, 1885-06-05

~ rNuF hNE AGCR III hAG
snowdr.ft. fell rs a raw recruit
nius fsSi oil the eve Of battle, but
Gokey was nb cool ns an old cafnpaigner.
The thieses knowing nothing OF their
dan scr lounged on the culverts edge.
The tall IDau rested on his elbow. The
list MAI actually lay on his back gag-
ing up to the zenith, yet did not. see us
lIproach
"t,oun on him, whispered the con
stable. The next instant we were on
them | pinned my man where be lay.
Gokey put the mu zle OF his seven
shooter to the tall mans ear undoubtedly
thrust his other hand into the oyercoat
pocket and pulled out my revolver. My
man mado no struggle. but il seemed to
me gave a sigh OF relief None Of the
rest moved. There was no re
sistancc. Gokey. with the two re
yolvers, stood the master of the situa-
ton. Finally seeing the righteousness Of
drmly holding down a man who evi-
IDENTIFY had not the slightest intention of
rising | got up and stood opposite them
with the constable. They all preserved
the same attitude of absolute indiifer
ence. $50
(which Of you has my $30Of' | cried.
An instant change came over them.
They sprang up and cried: '"Whati' as
simultaneously as If they had re-
hoarsed it
There was $500 nthat trunk. Where
is itf'
A vail Of absolute, heartrending de-
spair went up from the thieves. The
tall man said:
Don't! Don't tell US there was $500
in That trunk. Ny God, this is worse
than being caught"
'Didn't you get it2'
Get i'll What do you take US for
Do you think we would be tramping
through this Internal country If We got
: cor
tand up, boys, said Gokey, I'm
have to search you I
lie handed me the revolyers and went
through the crowd. There was no cash.
/ G handcuffed the tall mans wrist to
the wrist OF the lame fellow. lie only
had one pair of handouts.
Now, come along.
"Where tor said the tall man.
TO ssex Center.
" ave You "a coopay OF family
sleigh with you:'
You'll have to tramp it.
The uncoupled two had started off,
but the tall man sat leisurely down on
the culyert edge again, drawing down
his linked companion with him.
Come back, boys he cried. I'VE
will travel at government expense after
/ This. Wait till our friend brings his
sleigh. | believe the law don't compel
us 10 walk, Ell boss ll..9 snT
'rH wait here and watch them if you
hurry up, said ].
| d 90. ~. In - a. IL. II .LI 4 -
down on the opposite side of the culyert
The early winter sun was setting red
at the further end of the railroad
track. The long parallel steel Inns
seemed to converge on its big ruddy
disk. 1t looked like a line that went
very far west indeed. Ire place was
utterly lonesome. The silence wa in
tense. The winter had frozen all the
customary woodland sounds and the
stiffness was emphasi ed rather than
bro en- by a sharp crack from n tree
now and then caused by the increasing
oldnrss. When the sun disappeared
all color faded out and leftthe grey win.
ter evening, and then 1 began to realize,
now that the excitement was past, that
it was not a pleasant thing to sit alone
opposite four criminals who knew l was
the only barrier between them and lib
erty. In a few minutes il would be
dark and the moon would not rise for
an hour.
Il" entlemcn," | said, you appreciate
my position here. If there is any hos
tile demonstration 1t will be my painful
duty to kill at least two of you. 1t is
only fair to say that the first man |
shall kill will be YOU This to the tall
fellow,
"Neli. he replied. with thoughtful
nonchalancc, ~ think you would be
doing about the best thing for yourself
in that move but | wonld like TO ask a
favor"
"Don't shoot me with that revolver of
yohrs.n
.whyf's
"Well, because the cartridges are all
empty, that's one reason.
The rest laughed a little at this and
the lame man said:
"Say boss, got a chaw O. tobaccoi'
"No,p / answered shortly, for | saw
that what the tall man said of my re-
volver was true.
Now, look here,"I said, 81 have
only seven shots instead of fourteen, as
/ thought. | want you to sit on that
SIDE of the track and you on the other.
You two hapdcuffers, remain between
the rails where you are. If any one
makes n movement Ill shoot him
dead" Nn
Say, boss said the tall man, 'if a
train comes along we two are going
to take the risk of your shooting
and move. | guess my life insurance
policy will cover all risks of your
shooting.
However, l placed the men as !
wanted them, aud kept them covered
with the re- Oliver muzzle.
II wa soon Sd DARK that J could
hardly distinguish my prisoners, who
remained rs mute as statues nee or
twice the tall man starthngiy broke the
silence by shouting
There's a train, boss but there was
no train and the rest were too despond'
ent to laugh. H
~ on might have got up a fight lasi
night, he said, but tonight We
wouldn't fight a mouse. We've had
nothing to eat since we stole yoni
things"
Then he told me Of their tramp With Q
good deal of pathos and haRsp 70 fee
sorry for the fellows and a little ASHAMED
OF guarding them so rigidly at the pts
toll mouth. ] promised them a good
supper when VS. got TO the center. l
Then came tho welcome ingiu ~ th'
sleigh bells and the sound Of voices.
IAN rightg' shouted 6okey.
"All right, answered.
lord, boss, said tbs tai man get
ting stiiiy up, tits q good thing yot
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