The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-06-04
CHAPTER V.
: A TRIP TO THE GRAND CANYON.


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 ia train
robbery was to believe something equal
ly improbable. Indeed I should have
put the whole thing down as a practical
joke of Mr.. Cullen's party if it had not
been for the loss Of the registered let
ters Even practical joker would hard
ly care to 60 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 alkali plain.
Getting the men and horses back on to
the cars, I jumped up ON the tailboard
and ordered the runner to pull out for
Flagstaff. 1t was run Of seven hours,
getting us in little after 8, and in
those hours had done lot Of thinking,
which had all come to one resultant
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 a fact did get from them. Go
ing to my own car, 1 ordered quick
supper, and while was eating it 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 I
went out; that as he turned to go to
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, sah.''
''Then it couldn't have been Mr.. Gull
len, Jim," declared, "for I found him
up at the other end Of the car. -
"Tell you it wuz, Mr.. Gordon" Jim
insisted. IT done seen his face cl'ar in
de light, and he done go into Mr.. Gull
lens Car, whar de old gentleman wuz
sittin."
That set me whistling to myself, and
I laughed to think how near had come
to giving nitroglycerin to fellow who
was only shamming heart failure, for
that it was Frederic Cullen who had
climbed on the car 1 hadn't the slight
est doubt, the resemblance between the
two brothers being quite strong enough
to deceive any one who had never seen
them together. smiled little and re-
marked to myself; II think can make
robbers, but whether the Cullens will
like my doing it 1 question. What is
more, Lord Rallies will owe me q bot
tie" Then 1 thought Of Madge and
didn't feel as pleased over my success as
I had felt a moment before.
BY o'clock the posse and were in
the saddle and skirting the San Fran
cisco peaks. There was no use of press
ing the ponies, for our game wasn't
trying to escape, and, for that matter
couldn't, as the Colorado river wasn't
passable. 1t was lovely moonlight
night, and the ride through the pines
was as pretty q one as 1 remember ever
to have made. 1t set me thinking Of
Madge and of our talk the evening be-
fore and of what change "a hours had
brought. 1t was lucky was riding an
Indian pony, or I should probably have
landed in a heap. 1 don't know that
should have cared particularly if prai-
RE dog burrow had made me dash my
brains out, for 1 wasn't happy over the
job that lay before me.
We watered at Silver Spring at quar-
ter past IL. From that point we were
clear of the pines and out ON the plain,
80 we could go better pace. This
brought us to the half way ranch by 2,
where we gave the ponies feed and an
hours rest. We reached the last relay
station just as the moon set, about $40,
~ as all the resr " the ride was
: - .1gh coconino forest, we held up
ss&io III tidyllBuo, BctlihS ~ iioeio slSSp
meanwhile.
We rode into the camp at the Grand
canyon little after 8, and the deserted
look of the tents gave me moments
fright, for / feared that the party had
gone. Tolfree explained, however, that
some had ridden out to Moran Point
and the rest had gone down Hance's
trail. So brea,kfasted, and then took a
look at Albert Cullen winchester. That
it had been recently fired was as plain
as the Grand canyon itself. Throwing
back the bar, found an empty car
fridge shell, still oily from the discharge.
That completed the tale of seven shots.
didn't feel absolutely safe till had
asked Tolfree if there had been any
shooting Of echoes by the party, but his
denial rounded out my chain of evil
dence Telling the sheriff to guard the
bags Of the party carefully, took two
of the posse and rode over to Moran's.
Sure enough, there were Mr.. Cullen,
a 4