San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-03-28
CHAPTER V.
A TRIP TO THE GRAND CANYON.

TRIP TO THE GRAND CANYON.
/ stood bordering, for no explanation
that would fit the facts seemed possible.
/ should have considered the young fell
lows story only an attempt to gain a
little reputation for pluck if in any way
could have accounted for the appear
ance and disappearance of the robbers.
Yet to suppose-which seemed the only
other horn to the dilemma-that the son
and guests of the vice president of the
Missouri Western and one of our own
directors would be concerned in train
robbery was to believe something equal
" improbable Indeed 1 should have
put the whole thing down as practical
joke of Mr.. Cullen's party if it had not
been for the loss of the registered let
tiers. Even practical joker would hard
" care to go to the length of cutting
open government mail pouches, for I'm
Gle Sam doesn't approve of such conduct.
Whatever the explanation, 1 had
enough facts to prevent me from vast
ing more time on that alkah plain.
Getting the men and horses back on to
the cars, / jumped up on the tailboard
and ordered the runner to pull out for
Flagstaff 1t was run of seven hours,
getting US in a little after s, and in
those hours l had done lot of thinking,
which had all come to one result-that
Mr.. Cullen's party was concerned in the
hold up.
The two private cars were on siding,
but the Cullens had left for the Grand
canyon the moment they had arrived
and were about reaching there by this
time. / went to 218 and questioned the
cook and waiter, but they either had
seen nothing or else had been primed,
for not fact did get from them. Go
ing to my own car, ordered a quick
supper, and while Twas eating it 1 ques-
, toned my boy. He told me that he had
heard the shots and had bolted the front
door of my car, as had ordered when |
went out; that as he turned to go to a
safer place he had seen man, revolver
in hand, climb over the offside gate Of
Mr.. Cullen's car, and for moment he
had supposed it road agent till he saw
that it was Albert Cullen.
"That was just after had got Off"
asked.
"Yis, sab.
''Then it couldn't have been Mr.. Cul
len, Jim" declared, ''for found hin
up at the other end Of the car"
"Tell you it wuz, Mr.. Gordon" jim
insisted. 81 done seen his face CT ar IL
de light, and he done go into Mr.. Cul
lens car, whar de old gentleman wul
sittin. I"
That set me whistling to myself, anC
I laughed to think how near had com,
to giving nitroglycerin to fellow whC
was only shamming heart failure, fol
that it was Frederic Cullen who hac
climbed ON the car 1 hadn't the slight
est doubt, the resemblance between thu
two brothers being quite strong enough
to deceive any one who had never seel
them together. l smiled little and re
marked to myself: 81 think can MAX
good my boast that / would catch tn
robbers, but whether the Cullens will
like my doing it / question. What i
more, Lord Rallies will owe me a bot
tle.'' Then 1 thought of Madge an
didn't feel as pleased over my success a
/ had felt moment before.
By 9 O'Clock the posse and l were i
the saddle and skirting the San Fran
cisco peaks. There was no use of press
ing the ponies, fer our game WASH
trying to escape, and, for that matter
couldn't, as the Colorado river WASH
passable. 1t was lovely moonligh
night, and the ride through the pine
was as pretty one as remember eve
to have made. 1t set me thinking O
Madge and of our talk the evening be
fore and of what change "a hours ha
brought. 1t was lucky was riding a
Indian pony, or stouId probably hav
landed in heap don't know that
should have cared particularly if prai
RE dog burrow had made me dash m
brains out for wasn't happy over tn
job that lay before me.
We watered at Silver Spring at qual
ter past IL. From that point we weI
clear of the pines and out on the plaiI
so we could go a better pace. TIL
brought us to the half way ranch by ;
where we gave the ponies feed and q
hours rest We reached the last rels
station just as the moon set, about 3:4
and, as all the rest Of the ride vi
through coconino forest, we held I
there for daylight getting a little sle'
meanwhile
We rode into tho camp at the Gran
,.,,-,,, a IittTa after & and the deSerfe