The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-06-04

don't want TO make any worse than
need be. Every fact points to your party
as guilty of holding up the train last
night and stealing those letters. Prob
ably you weren't all concerned, but
I've got to go ON the assumption that
you are all guilty till you prove other
wise. "
Jaw, you're joking" drawled AL
bert.
II hope So" said. "But for the pres
ent I've got to be English and treat the
joke seriously"
"What do you want to do?' asked
Mr.. Cullen.
II don't wish To arrest you gentlemen
unless you force me to, said, "for /
don't see that it will do any good. But
want you to return to camp with us. F"
They assented to that, and, single
file, we rode back When there, told
each that he must be searched, to which
they submitted at once. After that we
went through their baggage. wasn't
going to have the sheriff or COWBOYS
tumbling over Miss Cullen's clothes, so
1 looked over her bag myself The pref
tiness and daintiness of the various con-
tents were revelation to me, and I
tried to put them back as neatly as l
had found them. But L didn't know
much about the articles, and it was
j~1rrible job trying to fold up some Of
'bhe things. Why, there was a big pink
affair, lined with silk, with bits of rib
bon and lace all over it, which nearly
drove me out Of my head, for I would
have defied mortal man to pack it so
, that it shouldn't muss. had funny
little feeling Of tenderness for every
thing, which made fussing over it all a
pleasure, even while 1 felt all the time
that was doing a sneak act and had
really no right to touch her belongings.
didn't find anything discriminating,
and the posse reported the same result
with the other baggage. If the letters
were still in existence, they We're either
concealed somewhere or were in the
possession of the party in the canyon.
Telling the sheriff to keep those in the
camp under absolute surveillance, took
q single man, and, saddling couple of
mules, started down the trail.
We found Frederic and Captain"
Hance just dismounting at the Rock
cabin, and told the former he was in
custody for the present and asked him
where Miss Cullen and Lord Rallies
were. He told me they were just be.
hind. But wasn't going to take any
risks, and, ordering the deputy to look
after Cullen, went ON down the trail.
I couldn't resist calling back:
"How's your respiration, Mr.. Cullen?"
He laughed and called, "Digitalis put
me ON my feet like flash. - I said to
myself, "He's got the most brains of
any man in this party
The trail at this point is very wind
ing, SO that one can rarely see 80 feet in
advance, and sometimes not 10. Owing
to this, the first thing knew pumped
round curve ON to a mule, which was
patiently standing there. Just back of
him was another, ON which sat Miss
Cullen, and, standing close beside her,
was Lord Rallies. One Of his hands held
the mules bride, the other held Madge's
arm, and he was saying, "You owe it to
me, and will have one, or if'-
I swore to myself and coughed aloud,
which made Miss Cullen look up. The
moment she saw me she cried, "Mr.
Gordonl How delightfulp even while
she grew as red as she had been pale the
moment before. Lord Rallies grew red,
too, but in q different way.
"Have you caught the robbers?" cried
Miss Cullen.
"I'm afraid 1 have, answered.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
smiled at the absolute innocence and
wonder with which she spoke and re-
piled, IT know now, Miss Cullen, why
you said I was Drawer than the British
ers. +"
"How do you know"
Icouldn't resist getting in side shot
at Lord Rallies, who had mounted his
mule and sat scowling. "The train rob-
bers were such thoroughgoing buffers at
the trade," said, ".that if they had
left their names and addresses they
wouldn't have made it much easier We
Americans may not know enough to
deal with real road agents, but we can
do something with amateurs. "
"What are we stopping here for?"
snapped Lord Rallies
"I'm sure don t know" Responded.
"Miss Cullen, If you will kindly pass
us, and then if Lord Rallies will follow
you, we will go ON to the cabin. 1 must
ask you to keep close together.
ct stay or go as please, and not by
your ORDERS" said Lord Rallies.
"Out in this part Of the country" I
said calmly, cit is not good form for
an unarmed man to argue with one who
carries repeating rife. Kindly follow
Miss Cullen" And, leaning over, 1
struck his mule with the loose ends Of
my bride, starting it up the trail.
When we reached the cabin, the dep
uty told me that he had made Frederic
strip and had searched his clothing,
finding nothing. ordered Lord Rallies
to dismount and go into the cabin.
"For what?" he demanded.
eve want to search you," l an
swered.
81 don't choose to be searched" he
.l,