“I didn’t hear youse come in.”
“I didn’t hear you come in, either,” the man behind the mask mocked. But even as he spoke his manner changed, and crisp menace rang in his voice. “Have you sent those messages yet?”
“Wha—what messages?”
“Those lying on your desk. I say, have you sent them?”
“Not yet.”
“Hand them over here.”
The operator passed them across the counter without demur.
“Now reach for the roof.”
Up shot the station agent’s hands. The bandit glanced over the written sheets and commented aloud:
“Huh! One from the conductor and one from Mackenzie. I expected those. But this one from Collins is ce’tainly a surprise party. I didn’t know he was on the train. Lucky for him I didn’t, or mebbe I’d a-put his light for good and all. Friend, I reckon we’ll suppress these messages. Military necessity, you understand.” And with that he lightly tore up the yellow sheets and tossed them away.