The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-06-02

any other man and follow up these tracks to-morrow, don't think il will lead 10 anything, myself: but 1t may. It's a likely eacugh spot. Blackfork Glen, ac- cordinx 10 accounts, for ranger to hang out: and three hundreds worth trying for, anyway. But one thing bargain for-I only want one man with me. I've to one against this fellows more than enough in my opinion, though he he as game as tiger, and the things not worth the trouble for less than the chance of hundred and fifty pounds. Now, boys, that's my offer. Who's going to take me up? A slant for one-ffty do~n, and immortal fame to the bargain. Don't all speak at once"
 "I take your offer, Captain Brander,z ? said Joe Wickham, in a quiet, distinct voice. "l1l go with you tomorrow to Blackfork Glen
 All eyes were turned upon Joe as he spoke. He was about the last man in the room. who could have been thought likely to take up Captain Brander's pro- posal.
 Are you quite sure you want to go in- 10 this business, Mir. Wiekham :" said Captain Brander.
 Quite" answered Joe; If you're equally willing"
 "Oh, I'm quite agreeable. One mans as good as another We'll starr early in the morning. But es wonderful what even the chance of a square sum will do. Actually puts grit into man some times
 The tone in which Captain Brander
 spoke, and the glance he threw around the room, gave additional poin, 10 the las, words. As Wickham and left the room. Dan Ford. who had also been
 among the company, joined us. and as we walked down the street he whispered i in my car" If this ain't a queer start :. What esers Ioe's game, doctor 9' Whatever l, might be, Joe was no, dis posed to eniightea us that evening. and
 we did not, therefore, question him. l The compact between Captain Brander. with its attendant circumstances. was sufficiently novel and unlocked for to attract quite considerable gathering ,5 see the two start on their quest. accom-
 panied by Hicks. the woodman. ! IL was toward sunset that the same assembly. myself among the number. f again met Tn front of Sam Coul,er's premises. l, was expected that Captain ] Brander and Toe Wiekham would be back no; later than sundown. and We were waiting their return. The sun had i set some minutes behind the wooded hill tops, leaving a narrow space of crim- son sky where tre road toward Wes,er- ton dipped and curved. when the figures of two hofsenen rose into sudden vieN. ard showed dark by contrast against the i vivid hori1on. \ single glance was su:lici- en, io show there were ba, ,wo. As they drew near. and their ot,lines grew more distinct Tn the gathering dusk of :ae brief l twilight. something abnormal and uneN- peeted about the appearance of one ef the figures caused puzzled glance to pass from one 10 another of those who were watching their approach. One was leading the horse of the other. who seemed
 incapae.e from some Cause O; guiding IL himself. The reason was soon discern
 able-one of the men was bound :o the
 horse. and had his arms bound behind
 him. In few minutes we could identify ! the two men, and as we did so. our pre- ! vious perp!exiIy passed into sheer as- tonlshlnent. The two horsemen rode up 1 m front of us. One was Toe Wickham i The other. beside being bound firmly 10 i lis saddle, had his broad-brimmed Panama hat drawn over his face: this.
 Toe. with an expression and gesture tinged with quie, contempt. tilted back with the handle of his wip: but th.s was quite un- necessary to enable us to recognize his companion. Il was Captain Reginald Brander.
 Gentlemen" said Toe. this Is the i x.hr, r.,kfNaA hA -A.n prove II.
 After our aInazemen, had somewhat subsided, Joe continued as follows: II may tell you now, tha, l suspected the man from ;he beginning. The hrs, time he stuck up the coach, he was very clever i ly made up, bu; from where l was seated on the box. the voice at once struck me as being rather familiar He disguised ] |, well. speaking in a hoarse, muftled kind of way. and all could feel sure of was. that Il was not entirely strange to me ] Bg, whea got back here. ;he first time heard Captain Brander speak. the re-
 semblanee ot his voice To the robbers immediately occurred ;o me. though tIll
 then, had not once thought of the two
 men in connection. This was all had a, first 10 go upon. and of course, |, was not enough 10 make me disposed 10 communicate my suspicious 10 anyone
 else. What mad struck me did no, seem to have occurred 10 Tom i Sharpe, or might have compared
 notes with him; and NIT. Glenn. the western lawyer. w.s not. know. sui hciently acquainted with Captain Bran i. der to have been in the leas, likely 10 have recognized him merely by his voice.
 much disguised as !, was. Wi,hou, any body seeing it-a, leas, if none of you
 noticed II. i,s no, likely any one else did i -i kept pretty close watch on Brander ; l knew, oi course. ,ha; mere sesem- blanee of voice might. after all be only chance bur one or two other circum- stances about the capture seemed To
 strengthen my suspicious. IL had go: abou, some h,t.e ;.nle before the first
 robbery ,ha, the captain was getting
 pretty low in funds, ;hc "Wha.-car- ] ;ouch-t" caiw IS bringing the share