deed, even his youth was a mystery to
them, for he acted like a man who had had years of experience.

"You started in, gentlemen, to play a big game of robbery, but ran up
against a snag. I am letting you off easy--very easy--but you see we
young fellows from York are not malicious."

The gamblers had indeed gotten off easily, and we will here explain that
they did not fear Desmond in a scrimage; but they would have feared any
one who would have made a fight, as they did not wish to draw the
attention of the train men to their scheme which had been exposed. Had
they been winners they would have made a fight, but the game they were
attempting was one of highway robbery, for they had been outwitted in
the deal, and had no claim upon the money.

The train arrived at a station and the gamblers started to alight. They
felt bitter, and the self-styled senator's son said to Desmond:

"The train will stop here fifteen minutes. You are a good fellow, I like
you, I'd like to have you stop off a minute and have a cool drink with
us."

Desmond well knew the scoundrel's purpose, but being fond of adventure
he determined to give the rascals a still greater surprise. He was in
splendid condition, his muscles were developed up to the consistency of
whit-leather, and with a smile he rose to follow the man who had invited
him to alight for refreshment. The gambler stepped off the car ahead of
Desmond; the latter followed, when the former suddenly swung round and
made a vicious lunge at the youth who had so cleverly outwitted him, and
once again the scamp was outwitted. A second time he ran up against a
snag, for our hero dodged the blow that was meant for him and countered
with a tremendous slugger which landed on his assailant's nose, and over
the man fell with a swiftness that would have suggested the kick of a
horse, and when he fell he lay there; but two of the other chaps had in
the meantime made a rush for Desmond, and they received a rap
successively--indeed, they had run in on our young walking champion
where he was at home. He was a wonder in science, strength and agility;
no two or three ordinary men would have had any show with him at all,
and the fact was the assailants so determined, for the attack was not
renewed, and our hero stepped aboard the train, the object of the
wondering glances of twenty people who had witnessed the assault and
its culmination.

Desmond sat down in the car as coolly as though he had just gon