THE GREAT K. & A. TRAIN-ROBBERY [Illustration: Frontispiece] The Great K. & A. Robbery [Illustration: Trains] By Paul Leicester Ford Author of The Honorable Peter Stirling New York Dodd, Mead and Company 1897 _Copyright, 1896,_ BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY. _Copyright, 1897,_ BY DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY. University Press: JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE, U. S. A. TO MY TRAVELLING COMPANIONS ON SPECIALS 218 AND 97 THIS ENDEAVOR TO WEAVE INTO A STORY SOME OF OUR OVERLAND HAPPENINGS AND ADVENTURES IS GRATEFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. * * * * * _TO MISS GEORGE BARKER GIBBS._ _My dear George_: _At your request I originally inscribed this skit to our whole party. In its republication, however, I can but feel that the dedication should be more particular. Written because you asked it, first read aloud to beguile our ride across the great American desert, and finally printed because you wished a copy as a souvenir of our journeyings, no one can so naturally be called upon to stand sponsor to the little tale. Should the story but give its readers a fraction of the pleasure I owe to your kindness, its success is assured._ _Faithfully yours,_ _PAUL LEICESTER FORD._ Contents CHAPTER I THE PARTY ON SPECIAL NO. 218 II THE HOLDING-UP OF OVERLAND NO. 3 III A NIGHT'S WORK ON THE ALKALI PLAINS IV SOME RATHER QUEER ROAD AGENTS V A TRIP TO THE GRAND CAÑON VI THE HAPPENINGS DOWN HANCE'S TRAIL VII A CHANGE OF BASE VIII HOW DID THE SECRET LEAK OUT? IX A TALK BEFORE BREAKFAST X WAITING FOR HELP XI THE LETTERS CHANGE HANDS AGAIN XII AN EVENING IN JAIL XIII A LESSON IN POLITENESS XIV "LISTENERS NEVER HEAR ANYTHING GOOD" XV THE SURRENDER OF THE LETTERS XVI A GLOOMY GOOD-BY THE Great K. & A. Train-Robbery CHAPTER I THE PARTY ON SPECIAL NO. 218