"
The agent looked up and nearly fell from his stool. He was gazing
into the end of a revolver held carelessly in the hand of a
masked man leaning indolently on the counter.
"Whe--where did you come from?" the operator gasped.
"Kaintucky, but I been here a right smart spell. Why? You takin'
the census?" came the drawling answer.
"I didn't hear youse come in."
"I didn't hear you come in, either," the man behind the mask
mocked. But even as he spoke his manner changed, and crisp menace
rang in his voice. "Have you sent those messages yet?"
"Wha--what messages?"
"Those lying on your desk. I say, have you sent them?"
"Not yet."
"Hand them over here."
The operator passed them across the counter without demur.
"Now reach for the roof."
Up shot the station agent's hands. The bandit glanced over the
written sheets and commented aloud:
"Huh! One from the conductor and one from Mackenzie. I expected
those. But this one from Collins is ce'tainly a surprise party. I
didn't know he was on the train. Lucky for him I didn't, or mebbe
I'd a-put his light for good and all. Friend, I reckon we'll
suppress these messages.
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