en very deliberately, with a pause after each word, seemingly to enable
Jones to interpret, but really to give himself time to send another word,
unheard, beneath the table, Alex sent on the key, and Jones read aloud,
the following message:

"Sheriff,

"Watson Siding:

"Safe-blowers have been captured near here. Call in your posse.

"(Signed) O'Brien,

"Sheriff Quigg County."

What the at first puzzled and then thunderstruck operator at Watson
Siding read off his instrument ran very differently. It read:

"Safe THEY blowers ARE have HERE been IN captured STATION near
INTEND here. GOING call OUT in BY your NIGHT posse. EXPRESS.

"(Signed) 'PHONE O'Brien, "BACK Sheriff HERE Quigg QUICK County."

A moment after giving his "OK" the Watson Siding operator was at the
telephone calling for Bixton central.

Meantime, having thus sent the message to WS to the bank-breakers'
satisfaction, Alex proceeded to call and send it by turns to Zeisler,
Hammerton, and other stations on the line. Sending slowly, to make the
most of his time, it was within fifteen minutes of the hour the express
was due when Alex had sent the last of the messages.

"Now you can step in and see your friend," said the man in the doorway,
addressing Jones, who appeared, white and trembling, and coming behind
the counter, dropped into a chair facing Alex. The speaker then once more
disappeared, and presently an opening click of the instruments told the
nature of his errand. The wires had been cut.

He soon returned, and rummaging about, while the taller man stood guard
over them, he found some ropes, and proceeded to bind Alex and the day
operator tightly in their chairs.

Just as the task was completed there came a long-drawn whistle from the
west. Both robbers promptly turned to the door. "Well, good night,
gentlemen," said the smaller, grimly. "Much obliged for your kind
services."

"And I would just pause to repeat," said the taller, jocosely, "that
there is some class to this getaway scheme, should any one ask you. Good
night."

"_Yes, there is class--but it isn't first!_"

Uttering a cry the two bank robbers staggered back from the door, and
with a bound the deputy sheriff and a constable were upon them, bore them
to the floor, and after a brief but terrific struggle disarmed and
handcuffed them.

"Yes," said the sheriff, rising,