The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-28
How We. Defeated the law
Sheriff Engineer of Steam

By GEORGE r. LYON.
Copyright. 1897, by The s. s. Mcclure Co.

was over to Fort Scott almost every
night, returning i'll the small hours "t
the morning.
i Where does he go?" asked Fisk, one
yening after Gleason had as usual start
ed off, leaving us to look after every
thing alone. He sncaks off every nigh
just this way. and | don't like it.
20, we'll" | answered. AS long q:
he uses us square it's none of our bust
ness where he goes.
! That's just it, Fisk exclaimed
How do we know that he is not up tC
some game or other?' then sinking his
voice a little lower, he continued 1--WE
don't know anything about this chap
He never says much about himself to
us, and | think we had better keep our
eyes open little anyway"
How caa he do us any harm!
asked. Tile has an interest in the
thing"
THAT is more than l can tell" he re-
piled thoughtfully, yet | think he will
bear watching all right
"All right" l repeated. starting up.
I'm go and fix the fire for the night.
and We'll pull out of this the first thing
in the morning" We had just finished
a large stack that day, and all the
hands had gone off except Fisk and my
| self, and one of rs generally stayed
with the machine night and day. just
as l had finished banking the fire in the
fire-box for the night, l thoughtI heard
a slight rustic in the straw, like a step
| thought at the other end of the en-
gine. but it was too dark for me to see
anything. and as / did not hear it again,
| concluded that it was only field
mouse among the straw. Gleason did
not show up that night. In the morning
by sunrise | had a roaring fire in the
furnace, and the steam had begun to
make a little. when i noticed it escap-
ing sual white clouds from the cyl
inder heads. This surprised me a little,
for | knew that they were all tight
when | shut down the night before.
and | stepped around to investigate, and
upon a close examination | found that
the cylinder head had been unbolted and
the packing removed. The throttle had
also been tempered with, and it would
not close tightly, thus letting the steam
escape into the cylinder. and showing
us ths. loss before we otherwise would
have noticed it. / FASTENED to the tender
where the spare packing was kept, but
il WAS gone. l was by this time some
what excited, and calling Fisk, together
we made q more careful examination of
the entire machine, but found nothing
else disturbed. 1t was only too evident
that some person or persons had re-
moved the rubber packing from the
cylinder heads for the purpose of dis
aiding us. Who could it have been, and
what was their object was more than
we could understand. as there was no
rival machine in the vicinity. While We
were talking the matter over and wish
ing that Gleason would come, man in
II light buggy drove rapidly up, and
asked: rs this the Gleason and Fisk
OUTFIT"
Fisk quietly informed him that it was
Your other partner Gleason" the
man in the buggy began, has been in
yesting rather heavily in stocks or
something of that kind, on security of
property owned by the company, and as
the investment has turned out badly,
and Gleason can't pay, I've been in
structed by the proper authorities to ask
you to settle the matter at once"
"What have we to do with his invest
ments?' asked Fisk with a scrowl.
''One member of firm binds the rest
in Kansas suavely remarked the
stranger.
And we refuse to settler / asked
inquiringly.
'Then, I'll have TO serve an attach
men on the outfit, that's ALL" said the
man.
Let us see your papers," said Fisk,
stepping up to the side of the buggy.
The man unbuttoned his coat and began
to tumble in his pockets As he did so
noticed a sheriff's shield pinned on his
vest front.
"Confound the luck he exclaimed an
grily. 1--WE left them back at Fort
Scott, but never mind; it's all straight
enough anyway. / don't think you will
doubt my authority" and he exposed
his shield to us.
Well cried Fisk. wrathfully, Il
don't think you will attach anything
here without the papers-perhaps not
then"
"Forewarned-for laughed
the sheriff as he glanced at the steam
kissing from the crack around the cyl
Under head. Il cont think that you will
be apt to run away with the property
before can serve the papers, and
then he drove quickly away in the direc
ton of Fort scott.
"Say, sheriff. | called after him. He
stopped his horse and looked back 'Is
this bill of Gleason's all straight, or is it
game of his to fleece us?"
The sheriff laughed little at this, and
then said: ''WeIl, to tell the truth,
his ways are little dark. know him;
he likes to catch a tenderfoot occasion
ally, but he's got the advantage Of you
fellows all right, because he's got, the
law on his side"
Fisk was about to make some sharp
reply, but l shook my head warningly at
him, and the sheriff went on.
ct won't do to make him mad" said
I'VE are in bad fix and it will only
make matters still worse to get the Off
Gals down on u.s." But" groaned Fisk,
ito think what precious pair Of fools
we are" Eyes, it's pretty tough, old
man." / remarked sadly. "All our mon.