“Oh, this is awful!” groaned Mr. Hitter. “The road will be ruined!”
“Not if there’s gold here!” exclaimed one man. “If the tracks are over a mine they can be moved. Better get a shovel, Hitter, and help yourself.”
“You’re crazy!” shouted the agent. “There is no gold here!”
“Yes, there is! Those fellows found some!” declared the man, pointing at Mr. Nestor and his friend.
“Oh, it’s all your fault!” cried the agent, addressing the motor boys and their friends. “You started this wild panic. Tell them there is no gold here!”
“But there is some!” insisted Mr. Brill, taking the yellow grains from his pocket. This seemed to make the crowd wilder than ever, and they pushed and shoved to get to the very place where the miner had found the golden particles.
“Oh, they’ll all be killed!” cried the agent. “Here comes the other fast express! Get out of the way!” he yelled.
The crowd did not seem to hear him, and Jerry and his chums were beginning to get alarmed, when there was a rush from the other side of the track, and several officers, led by the chief of police, dashed up.
“Oh, Chief!” cried Mr. Hitter. “This is terrible! There won’t be any railroad left, soon. Make ’em get back!” and he quickly told of the trouble, and explained about the coming train.
The chief acted without hesitation.