Terror rattled and bumped over the rougher grass, but found itpretty good going anyway, as the open country of Missouri is generallyfairly level.
Tim watched the contest with interest.
He could not help admiring the bandit's good riding.
But he also saw that the stage slowly but surely began to gain.
"Fer a short dash, that was prutty good!" he remarked.
"In a long race no animal on earth could run against us though," repliedJack smiling.
"See how we're overhaulin' ther lubber!"
"In a few minutes well reach him, Tim, and---"
Bang!
The fugitive fired back.
Zing! came the bullet.
It grazed Jack's head.
One inch nearer and it would have killed him!
"Hit yer?" asked Tim, in alarm.
"No, just missed," coolly replied the inventor.
"Gee! it hummed like a bumble bee!"
"Yes, it was a dangerous shot."
"Shall I heave him one, an' drop him?"
"No! I want to take him alive."
On they continued to go until at last the Terror was very close to thebandit.
"There is nothing can save you from capture now!" Jack shouted at him."Surrender, you dog!"
"I'm blowed if I will!" roared Wood Hite.
He made one last supreme effort to forge ahead, but finding he could notdo it, he leveled his revolver at Tim.
Jack had a pistol in hand.
He aimed, and fired it at Hite's weapon.
Simultaneous with the explosion of the bullet there came a wild howlfrom the bandit, and his pistol flew up in the air, ruined beyondrepair.
"I'm struck!" he groaned.
"Will you quit?" demanded Jack.
"Don't drop me and I will."
"All right! Dismount!"
The fugitive pulled in the panting and sweating horse, and Tim stoppedthe electric stage.
Down to the ground jumped the bandit, and raising his hands above hishead he roared:
"Mind you now--no games, partner."
"What was you doing in that farm house?"
"Getting over the wounds you gave me."
"Where are the rest of the gang?"
"I don't know."
"Come, come! No lies!"
"I tell you I don't know."
"We'll see," said Jack, pulling out his watch and drawing a bead on theman. "It is now three minutes to four. At precisely four o'clock, unlessyou tell us where I can find the James Boys, I'll fire!"
"Say! don't do that!" cried the bandit, in alarm.
"That's the law."
"But I really don't---"
"One minute."
"For Heaven's sake, let up!"
"You are wasting valuable time, Wood Hite."
"If I knew I'd tell you quick enough."
"Your time on earth is growing mighty short."
"Won't anything else satisfy you?"
"No. Two minutes!"
"Good Lord A'mighty!"
"Speak--quick!"
"It's as much as my life is worth!"
"Very well. Ten seconds more!"
The outlaw was as pale as death.
The bandages around his head added to the look of unutterable woe uponhis haggard face.
He trembled like an aspen, and burst into a cold, clammy perspiration,and was breathing heavily.
Jack glanced up from his watch.
"Time's up!" he exclaimed.
"Mercy!"
"Speak, or perish!"
"Yes! yes! I'll tell."
"Well?"
"To-morrow at two o'clock they'll be in Husking Valley."
"What for?"
"To raid the town."
"Any particular place?"
"Yes--the bank."
"Good! We'll be there. What's the plan?"
"Jess did not mention it."
"That will do."
"Can I go now?"
"Oh, no; we want you."
"What for?"
"To go with us. I want to see if you lied. Come here!"
Wood Hite slouched up to the stage, cast a regretful glance at his horsewhich was browsing the grass, and Tim tied his hands behind his back.
He was then hustled into the stage, and Jack had a short conversationwith Timberlake about the place where the alleged raid was to occur.
The town was a place remote from where they then were, and the sheriffdirected Tim in which direction to go.
Meeting with another farm house, they procured some water and then spedaway.
That night they arrived in the vicinity of Husking Valley, and Jackentered the town to reconnoiter the ground.
CHAPTER XVII.RAIDING THE BANK.
On the following afternoon there were a great many strangers in the townof Husking Valley, but the residents did not consider this very strange,as the County Fair was being held there.
These fairs were matters of great importance to the natives.
They always brought large crowds of strangers from the surroundingcountry, and created a rather lively scene.
Jack was lurking near the bank with Timberlake, and Tim and Fritz wereaboard the Terror in easy hailing distance, yet completely concealedfrom view.
The inventor and his companion stood in a doorway close to the bank,intently watching the thronging natives.
"Here's another example of the James Boys' cunning," said Jack, finallybreaking the silence.
"To what do you allude?" moodily asked the sheriff.
"Why, Jesse James timing his arrival here during the fair."
"In what way was that a sharp move?"
"To do this job he would need the gang, wouldn't he?"
"I think he would not venture it without them."
"And he must have known the fair was going on."
"Probably he did."
"Wouldn't the entrance of his gang to the town excite a great deal ofcomment and attention if there were no fair?"
"Naturally, as crowds in country towns are unusual."
"Well, I figure it that he knew the fair was in progress here, that heknew the crowd would cloak his entrance of his gang, and they wouldtherefore excite no suspicion."
"That seems to be pretty likely."
"Would you know all the men if you saw them?"
"I believe so--at any rate, I would recognize the old members. Heoccasionally recruits new men. We have wiped out some of the newerelement. I noticed that although some of the old bandits were woundedduring our engagement with them, the ones who fell were mostly new men.
"That's the reason they fell perhaps. The older birds had experienceenough to keep out of harm's way."
"Well, if any of them happen to go into that bank, you can rest assuredthat I'll recognize them."
"It's half-past two now, but they haven't materialized yet."
"Maybe Wood Hite was lying to save his life."
"No--I think not. His tones had a truthful ring."
Jack glanced across the street at the bank.
It was a a small brick building, with two iron-barred windows and a doorflush with the street, through which he could see the entire interior.
There were half a dozen clerks busy inside behind a long desk, beforewhich there was a wire netting that rose almost to the ceiling.
The first window nearest the door was that of the cashier, the next wasthat of the paying-teller, and the next the receiving-teller, afterwhich followed the book-keepers and discount clerk.
All were busy at their various occupations, as it had been a rush day,in consequence of the large crowd.
Jack had seen every man, woman and child, who had gone in or come outsince midday, and he had scanned every one who had passed by withoutdetecting a bandit.
Yet his patience did not give out.
"Do you suppose our prisoner knows what method Jesse James will employin his attempted raid?" he asked.
"No. He never tells his plans to the men, as a rule, until a very shorttime be
fore they are carried out. Jesse James is very cautious andsuspicious. He knows that the hand of every honest man is turned againsthim. He is even on the alert for danger. He is quick witted, deep, darkand cunning, and he wouldn't trust his own brother out of his sight.That probably accounts for the wonderful success he has always had atcarrying out his daring plans, and escaping the consequence."
"The fellow is certainly a marvel in some ways."
"He inspires his men with fear of him. I have particularly noticed thisof the Ford Boys. They seem to think that every time he looks at them hesuspects them of treachery, and they seem to think that every time hedraws a
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