“Who’s in the 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 deeper, louder note.  The station-agent took his place on the track.

Now the train bulked big, the engine wavering slightly to the unevenness of the road bed.  The flag of the station-agent moved.  Kate closed her eyes and set her teeth.  There was a rumbling and puffing and a mighty grinding—­a shout somewhere—­the rattle of a score of pistol shots—­she opened her eyes to see the train rolling to a stop on the siding directly before her.