hand, every man
present knew it. They could get Clanton if they were willing to pay the
price, but though there were game men in the mob, not one of them
wanted to be the first to put his foot on the lower step of the coach.

From the other end of the car came the sudden noise of hammering. Some
one had found a sledge in the baggage-room and with a dozen armed men
back of him was trying to break down the door.

Prince called to his prisoner. "You've got to get in this, Jim. I appoint
you deputy sheriff. Unstrap this belt from my waist. Take the other end
of the car an' hold it. No shootin' unless it comes to a showdown.
Understand?"

Clanton nodded. His eyes gleamed. "I'll behave proper, Billie."

Five seconds later the beating on the door stopped. The eyes of the big
blacksmith with the hammer popped out with a ludicrous terror. Go-Get-'Em
Jim was standing in the aisle grinning at him with a six-gun in each
hand. With a wild whoop the horseshoer dropped the sledge and turned. He
flung himself down the steps carrying with him half a dozen others. Not
till he was safe in his own shop two blocks away did he stop running.

A shrill whistle rang out from the side of the train farthest from the
station. The wheels began to move slowly. There was a rush for the
engine. Jack Goodheart stood in the door of the cab ready for business.

"No passengers allowed here, boys," he announced calmly. "Take the
coaches in the rear."

A dozen revolvers cracked. There was a rattle of breaking windows. The
engine, baggage-car, and smoker moved forward, leaving the rest of the
train on the track.

Men, swarming like ants, had climbed to the top of the cars, evidently
with some idea of getting at their victim from above. Some of these were
on the forward coaches. They began to drop off hurriedly as the station
fell to the rear.

The wheels turned faster. Bud Proctor swung aboard and joined the
sheriff.

"I cut off the other cars and gave the signal to start," he explained
triumphantly.

"Good boy, Bud. Knew I could tie to you," Prince answered with the warm
smile that always won him friends.

They passed into the car together. Clanton was leaning far out of the
window waving a mocking hand of farewell to the crowd on the platform. He
drew his head in and handed the weapons back to his friend.

"Don't I make a good deputy, Billie? I didn't fire even once."

Chapter XXIX

"They Can't Hang Me If I ain't There"

The ju