then he pa

g plains to the west offered him too wide a focus. There was nothing to hold him in its breadth of outlook. But as his gaze came in contact with the frowning crags to the eas

ely poised figure filling up the opening. His powerful hands were gripping his Winchester, and he

e rushing for the flag station, gesticulating as they came. In the loneliness of

ut violently, and caugh

Winchester swiftly to his shoulder. "Hold up!" he

es stopped, and nearly fell over each other in their haste to thrust their hands above

in terrified tones. "We're the train crew

tening gun saved him further

eyes, but it was the brakeman's uniform, rather than his

came has

agent. But he was permit

t its protesting story as rapidly as his stormy feelings could drive him. Th

d-ups'? I tell you right here this thing's goin' to be just as red-hot for you as I can make it. That t

e assumed the hectoring air which the mor

up Amberley quick. You're goin' to put 'em wise right away. Macinaw! When I'm done with this thing you're goin' to hate White Po

h had so encouraged that individual. But now that all had been told, and the man's harsh tones ceased

ling up Amberley; and as the Morse sign clacked its me

so it don't amount to anything. As for your bum freight it was late-as usual. It wasn't my duty to pass it thro

contrived it under his very nose. In his own phraseology, he felt "sore." But his ill humor was not alone due to the brakeman's abuse. He was thinking of something far more vital. He knew well enough