West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1899-01-19

brakeman TO climb tho pole and cut q
wire While he was struggling up. Miss
Cullen Joined me.
''Do you really expect TO catch
themy" she ukkcd.
II shouldn't like 70 be one of tl.cm. +"
replied.
But how can you do it9''
You could understand better, Miss
Cullen, IL you knew this country. You
see every biz of wntcr Is In use by
ranches, and those fellows can Z 90 more
than 90 miles without watering. so we
shall have word of them, wherever they
go
''Line cut Mr.. Gordon" came from
overhead at this point, making Miss
Cullen jump with surprise.
"What was that?' she asked.
explained to her, and, after making
connections called Sanders. Much to
my surprise, tho agent responded
was so astonished that for u moment
could not believe the fact.
This is the queerest hold up of which
1 ever heard, " said to Miss Cullen.
"Aw, in what respect" asked Albert
Cullen's voice aud. looking up, l found
that no and quite number of the pas
sengers had joined us
1.-THE road agents make us dump our
fire, " said, land yet they haven't cut
the wires in either direction. can't zee
how they can escape Us. 4"
"What fun" cried Miss Cullen
81 don't see what Difference either
makes in their chance OF escaping" said
Lord Rallies
W,f1o ho vyoa e,,oaIv{ro. 4Ioi.oa IN
the news of our being held up and asked
the agent IL there had been any men
about Sanders, or II he had seen any one
board the train there. His answer was
positive that no one could have done so,
and that settled it as TO Sanders. / asked
the samo questions Of Allantown and
Wingate, which were the only places we
had stopped at after leaving Coolidge,
getting the same answers That eight
men could have remained concealed ON
any OF tho platforms from that point
was impossible, and l began to suspect
magic. Then / called Coolidge and told
of the hold up, after which telegraphod
the agent at Navajo Springs TO notify
the commander ut Fort Defiance, for /
suspected the road agents would make
for tho Naya1o reservation. Finally j
called Flagstaff as ! had Coolidge, di-
rcctcd that tho authorities bo notified of
the facts and ordered special TO bring
out tho sheriff and posse
Il don't think" said Miss Cullen,
that am bit moro curious than most
people, but II has nearly made mo fran
tic 20 have you tick away ON that little
machine and hear It tick back and not
understand word. T"
After that l had 10 tell her what
had said aud learned.
How clever Of you 70 thinl, Of count
ing the tickets and finding out whore
people got on and off never should
have thought Of either" she said
Tt hasn't helped me much, " laugh
ed rather grimly, Except to eliminate
every possible clew. "
'They probably did steal on at one of
the stops, said passenger.
i shook my head. "There isn't stick
Of timber nor place of concealmcnt on
these alkali plains, / replied, land 1t
was bright moonlight till an hour ago
It would be hard enough for one man
TO get within mile OF the station with
out being seen, and IL would be impossi-
BILE for seven or eight "
How do you know the number"
asked passenger.
II don't" said. That's tho mum
Der the crew think there were, but j
myself don't believe H. "
Why don't you believe the men?"
asked Miss Cullen.
First. because there is always a tend
ency to magnify, and, next, because
ufr Al
Il counted at least seven, 4" said Lord
Rallies.
We'll, Lord Rallies, " I said, II don't
want 70 dispute your cycsight, but II
they had bccn that strong they would
mover have boltcd, and If you want 10
lay a bottle Of vino I'll waRer that
when ] catch those chaps well find thero
weren't moro thnn three or four Of
them
Donci" said ne.
Leaving the group 1 went forward 20
get the report Of the mail aQent He had
put things to rights and told me that,
though the mail had been pretty badly
mixed up, only one pouch 40 worst had
been rified This, tho one for registered
mail, bad been cut open; but, ~ If TO
increase the mystery, the letters had
been scattered, unopened, about the car,
only throo out Of tho whole being miss.
ing, and those very probably had fall
en- into the pigconholcs aud would be
found on more careful search.
confess / brcathed easier 20 think
that the road agents had got away with
nothing and was so pleased that j went
back 20 the wire 10 sond tho news Of II
that the fact might be- included in tho
press dispatches The moon bad set, and
it was 80 dark that ! had somo difficulty
IN finding the pole When I found it,
Miss Cullen was still standing thora
What was more, man was close beside
her, and as came mp heard her say.
Indignantly.
Il viii not allow 10. IL is unfair 20
take such advantage Of me. Tsdso tyour
arm away or / shall call for holpl"
That was enough for me. One step
carried my 100 pounds over tho inter.
,voniuQ ground and using tho fffc4l,eu-