1:45 p.m.
The Pacific Express was due at Valley City at 1:45 p.m. Within ten minutes of that time , a spring-board wagon , containing two young men and drawn by a pair of bronchos , suddenly appeared around one end of the dingy little depot . One of the men , dressed in a tweed traveling suit , jumped hastily from the wagon , while the other , who looked like a prosperous young ranchman , seemed to have all he could attend to in holding the restive little ponies , who were rearing and kicking in their impatience at being compelled to stand . `` I 'm afraid , Ned , '' he said , `` that you 'll have to look out for your traps yourself ; these little rats have n't been driven for four days , and they 're feeling pretty frisky . '' `` All right , Tom , '' responded the other , diving under the seat of the spring-board and bringing out the said `` traps , '' which consisted of two grips , a rifle case , a set of fishing rods , and , last but not least , a large , square case which he handled with great care , and now held up to his companion saying , `` See that , Tom ?