A bare instant Alex hesitated, while the tempter whispered that it would mean thirty or forty dollars for a few minutes’ work, and that everyone would take it for granted he had been compelled to send it. Then abruptly he leaned back in his chair and shook his head. “I couldn’t do it,” he said quietly but positively.
“Oh, you couldn’t, eh, Goody-goody?” exclaimed the smaller man, with a snarl, catching up the revolver and pointing it at Alex’s head. “Now could you do it?”
The taller man caught his arm. “Don’t be a fool, Jake. After all, we couldn’t be sure he wasn’t fooling us even if he took the money.
“Look here, I have a scheme.”
They stepped back and spoke together in low tones for a moment; then the taller turned again to Alex, who meantime had remained quiet in his chair, futilely endeavoring to think of some means of spreading the alarm.
“I suppose you are not the only operator at this station, kid?”
“No; there is a day and a night operator. I am only ‘subbing’ for the night man,” responded Alex, wondering.
“Where is he?”
“At a party.”
“Where is the day man?”