One of the men who was standing close to the miner was smoking a large cigar. He seemed particular of the ashes, and appeared to be trying for a record in the matter of the length of them. They extended from the burned part of the rolled tobacco more than an inch, and at every lurch of the car, the smoker was quite solicitous lest they be knocked off. At length the man standing in front of him jostled against him, as the car gave a sudden jerk. The ashes flew in a shower over Mr. Post, who was standing directly behind the smoker. "What's the matter with you? Don't you know how to ride on a car?" demanded the man with the cigar, of the one who had jostled him. "I beg your pardon, I'm sure," said the other humbly. "It was not intentional, I assure you." "You're a clumsy fellow," the other went on, in a loud voice. "Look here; you've made me knock ashes all over this gentleman," and he turned to Mr. Post. "That's all right," the miner said pleasantly, for he felt sorry for the other man. "He couldn't help it." "He ought to be made to help it," the smoker went on, as if very indignant. "People who don't know how to ride on cars ought to keep off. I shall write a letter to the papers about it. Allow me to dust the ashes off your vest." The man drew from his pocket a large white handkerchief, with which he began wiping the cigar ashes from Mr. Post's clothing. "Awfully careless of me, too," he murmured. "Hope you take no offense." "Not at all," the miner was saying. "It was all an accident, I'm sure. You--" Then, the miner's tone, which had been mild, suddenly changed. He made a grab for the hand of the young man who was dusting his vest off, and cried: "No, you don't, you scoundrel! Now I see what your game is! Let go my diamond pin or I'll shoot you!" and he made a motion toward his pocket, while the other passengers on the platform made hasty movements to get off. CHAPTER XVII THE WILD STEER Mr. Post had the cigar smoker tightly by the wrist. The young man tried to break away, but as there were other persons between him and the car steps he was hemmed in. He made a rapid motion toward the passenger whom he had so berated for jostling him. "Ah, I thought so!" exclaimed the gray-haired man, who had remained a quiet spectator of the excitement. "It's about time I took a hand in the game." He made a rapid motion, intercepted the hand of the smoker which had been extended to the original cause of the disturbance, and grabbing something from it said: "There's your diamond, stranger. Take care of it until I put the nippers on these thieves!"