t. How much of danger and
excitement and hairbreadth escape it also held, they did not even dream.

"Bully old boy, Melton," commented Tom, playing lazily with a heavy
paperweight he had bought at a curio shop at their last stopping place.

"A diamond in the rough," assented Dick.

"All wool and a yard wide," declared Bert, emphatically. "I wonder if
he----Great Scott, what's that?" as a bullet whizzed through the window
of the Pullman.

The question was quickly answered when their eyes fell on the robbers,
who, with leveled pistols, dominated the car. And the threat of the
weapons themselves was not more sinister than the purpose that glinted in
the ferocious eyes above the improvised masks. There was no mere bluff
and bluster in that steady gaze. They were ready to shoot and shoot to
kill. Their lives were already forfeit to the law, anyway, and in that
rough country they would get "a short shrift and a long rope" if their
plans went astray. They might as well be hung for murder as robbery, and,
while they did not mean to kill unless driven to it, they were perfectly
ready to do so at the first hint of resistance.

The paralyzing moment of surprise passed, there was a stir among the
passengers. The first instinct was to hide their valuables or drop them
on the floor. But this was checked instantly by the outlaws.

"Hands up," shouted one of them with an oath. "I'll kill the first man
that makes a move."

His pistol ranged over the car, flickering like the tongue of a snake,
seeming to cover every passenger at once. Beneath its deadly insistence,
hands were upraised one after the other. Resistance at that moment meant
instant death. The unwritten law of the West had to be obeyed. He "had
the drop" on them.

The leader grinned malignantly and spoke to his companion, without for an
instant turning his gaze.

"Now, Bill," he growled, "I've got these mavericks covered. Pass round
the hat. These gents--and ladies," he leered--"will hand over their coin
and jewelry, and God help the one who tries to renig. He won't never need
money no more."

Taking his old sombrero from his head, the one addressed as Bill started
in to collect from the front of the car.

"Only one hand down at a time to get your money," shouted his companion.
"And mind," he added ominously, "I'm watchin' that hand."

Pocket books and rings and watches dropped into the hat. Women were
sobbing hysterically and men were cursing under their breath