ing, Pat," suggested Jerry MacElroy, who
deprecated losing good time. "There'll be plenty of time to talk after
we get into Denver, or the Mattaback."

"Think quick, Pat," urged Sinclair; his safety was popping murder.

"Back her up, then, and let her go," cried Francis; "I'd just as lief
have that baggage-car at the bottom of the river as on my hands any
longer."

There was some sharp tooting, then the McWilliams Special backed; backed
away across the meadow, halted, and screamed hard enough to wake the
dead. Georgie was trying to warn the section-men. At that instant the
door of the baggage-car opened and a sharp-featured young man peered
out.

"What's the row--what's all this screeching about, conductor?" he asked,
as Francis passed.

"Bridge burning ahead there."

"Bridge burning!" he cried, looking nervously forward. "Well, that's a
deal. What you going to do about it?"

"Run it. Are you McWilliams?"

"McWilliams? I wish I was for just one minute. I'm one of his clerks."

"Where is he?"

"I left him on La Salle Street yesterday afternoon."

"What's your name?"

"Just plain Ferguson."

"Well, Ferguson, it's none of my business, but as long as we're going to
put you into Denver or into the river in about a minute, I'm curious to
know what the blazes you're hustling along this way for."

"Me? I've got twelve hundred thousand dollars in gold coin in this car
for the Sierra Leone National Bank--that's all. Didn't you know that
five big banks there closed their doors yesterday? Worst panic in the
United States. That's what I'm here for, and five huskies with me eating
and sleeping in this car," continued Ferguson, looking ahead. "You're
not going to tackle that bridge, are you?"

"We are, and right off. If there's any of your huskies want to drop out,
now's their chance," said Pat Francis, as Sinclair slowed up for his
run.

Ferguson called his men. The five with their rifles came cautiously
forward.

"Boys," said Ferguson, briefly. "There's a bridge afire ahead. These
guys are going to try to run it. It's not in your contract, that kind of
a chance. Do you want to get off? I stay with the specie, myself. You
can do exactly as you please. Murray, what do you say?" he asked,
addressing the leader of the force, who appeared to weigh about two
hundred and sixty.

"What do I say?" echoed Murray, with decision, as he looked for a soft
place to alight alongside the track. "I say I'll drop out right her