bolt upright in his chair, eyes and mouth wide open. But
in another moment the despatcher had recovered himself, and, springing
back to the key, began madly calling Broken Gap.

"B, B, B, X!" he called. "B, B, X! Qk! Qk!"

[Illustration: BUT THE RESPONSE CLICK DID NOT COME.]

Alex shot a glance at the clock, and leaned forward over the instruments,
scarcely breathing. There was yet three minutes before the Overland was
due at Broken Gap. But she did not stop there, and frequently passed
ahead of time. If "B" did not answer the call immediately--

The whir of "B's" was interrupted, and slowly and deliberately came an
"I, I, B." Alex leaped in his chair, and again strained forward tensely.

"Has 68 passed?" hurled the despatcher.

"Just coming."

"Stop her! Flag her! Qk! Qk!"

The line opened, as though "B" was about to make a reply, then smartly
closed again.

"Stop her! Stop her!" repeated "X."

There was a leaden, breathless silence, while Alex nervously clenched and
unclenched his hands. At last the line again clicked open, and with a
characteristic deliberation that caused the nerve-strung boy a moment's
hysterical laugh, "B" announced: "Just got her. She's slowing in now.
What's up?"

The despatcher at "X" had regained his equilibrium, and in his usual
crisp manner he replied: "Take this for Conductor Bedford:

"Bedford: Hold-up apparently planned between Broken Gap and Hadley
Corners. Probably on one of the grades of the Little Timbers.
Gather a posse quickly, and make sure of capturing them. Report at
HC.

"(Signed) Jordan, X."

As "B" gave his "OK" with the stumbling hesitation of blank astonishment,
the line again opened. And at the first word the intense strain broke,
and Alex sank forward over the table with a convulsive sob.

"Grand, my boy! Grand!" clicked the sounder. It was his father, at
Bixton. He had overheard it all.

"Grand! That's the word," came the despatcher. "There's not another
operator on the division who would have known enough to do what he did
to-day. I guess we won't bother him any more about his 'tinkering,' will
we?"

* * * * *

Only half an hour late, the mighty mogul pulling the Overland Limited
drew panting to a stop before the little station, and in a moment Alex
was surrounded by a crowd of congratulating trainmen and passengers. And
when he reappeared after sendi