human
Yes, Timberlake has got the Governor at Liberty to league Jack Wright against us. It's been hard enough to fight the sheriff's posse and the military reserve but it's going to be a blamed sight harder to get the best of that inventor. Wright owes me a grudge. He has soured on me for doing him out of that $5,000 in Wrightstown.
gpt
That machine of his'n must be a wonder,
human
You have no idea what a dangerous article it is, promptly replied Jesse, with a fierce expletive.
gpt
Ripley and Barker had a taste of it, though, when the machine chased them on Siroc and Jim Malone. It was awful the way the electric engine overhauled them, I can tell you. Our only salvation now lies in leading them to places where the Terror can't run.
human
If Barker hadn't put on false whiskers to look like you and if I hadn't fixed myself up to resemble Frank, spoke up one of the men,
gpt
No doubt,
human
What are you going to do about the hold-up to-night, Jesse? asked Jim Cummins impatiently.
gpt
We've arranged to meet here and settle the whole matter and not gab about things of no interest to the case.
human
There's plenty time,
gpt
They're going to lay a plot!
human
We'll hear the whole thing,
gpt
Perhaps we can baffle them.
human
Yes, if they give themselves away.
gpt
Then we can't attack them now.
human
Not if they have got work in view. If we should tackle them now we might not fustrate any game they might play when they get away. We can't expect to scoop the whole gang you know. Some would be bound to escape.
gpt
Well, we'll hear what they have to say anyhow.
human
Of coarse. We can grade ourselves according to circumstances afterward,
gpt
Boys, we've got a big haul in view for to-night.
human
What is it, anyway?
gpt
An express package on the M. & M. road, which will go through on the midnight express, it's worth $10,000.
human
Let's hear about it,
gpt
Well, I was in Kansas City and there learned that the Fourth National Bank sends a keg of $10,000 in gold coin on the tenth of each month, to the banking firm of Bradford & Co., in Springfield, Illinois. That train will reach a point between Polo and Cowgill, according to the timetable, shortly after midnight. As it is the only train which carries an express car bound for Springfield, it must be the one we are after.
human
That's fair to presume,
gpt
We had better stop it and see! Jesse exclaimed.
human
We can hold it up at the curve, and as there's a dense mass of bushes on each side of the track, you all can conceal yourselves there until I get the cars stopped. Then an attack can be made upon the passengers, while I and several others get into the express car after the keg of money.
gpt
There are three things we can now do. One is to attack the bandits here; the next is to notify the railroad people to look out for them; and the last is to let them attempt to carry out their plan and raid them in the act. Now, what shall we do?
human
If we were to run away to the railroad to apprise the company, something might happen that would delay us. Then the villains could carry out their purpose anyway. We can't do that. Now if we tackle them here, some of them are apt to give us the slip, an' do the job in spite of us. I think it will be safer to let them go to the rendezvous, and try to stop the cars. Then we can sail into them, and frustrate their plans.
gpt
I quite agree with you,
human
Then let us return to the Terror.
gpt
Hello! he roared.
human
Who goes there?
gpt
Caught!
human
Timberlake! groaned the man, recognizing him.
gpt
Hey! Help! Help!
human
Shut up!
gpt
A spy! A spy!