San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-03-21

board the train there. His answer was
positive that no one could have done SO,
and that settled it as to Sanders. l asked
the same questions Of Allentown 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 called Coolidge and told
of the hold up, after which l telegraphed
the agent at Navajo Springs to notify
the commander at Fort Defiance, for l
suspected the road agents would make
for the Navajo reservation. Finally l
called Flagstaff as 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 I 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 word.
After that I 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.
1T hasn't helped me much, " I laugh
ed rather grimly, Except to eliminate
every possible clew."
"They probably did steal ON at one of
the stops" said passenger.
shook my head. "There isn'ta stick
of timber nor place of concealment ON
these alkali plains" replied, land 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.
How do you know the NUMBER"
asked a passenger.
II DON'T" said "That's the num-
Der the crew think there were, but /
myself don't believe it"
why don't you believe the mem"
asked Miss Cullen.
First, because there is always tend
ency to magnify, and, next because
the road agents ran away so quickly"
II counted at least seven" said Lord
Rallies.
well, 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 1 catch those chaps we'll find there
weren't more than three or four Of
them.
"Donep said he.
Leaving the group, I 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 rihed. 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 on more careful search.
confess 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 1 had some difficulty
in finding the pole. When I found it,
Miss Cullen was still standing there.
What was more, man was close beside
her, and as came up heard her say,
Indignantly:
II will not allow it. 1t is unfair to
take such advantage of me- Take your
arm away or shall call for helpr'
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 the
man and gave him shove. There are
three or four Harvard men who can tell
what that means, and they were braced
for it, which this fellow wasn't. He
went staggering back as IL struck by 6
cowcatcher and lay down on the ground
a good 10 feet away. His having hii
arm around Miss Cullen's waist un
steadied her 80 that she would hav,
fallen, too, II I hadn't put my HAND
against her shoulder. longed to put i
about her, but by this time wanted u
do only what thought she would wisl
and so restrained myself.
Before I had time to finish an apolog.
to Miss Cullen the fellow was upon hi
feet and came at me with an exclama
!. ton of anger. In my surprise at recog
nizing the voice as that Of Lord Ralle
I almost neglected to take care Of my
o self; but, though he was quick with hi
q fists, caught him by the wrists as b
7 closed, and he had no chance after ths
T against fellow Of my weight.
"Oh, don't quarrelp' cried Miss Gu
h len.
Holding him, said, Lord Rallies,
- overheard what Miss Cullen was sayinl