The Advocate and news., 1897-12-29

cullen 8 voice, and, looking up, Gound
that he and quite number Of the pas
sengers had Joined us.
"The road agents make Us dump our
fire, " I said, "and yet they haven't cut
the wires in either direction. can't see
how they can escape u.s..
"What funl' cried Miss Cullen.
II don't see what difference either
makes in their chance Of escaping" " said
Lord Rallies.
While he was speaking I ticked of
the newsO Of our being held up and asked
the agent if there had been any men
about Sanders, or if he had seen any one
board the train there. His answer was
positive that no one could have done so,
and that settled it as to Sanders I asked
the same questions Of Allantown and
Wingate, which were the only places we
had stopped at after leaving Coolidge,
getting the same answers. That eight
men could have remained concealed on
any of the platforms from that point
was impossible, and l began to suspect
magic Then 1 called Coolidge and told
Of the hold up, after which 1 telegraphed
the agent at Navajo Springs to notify
the commander at Fort Defiance, for /
suspected the road agents would make
for the Navajo reservation. Finally I
called Flagstaff as / had Coolidge, di.
rected that the authorities be notified Of
the facts and ordered a special to bring
out the sheriff and posse.
II don't Think" said Miss Cullen,
o." that / am bit more curious than most
people, but it has nearly made me fran
tic to have you tick away on that little
machine and hear it tick back and not
understand a word"
After that 1 had to tell her what I
had said and learned.
How clever Of you to think Of count
ing the tickets and finding out where
people got on and off never should
have thought Of either" she said.
lit hasn't helped me much" laugh
ed rather grimly, Except to eliminate
every possible clew."
"They probably did steal ON at one Of
the stops" said a passenger.
l shook my head "There ism u a stick
Of timber nor q place Of concealment ON
these alkali plains" replied, land it
was bright moonlight till an hour ago.
It would be hard enough for one man
to get within a mile Of the station with
out being seen, and it would be impossi-
BILE for seven or eight. "
"How do you know the NUMBER"
asked a passenger.
II don't" l said. "That's the num-
Der the crew think there were, but
myself don't believe it. "
"Why don't you believe the men?"
asked Miss Cullen.
First, because there is always a tend
ency to magnify, and, next, because
the road agents ran away 80 quickly"
IT counted at least seven" said Lord
Rallies.
"Well, Lord Rallies" 1 said, II don't
want to dispute your eyesight, but il
they had been that strong they would
never have bolted, and if you want to
lay bottle Of wine I'll wager that
when catch those chaps wei find there
weren't more than three or four Of
them"
"DOnel' said he.
Leaving the group, went forward to
get the report Of the mail agent. He had
put things to rights and told me that,
though the mail had been pretty badly
mixed up, only one pouch at worst had
been riAed. This, the one for registered
mail, had been cut open; but, as IL to
increase the mystery, the letters had
been scattered, unopened, about the Car,
only three out Of the whole being miss.
ing, and those very probably had fall
en- into the pigeOnholes and would be
found ON a more careful search.
I confess I breathed easier To think