The Advocate and news., 1898-01-05


was only shamming heart failure, for
that it 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. l smiled a little and re-
marked to myself: Il think ] can make
good my boast that | would catch the
robbers, but whether the Cullens will
like my doing it l question. What is
more, Lord Rallies will owe me bot
tie" Then I thought Of Madge and
didn't feel as pleased over my success as
I had felt moment before.
BY 8 o'clock the posse and I 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 one as l remember ever
to have made. 1t set me thinking Of
Madge and Of our talk the evening be-
fore and Of what o change "a hours had
brought. 1t was lucky / was riding an
Indian pony, or l should probably have
landed in heap. don't know that |
should have cared particularly if prai-
rie 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 10. From that point we were
clear Of the pines and out on the plain,
so we could go a better pace. This
brought us to the half way ranch by .,
where we gave the ponies feed and an
hours rest. We reached the last relay
station Just as the moon set, about S:4O,
and, az all tho rest Of the ride was
through coconinO forest, we held up
there 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 a moments
fright, for feared that the Earty had
gone Tolfree explained, however, that
some had ridden out to Moran Point
and the rest had gone down Hance's
trail. So I breakfasted, and then took
look at Albert Cullen s winchester That
it had been recently fired was as plain
as the Grand canyon itself. Throwing
back the bar, I found an empty car
fridge shell, still oily from the discharge.
That completed the tale Of seven shots.
I didn't feel absolutely safe till I 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,
Albert and Captain Ackland. They gave
shout at seeing me, and even before I
had reached them they called to know
how / could come so soon and If I had
caught the robbers. Mr.. Cullen started
to tell his pleasure at my rejoining the
party, but my expression made him pause,
and it seemed to dawn ON all three that
the winchester across my saddle and the
cowboys resting nonchalantly on the
reVolvers in their belts had meaning.
"Mr. Cullen" I said, "I've got a
very unpleasant job ON hand, which 1
don't want to make any worse than
need be. Every fact ctpoints to your party
as guilty of holding up the train last
night and stealing those letters. Prob
ably you weren't all concerned, but
I've got to go on the assumption that
you are all guilty till you prove other
wise"
Jaw, you're joking" drawled AL
bert.
"Ihope so, !" Isaid. "But for the pres
ent I've got to be English and treat the
joke seriously"
0What dO Won want tn dOpO asked