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

TRIP TO THE GRAND CANYON.
stood pondering for no explanation
that would fit the facts seemed possible.
I 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 l should have
put the whole thing down as practical
joke of Mr.. Collen's party if 1t 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, / 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, 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 8, and in
those hours had done a 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 q 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, l ordered a quick
supper, and while Twas 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 l had ordered when
went out; that as he turned to go to a
safer place he had seen a man, revolver
in hand, climb over the offside gate OF
Mr.. Cullen's car, and for q moment he
had supposed it road agent till he saw
that it was Albert Cullen.
"That was just after 1 had got OFF,"
asked.
"Yis, sab. T"
"Then it couldn't have been Mr.. Gull
len, jim, l declared, for found him
up at the other end Of the car. -
Tell you it wuz, MIR. Gordon, - jim
insisted. II done seen his face cl an in
de light, and lac done go into Mr.. Gull
lens car, whar Gle old gentleman wuz
sittin. "
That set me whistling to myself, aud
l laughed to think how near had come
to giving nitroglyccrin TO a fellow who
was only shamming heart failure, for
that il was Frederic Cullen who had
climbed on the car l 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; Il think I can make
good my boast that l would catch the
robbers but whether the Cullens will
like my doing it l question What is
more, Lord Rallies will owe me a bot
tie. F" Then | thought OF Madge and
didn't feel us pleased over my success as
1 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 WASH
passable 1t was lovely moonlight
night, and the ride through the pines
was as pretty one as l remember ever
to have made 1t set me thinking of
Madge and Of cur talk - evening be-
fore and of what chal - "A hours had
brought. 1t was lucky / was riding an
Indian pony, or l should probably have
landed in heap. 1 don't know that /
should have cared particularly if prai-
RE dog burrow had made me dash my
brains out, for wasn't happy over the
job that lay before me.
We watered at Silver Spring at quar-
ter past ~. From that point we were
clear of the pines and out on the plain,
SO 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 rest If the ride was
h. ugh coconino forest, we held up
mere for daylight, getting little sleep
meanwhile.
We rode into the camp at the Grand
canyon little after 8, and the deserted
look OF the tents gave me moment g
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 | breakfasted, and then took a
look at Albert Cullen winchester. That
1t 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
TI...A