West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1899-02-02
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stoca pondering, for 10 explanation
that wotlla ht the facts sccmed possible
l should have considered the Young f,,a-
bows story only an attempt 10 gain
Guic reputation for pluck if in ary way
] coald nave 1-CountC9 for the appca->
ance and disappearance Of tho robbers.
Yet TO suppCsc--which seemed tho ONLY
other horn TO the o5Demma--that tho son
and guests OF IlIo vice president of the
Missouri Western and one Of our own
directors would be concerned i'm train
rol5seIy was to believe something equal
" improbable. Indeed ] 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 tho registered let
ters. Even practical joker would hard.
iy care to go 10 the length OF cutting
open government mail pouches, for Un-
Gle Sam doesn't approve of such conduct.
Whatever the explanation, L had
enough facts TO prevent me from vast
ing moro time on that allxali plain.
Getting the men and horses back ON to
the cars, jumped up on tho tailboard
and ordered the runner tu pull ont for
Flagstaf Ii was run of seven hours
getting MS In n little after 8. and in
those hours had done n 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 a siding.
but the Cullens had left for the Grand
canyon the moment they had arrived
and We're about reaching there hy this
time. went TO 21S and questioned the
cook and waiter, but they either had
seen nothing on else had been primed,
for not fact did get from them. Go
ing 20 my own car. ordered quick
supper, and while Twas eating it ones
toned my boy. He told me that he had
heard the shots and had boltcd tho front
door of my car, as had ordered when
went out; that as he turned to go 10
safer place he had seen man. revolver
In hand, climb over tho offside gate of
hr- Cuilen's car, and for moment he
had supposed IL n r, nd agent till hn saw
that il was Albert Cullen.
That was just after / had got OFF,"
asked.
"IiS sab"
Then it couldn't have been Mr. Gull
len, Jim, 1 declared, "for foand him
up AT tho thcr end of the car. "
TEL you it wuz, Mr. Gordon" Jim
insisted. II done seen his focc Tar in
dc light, and he done go into Mr.. Cul-
lens car, whar de old gentleman wuz
sittin.
That set me whistling to myself, and
/ laughed 10 think how near had come
to giving mtro8lycerin to n fellow who
was only shamming heart failure, for
that II was Frederic Gallon who had
climbed Oh the car / hadn't the slight
| est doubt, the resemblance between the
two brothers being quite strong enough
to deceive any ono who had never seen
them together. 1 smiled "a little and re-
marked to myself: ''I think / can make
good my boast that 1 would catch the
robbers, but whether the Cullens will
like my doing it / question. What is
more, Lord Rallies viii owe me bot
tie" Then / thought Of Madge and
didn't feel as pleased over my success AZ
l had felt a moment before.
BY 8 o'clock the posse aud 1 wero in
the saddle and slfirting 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. II was lovely moonlight
night, and tho ride through the pines
was as pretty ono as / remember ever
TO have made. It set nc thinking OF
Madge and OF our talk the evening be-
fore and Of what a change % hours had
brought II was lucky / was riding an
Indian pony, or should probably have
landed I'm heap. ] don't know that /
should have cared particularly If prai-
rie dog burTow had made me dash my
brains out, for wasn't happy over the
job that lay before mo.
We watered at Silver Spring at quar-
ter past Q. From that point we were
clear OF tho pines and ont ON the plain,
so we could 60 n better pace This
brought us to tho half way ranch by 2,
where wo gave the ponies a feed and an
hours rest. We reached the last relay
station lust rs tho moon set, about $40,
and, as all the rest n the ride was
through coconino forest, wo held up
there for daylight getting q little sleep
meanwhile.
We rode into tho carp at tho Grand
canyon q little after 8, and the deserted
look Of tho tents Ravo mo a moments
fright, for / feared that the party had
gone. Tolfrce explained. however. that
some had ridden out 10 Moran Point
and the rest had gone down Hancc's
trail. SO brcolfastcd, end then took a
look at Albert Cullcn'swiuchcstcr That
II had been recently fired was as plain
cs tho Grand canyon itself Throwing
back tho bar, / found an empty car
fridge she'll still oily from Tho discharge.
That completed tho talo cf sovcn shots.
/ didn't feel absolutely sefe till I had
asl1ed Tolfrcc If there lad been any
shooting Of echoes by thc party. but his
denial rounded out my chain Of cvi-
denco Telling the sheriff to guard the
bags Of The party carefully, ] took two
Of the posse and rode over TO Morau's
Sure enough. thcro were Mr. Cullen,
Albert and Captain Aclland They cavo
shout at seeing me, and even before I
had reached them thcy called 10 know
how ] could como so soon aud if had
caught the rolbors Dir Cullen started
TO tell his pleasure at my rcioiniug tho
party, but mycKprc8sicnmndoh him pguac.
and 10 seemed go dawn or al thrcc that
the winchester across my saddle and the
cOrvirra' resting ffCurlfufrf1fr.s r,4t fi,o