This was to throw the railroad men off the scent, for news of
the murder had probably been telegraphed to all railroad stations in the
vicinity.
Incidentally, and unknown to his partner, this arrangement necessitated
a momentous decision in the mind of Collins. As he formulated the
question, it was, "The girl or the gold?" Like many young criminals,
Collins was very much of a ladies' man. He associated with girls of the
dance-hall class, but he aspired to shine in the eyes of those foolish
women who admire a gay, bad man. He would have preferred to have his
share of the plunder then and there in order to stay in California to
win the hand of Mamie Slocum. But Darcy was determined to get out of the
country as quickly as possible, and when they separated insisted upon
taking all the gold. It would not do to quarrel with him, for both would
be lost if either was suspected. To share in the plunder he would have
to go East with Darcy, who was to board the same train at Gold Run that
Collins would take at Dutch Flat.
The girl or the gold? Because of his infatuation for the girl he had
become a highwayman. He had not expected her to come down from
Graniteville that day.
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