re they'll be safe. The
only man with us is--this kid," and Cullin looked up darkly into the
cab, his gloomy eyes on Geordie's coal-blackened face.

Now, indeed, it was time for action, and, quietly as he could, Geordie
put the question:

"Did you tell them you had a stranger in the cab?"

"Told 'em you were the only thing--or kind--I had."

"But you told them I'd come all the way with you from Chimney Switch,
did you not?"

"I didn't tell 'em anything except what I said to Folder here--the
station-master. I told 'em, through him, if they wanted anything on
this train they needn't ask me. I wasn't responsible."

Graham and Toomey exchanged quick glances. A wretched end would it be
to all their planning if Geordie should now be dragged off the cab as
accessory to the assault on young Breifogle, his helpless charge and
patient of the early morning hours.

Yet that was just what now was likely to happen. Resentful of there
being a mystery about the cab, a secret he was not allowed to share--an
outsider made known by Cullin's superiors to Cullin's subordinates, yet
not presented to him--true to human nature Cullin had told what Geordie
would conceal. In less than no time the enemy would know 705 had
brought a stranger within their gates who was too wary to come by
passenger-train. In less than ten minutes they might be there with a
warrant for his arrest.

And at that very moment there went up a shout from the group of miners
at the office. One of their kind had come running in, breathless and
alarmed. Three or four words only had he spoken, but they were enough.
As one man the twoscore turned and ran for the broad street beyond the
passenger station, were swallowed up in the gap between the express and
baggage sheds and the passenger waiting-rooms, and could be heard
shouting loudly beyond the high board fence--a chorus of cheers that
seemed to start near the main entrance and went travelling on the wings
of the wind westward up the lively street.

And a moment later, even while they were wondering, out came "Folder
here," the agent--this time paper in hand and waving for Cullin.
"Orders at last," said Cullin, and sprang to get them. And this time
both Graham and Toomey swung from the cab and eagerly followed.
"Warrant out for Nolan!" they heard Folder say, "but they'll not get
him here. The gang has whisked him away to the Fort and beyond, I
reckon; and the sheriff who goes to Silver Shield takes his life in hi