Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-10-02
BY FREDERIC REDDALL.
(ooxxNuDl

L ke@SS
"Like as not" was the not very
cheering response. During this colo
guy they were making slow but sure
progress toward the city. but to Ives
the pace was tantalizingly tedious.
Ben Gallup. the teamster aforesaid. ut
tered not word for three or four min
utes. Then. with mighty crack OF
his whip. he exclaimed:
by hokey. that's the dodge! Ged'
Dap. you lazy devilsr' And, standing
up on the shafts, he urged his team
with voice and whip until they broke
into trot which doubled their speed.
Then he condescended to speak.
Don't know as they'll interfere. but
you'd better try"
"who, man. who! For Gods sake
be more explicitr' sputtered Ives.
"Over yonder a piece. at Littleton,"
said Gallup. pointing toward the north
west with his whip. There's an old
military camp thcre-Fort Denver Il
used to be called. They're the lads for
you II they'll do the Job. S'pose II be-
longs to the sheriff by rights. but It'll
take too long. He'd be all day gettin
ready and swearin out his warrants
and habbus corpses for Jack Doe and
Dick Roe. A dose o. cold lead is the
best medicine for them fellers, and
then you can rest them afterwards"
Fort Denver. you sayr queried
Chester. all on Hre with impatience.
''Then drive. man. drive. as you love
your own wife and daughters"
Can you ride hossbackT' Queried
Gallup.
"Yes; OF course" was the quick re-
ply.
Then bold on q minute" So saying
be drove the wagon TO the side OF the
road. jumped down and began to un-
harness the team. Ives helping with
nervous haste. quickly divining the
honest fellows intention. Rapidly
knotting the traces and the lines, they
each sprang astrlde an animal and
started down the road at hard gallop.
the dust rising In clouds behind them.
On they went for couple OF miles. and
then there loomed up right ahead the
trim white walls and the black muz-
xles Of the two howitzers belonging TO
the little army post. A couple Of sen.
tries patrolled In front Of the guard.
house and looked with wondering eyes
on the strange outfit scampering past.
II wish to speak with your com.
mandlng officer" said Ives. BE good
enough to hand him my card and say
'tis matter OF life and DEATH!
eyes. and it'll be wuss'n death II he
ain't pritty durn lively" muttered Ben.
Then rs the orderly turned away he
called after him: Tell the cap'n Dal-
Ion gangs broke loose ag'in- They've
stole a railroad train! Guess thatll
fetch him." he chuckled.
In less than 60 seconds appeared the
officer Of the day, Lieutenant Crosby.
holding between thumb and forefinger
the limp and water soaked piece OF
pasteboard which Ives had sent In.
This In Mr.. Ives. I presume" he
said. addressing the New Yorker and
looking with polite amazement at his
sorry plight
"Yes. sir. and this Is Ben Gallup. q
teamster who picked me up on the road
q few miles north Of this place more
dead than alive. The case is most ur.
gent Several women are In peril at
the hands Of the Dallon gang"
pray step this way. Mr.. Ives" was
the courteous request. and seats were
given them. while a messenger was
dispatched to rouse Colonel Byng. the
commandant They had not long to
wait. The mere mention Of the Dal
Ion gang. az Ben Gallup had surmised.
was enough. and the orderly returned
almost Immediately to say they were to
proceed to the coloners quarters
They found that officer just finishing
his breakfast. and after the necessary
Introduction Chester proceeded to tell
his thrilling story. which was punctur-
ed with sundry ordinations Of "HaT'
and "Sor' from the attentive soldier.
"Well, Mr.. Ives" he said as the for
mer ceased. pulling his gray mustache.
strictly speaking. this is no affair for
the military arm: It's . Job for the
sheriff. But I'll take the responsibility
and do the explaining afterward. Can
you guide us to the mouth Of the
caveT
'T'm afraid not, sir" was the reply.
I'VE were blindfolded after leaving
the cars. and made my exit by to-
tally different route. as you see." he
ended, ruefully looking down at bis
shapeless garments.
II presume your water tunnel II not
available as a base Of attackT
II should say not" replied Ives,
"even II I could fnd the mouth OF It
again. which I doubt"
"Do you know the localityT Colonel
Byng inquired. turning to Gallup. who
sat silently chewing a straw all this
while.
"Like q pictur bookr' was the la
comic reply. why. l was one o the
last men to drive pick In Bone
gulchP'
Then you're the man we want" :"
was the clinching answer. "How many
men shall you need, Crosbyr
"Scuse me. Cunnel Byng," broke In
Gallup. ''them fellers won't be caught
asleep-not by no meanA They must
be took unawares. You'll want two
squads at least"
"How many are in the gangT inquir-
ed the lieutenant Of Ives.
mot over 20. I should say. But let
me beg you to act quickly. Think OF
those poor women In the clutches Of
such miscreantsr'
"Rely upon II. Mr.. Ives. al shall b
done that can be done. and that imme-
diately. You win accompany the troops.
I presumer
"Most assuredlyF' was the reply.
Then In that case permit me to JoRer
you q mount and while the men are
falling In you may as well refresh
yourself. From what Jon say there 10
ample time. It's not yet II O'Clock.
The two watchers win not begin to ex.
pect your friend Filley for three or
four hours Jet. and In any event they
could not be back IN Bone gulch before
sunset, a. they said. 60 your people
are safe till then or even till tomorrow
morning. Dallon wants the money
more than anything else, and he wont
proceed to extremities until he II con-
WINGED there y 10 bope of getting the