The Advocate and news., 1898-02-09

was perfect desperation for the five to
tackle the cowboys, but they were game
TO do it, all the same.
How il would have ended l don't
know, but as they sprang off the car
platform Miss Cullen came out on it
and stood there, one hand holding on
to the doorway, as if she needed sup
port, ana the other covering her heart.
II was too far for me to see her face,
but the whole attitude expressed such
suffering that it was terrible TO see.
What was more, her position put her in
range of every shot the cowboys might
fire at the five as they charged. If l
could have stopped them, I would have
done so; but, since that was impossible,
l cried:
"Mr. Camp, I'll surrender the let
ters. >"
Hold on, boys" shouted Baldwin.
"Wait till we get the property he stole "
And, coming through the crowd, he
threw the moose off my neck.
Don't shoot, Mr.. Cullen, yelled,
as my friends halted and raised their
rifles, and fortunately the cowboys had
opened up enough to let them hear me
and see that was free of the rope.
Escorted by Camp, Baldwin and the
cowboys, / walked toward them. On
the way Baldwin said in low voice:
Deliver the letters, and We'll tell the
boys there has been mistake. Other
wise"--
When he came up to the five, I called
to them that had agreed to surrender
the letters. While was saying it Miss
TO see now respectfully the cowboys
took off their hats and fell back.
''You are quite right, !" Mr.. Cullen
called. "Give them the letters at once. /"
"Oh, do, Mr.. Gordon" said Madge,
still white and breathless with emotion.
"The money is nothing. Don't think''-
1t was all she could say.
felt pretty small, but with Camp
and Baldwin, now re-enforced by Judge
Wilson, went to the station, ordered
the agent to open the safe, took out the
three letters and handed them to Mr..
Camp, realizing how poor Madge must
have felt ON Hance's trail.
Just as he took them we heard out
side the first note Of a bugle, and as it
sounded "By fours, column left" my
heart gave big jump and the blood
came rushing to my face. Camp, Bald
win and Wilson dashed out of the door,
and I wasn't two feet behind them.
There was a squadron Of cavalry swing
ing a circle round the station, and we
had barely reached the platform when
the bugle sounded "Halt," quickly fol-
lowed by Forward left" AS the ranks
wheeled and closed up as solid line
about us I could have cheered with de-
light. There was moments dramatic
hush, in which we could all hear the
breathing of the winded horses, and
then came the clatter Of sword and
spurs as an officer sprang from his sad
die.
81 want Richard Gordon, +" the off,
Ger called
1 said, cat your service and badly
in need Of yours, Captain Singer"
"Hope the delay hasn't spoiled
things, said the captain. 1--WE had
cursed fool Of a guide, who took the
wrong trail and ran us into Limestone
canyon, where we had to camp for the
night. "
l Iexplained the situation as quickly
as l could, and the captain eyes gleam-
ed. "I'd have given bad quarter to
have got here ten minutes sooner and
ridden my men over those scoundrels,"
he muttered II saw them scatter as
we rode up, and if I'd known what
they'd been doing we'd have given
them a volley." Then he walked over
to Mr.. Camp and said, "Give me those
letters.
"T hold thosa laktnra hy virtua ~ ON