The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-03-04

! called Flagstaff as l had Coolidge, di-
rected that the authorities be notified of
the facts and ordered special to bring
out the sheriff and posse.
| II don't think" said Miss Cullen,
that am a 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 word "
After that / had to tell her what
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
''It 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 passenger.
l shook my head. There isn't a stick
of timber nor place of concealment on
these alkali plains, l replied, "and it
was bright moonlight till an hour ago.
1t would be hard enough for one man
to get within mile of the station with
out being seen and it would be impossi.
BILE for seven or eight. F"
"How do you know the number"
asked passenger.
II DON'T" said That's the num-
Der the crew think there were, but l
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 so quickly"
Il counted at least seven," said Lord
Rallies.
We'll, Lord Rallies" said, II don't
want to dispute your eyesight, but If
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 we II find there
weren't more than three or four of
them.
"Donep 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 rifled This, the one for registered
mail, had been cut open; but, as if 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 Oh a more careful search.
l confess l breathed easier to think
that the road agents had got away with
nothing, and was so pleased that | went
back TO the wire to send the news Of it
that the fact might be included in the
press dispatches. The moon had set, and
! it was so dark that / had some difficulty
! in finding the pole When | found it,
Miss Cullen was still standing there.
| What was more, man was close beside
her, and as l came up ! heard her say,
! Indignantly:
Il will rot allow it. It is unfair to
take such advantage Of me- Take your
arm away on l shall call for helpl'
That was enough for me. One step
carried my 100 pounds over the inter
vening ground, and, using the momen-
tum of the stride to help, put the fat
of my hand against the shoulder Of tho
man and gave him a shove. There are
three or four Harvard men who can tell
what that means, and they We're braccd
for it, which this fellow wasn't lie
went staggering back as if struck by n
cowcatcher and lay down on the ground
good Is feet away. His having his
arm around Miss Cullen's waist UNI
steadied her so that she would have
fallen, too, if l hadn't put my hand
against her shoulder l longed TO put i;
about her, but by this time l wanted tc
do only what l thought she would wish
and so restrained myself.
Before had time TO finish an apology
to Miss Cullen the fellow was upon his
feet and came at me with an exclama-
ton of anger. In my surprise at recog-
nizlng inc voice as that OF Lo,a Rale
I almost neglected TO take care of my
self; but, though he was quick with nil
fist.'. | caught him by the wrists as ht
closed, and he had 10 chance after tina
against fellow of my weight.
"Oh, don't quarrel!" cried Miss Cul
len.
Holding him, said, Lord Rallies,
overheard what Miss Cullen was saying
and supposing some man was insulting
her acted as did" Then let go o
him and, turning, said, 81 am very sor
ny, Miss Cullen, if l did anything thu
circumstances did not warrant" while
cursing myself for my precipitancy ant
for not thinking that Miss Cullen would
never have been caught in such pligh
with man unless she had been hal
willing, for girl does not merely
threaten to call for help if she really
wants aid.
Lord Rallies WASH t much Modified by
my explanation. You're too much IL
harry, my man." he growlcd, speak
ing to me as if were a servant. BE |
bit more careful i'm the future. I"
/ think I should have retorted-fo
his manner was enough to make sain
mad-if Miss Cullen hadn't spoken.
"You tried to help me, Mr.. Gordon