West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1899-03-16
CuApTI,R XII

THE IEfFki.S CEANGE HANDS AGAIN.
What seemed IL the moment AN in
comprehensive puzzle had, rs we after
ward learned. avery sinplo explanation.
One of tie q. :. directors, Mr.. Bald
win, who had come ia on Mr.. Camps
car, Was the owuor OF "A great cattlo
ranch near Rock Butte. Vixen tho train
had been held at that station for II few
minutes, Camp went % the conductor
deinau0cSl the cause for the delay and
WAS shown my Telegram. seeing through
the device, the party had at once gono
10 this ranch, where the owner, Bald
win, laCGmted thcm. aud IL was their
dust cloud we had suCn as hey rode I'D
TO Ash Forks To make matters more
serious, Baldwin had rounded up his
cowboys and brought them along with
him in ORDER 70 make ANY resistance inn
possible.
l made no objection TO the sheriff
serving the paper though il nearly
broke my heart TO see Madge's face. To
cheer her L said suggestively: They've
got me, but they haven't got the letters,
Miss Cullen. And, remember, it's al
ways darkest before the dawn, and the
stars IN their courses are against Caesar "
With the sheriff and Mr. Camp then
walked over TO the saloon, where Judge
Wilson was waiting TO dispose of my
case. Mr. Cullen AID Albert tried to
come, too, but all outsiders were ex-
cluded by order of the court" " / was
told to show cause why / should not
forthwith produce the letters, and am
swered that asked an adjournment Of
the case SO that / might be heard by
counsel. 1t was denied, as was TO have
bCon expected Indeed why they took
the trouble TO go through the forms was
beyond me. / told Wilson / should not
produce the letters, and he asked if /
knew what that meant. couldn't help
laughing and rctorting:
1t very appropriately means con
tempt of the court, your honor"
IN give you a stiff term, young
man, =" he said.
1T Will take just one day TO have
habeas corpus proceedings in IA United
States court and one more 60 get the
papers hore, " rcjoinod pleasantly.
Seeing that / understood the moves
too well to he bluffed, the judge, Mr..
Camp and the lawyer held a Whispered
consultation. My surprise can be imag-
;acd when, at its conclusion, Liz. Camp
. B.li,l
'6our honor l charge Richard Cor
don with being concerned in the holding
up of the Missouri Western overland.
no. 3, on the night of Oct. ii and ask
that ho bo t.!kcn into custody on that
charge. -
couldn't make out this new move
and puzzled over il, while judge Wilson
ordered my commitment. But the next
step revealed the object, for the lawyer
theli asked for search warrant 70 look
tcr stolen property Tho judge was
equally obliging and began TO fill onJ
out OH the instant
This made 1ne feel pretty serious. for
the letters were ia my breast pocket,
and j swore at my own stupidity in not
having put them in the station safe
when L had first arrived at Ash Forks.
There weren't many moments ia which
TO think wlhlc the judge sclibbled away
at the warrant, but in ~bat time there
was / did lot Of head work, without.
however, finding more than one way out
of the snarl, and when 1 saw the Judge
finish OF his signature with IA flourish L
played pretty desperate card.
You're just too late, gentlemen, " l
said, pointing out the side window Of
the saloon. There comes the cavalry. i"
The three coiispirators jumped TO their
feet and bOlted for the window. Even
the sheriff turned to look. As ho did so
] gave him shove toward the three.
which sent them all sprawling ON the
floor in pretty badly mixed up condi-
ton. / made dash for the door, and
as / went through it / grabbed the key
and locked them in. AZ ] turned TO do
so / saw the lot struggling up from the
floor, and, knowing that it wouldn't
take them many seconds 20 find their
way ont through the window, / didn't
waste much time in watching them.
Camp, Baldwin and the judge had
left thcir horses just outside the saloon,
and there they were still patiently stand
ing with their brides thrown over theil
heads, ~ only western horses will stand.
IT didn't take me long 10 have those
bridles back in place, and as L tossed
each over the peak Of the Mexican sad
die / gave two Of the ponies slaps which
started them off at lope across the
railroad tracks 4 swung myself into
the saddle Of the third and ficked him
with the loose ends Cf The bride in
way which made him understand that
meant business
Baldwin's cowboys had most of them
scattered 90 tho various saloons Of the
place. but twoof thcm were standing in
thc doorway of store. ! acted 20 quick
ly, however, that they didp't sccm tc
take IN what I was about til / was we'll
mounted Thcu ! heard a yell. aud,
fearing that they might shoot-for the
cowboy docs love to usc his Cun--I turn
cd sharp nt The saloon corner and rode
up the sido street, just in time 20 SEQ
Camp climbing through the window,
with Balowiu's head in vicw behind
him.
Before I had ridden 100 fcct rcaIiz-
cd ihat 1 had "a done up horse under me.
ard. considering that ne had covered
over 30 miics that afternoon in pretty
quick time, % was not surprising that
there wasn't very much 20 left IN him.
I knew that Blidwin's COWBOYS could