Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-09-10

with friend that would frighten come
mighty partickler men out Of their
boots" returned the first speaker.
"But he's got his spies, too, and there
amt q man that crosses the divide as
amt spotted by them. The officers
brag about hevin put Gordon around
the district, and yet they've just found
out that he managed to send a tele-
graphic dispatch from Black Rock sta
tion Just under their noses. Why, only
an hour or so arter the detectives and
the news arrived here thar came along
one Of them emigrant teams from Pike,
and the driver said that a smart look
in chap in store clothes had come
out Of an old prospector's cabin up
thar on the rise about mile away and
asked for a newspaper. And the de-
scription the teamster gave Just fitted
Trixit to T. Well, the information
was give SO publiclike that the detect
ives had to make rush over thar, and,
b'gosh, although there wasn't a soul
passed them but file Of Chinese COO
lies, when they got thar they found
nothin - nothin but them Cinnamon
cookin their rice by the roadside"
Masterton smiled carelessly and walk
ed to the window as If intent upon the
still falling snow. But he had at once
grasped the situation that seemed now
almost providential for his inexperi-
ence and his mission. The man he was
seeking was within his possible reach,
II the story he had heard was true.
The detectives would not be likely to
interfere with his plans, for he was the
only man who really wished to meet
the fugitive. The presence OF Poole
made him uneasy, though he had nev-
er met the man before. Was 1t barely
possible that he was on the same mis-
sion on behalf Of others? II what he
heard was true, there might be others
equally involved with the absconding
manager But then the spies-hew
could the deputy sheriff elude them
and how could he?
He was turning impatiently away
from the window when his eye caught
sight of a struggling file of Cinnamon
breasting the storm on their way up
the hill. A sudden idea seized him.
Perhaps they were the spies In ques-
ton. He remembered the drivers sto-
ry. A sudden flash Of intuition made
him now understand the singular way
the file of coolies which they met had
diverted their course after passing the
wagon. They had recognized the dep
uty on the box. Stay! There was an
other Chinaman in the coach. he
might have given them the signal. He
glanced hurriedly around the room for
him. He was gone. Perhaps he had
already Joined the file he had just seen.
His only hope was to follow them. But
howl And how to do 1t quietly? The
afternoon was waning. 1t would be
three or four hours before the down
coach would arrive, from which the
driver expected assistance. Now, II
ever, was his opportunity.
He made bis way through the back
door and found himself among the
straw and chips Of the stable yard and
wood shed. Still uncertain what to do,
he mechanically passed before the long
shed which served as temporary stalls
for the steaming wagon horses. At
the farther end, to his surprise, was a
tethered mustang, ready saddled and
bridled, the opportune horse left for
the fugitive, according to the lounger's
story. Masterton cast quick glance
around the stable. 1t was deserted by
all save the feeding animals.
He was new to adventures Of this
kind or he would probably have
weighed the possibilities and conse-
quences. He was ordinarily thought
full, reflective man, but like most men
of intellect he was also imaginative
and superstitious, and this crowning
accident of the providential situation
n which he found himself was superior
to his logic. There would also be q
grim irony in bis taking this horse for
such a purpose. He again looked and
listened. There was no one in sight or
hearing. He united the rope from the
bit ring, leaped into the saddle and
emerged cautiously from the shed. The
wet sncw muffied the sound Of the
horses hoofs. Moving around to the
rear of the stables 30 as to bring 1t be-
tween himself and the station, he clap
ped his heels into the mustangs TANKS
,nd doobad into Tho 0pon
At first he was confused and bewil-
dered by the half hidden powders and
snow shrouded bushes that beset the
broken ground and dazzled by the still
driving storm. But he knew that they
would also divert attention from his
flight, and beyond he could now see a
white slope slowly rising before him,
hear whose crest few dark spots were
crawling in file, like Alpine climbers.
They were the Cinnamon he was seek
ing. He had reasoned that when they
discovered they were followed they
would, in the absence Of any chance OF
signaling through the storm, detach
one Of their number to give the alarm.
Him he would follow. He felt his re-
yolver safe on his hip. He would only
use it If necessary to intlmidate the
spies.
For some moments his ascent through
the wet snow was slow and difficuit
but as he advanced he felt change OF
temperature corresponding to that ne
had experienced that afternoon on the
wagon coming down. The air grew
kecner, the snow drier and finer. He
kept a sharp lookout for the moving
figures and scanned the horizon for
some indication of the prospectors de-
serted hut. Suddenly the line OF
figures he was watching seemed to be
broken and then gathered together as
a group. Had they detected him? Evil
IDENTIFY they had, for, as he expected,
one of them had been detached and
was now moving at right angles from
the party toward the right. With
thrill of excitement he urged his horse
forward. The group was far to the
left, and he was nearing the solitary
figure. But to his astonishment, as he
approached the top Of the slope, he now
observed another figure as far to the
right of the group as he was to the left,
and that figure he could see, even at
that distance, was not Chinaman.
He halted for better observation.
For an instant he thought 1t might be