Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-07-26

Crews eyed him furtively from the cor
ners of his bright gray eyes, saw the end
of letter peeping from the pocket
of his blouse. coughed, hesitated, and
then drawled: "All right. Holiday. I
won't ask you what you'reup TO, but 1
don't mind telling you that the boyx
are saying ugly things
Il know IL, sir. hope YOU don't be-
beve everything you hear?"
"N-no 90. but, Holiday! You'll be
careful what you say and do. won't
YOU? I've nay heart set on getting
this Pe-e Dimitri. There are seven war
rants oat for him, and I'd give week
Of my life if this troop could land
hiI-."
IN not spoil our chances. sir. You
can bet on that" And the big sus-
pect stalked away with the light of
lover in his black eyes and the spring
Of young fervor in his tread.
But when he had ridden away, the
captain summoned Tomkins, ard
said:
Tommy, l don't like the idea of
~ - AtAl - II AAANlA. Jul
I III watch Linn like hawk sir" an
ticipated the bow-legged bully.
But not n word to anyone, Tom!
And promise NEE"
'Nes, captain"
If 1t turns out that Holiday is all
right, youth stop this 'baclScapping and
, made friends with him?"
IN go you better, sir. III beg his
pardon"
He has leave till midnight. So have
Tou."
And Tomkins grinning maliciously,
got on his pony and trailed away to-
ward the river. And all that day like
a stsalthy shadow Tomkins stalked his
man.
At eight o'clock from his hiding place
in doorway Tomkins saw the dude"
come out of Wah Lees restaurant.
mount his pony and lope leisurely to-
ward the west. A mile from town he
turned toward the river and, riding
in the shallow water so as to leave no
trail, went pacing slowly down stream
toward the low wooden bridge which
spanned the shallow river between old
Paso del Norte and the American
town.. Tomlins. riding out of sight
and hearing, in parallel with his
quarry, saw Holiday stop like a black
er shadow in the shelter of the bridge,
his pony'S head almost on level with
the low floor of the central span. Tom
kins crossed the approach and driving
his pony down into the ooze of the
eastern side dismounted and tied il
among the willows. Then he crept into
the yellow shadows till he was oppo-
site Holiday, raised himself into the
, low timbers Of the bridge and peered
! up and down the viaduct in search of
the woman, OF was IL Panhandle Pete
he should see at this lonely rendezvous?
Even as he watched he saw the outlaw
skulking along the western sidewalk
of the bridge. He loitered, scanned
the American approach. turned his
back upon the little mule car which
passed, and then, with light spring,
sat upon the top rail of the fencelike
guard and began to make n cigarette.
he was lighting IL when suddenly
from the opposite side Tomkins heard
the whistle of lariat. A woman
screamed: run. Pete, runl" and the
bulky body of the outlaw fell backward
/ into the water. The watcher dropped
down into the sand, got out his re-
volver, mounted his pony and scram-
bled out of the black shadows toward
the shore. AS he reached the level he
saw a horseman neutrality-suspicious. in
! a long cloud of dust that rose high into
the moonlight, and as he gained the
hv-fI IT, II.
scared woman standing under a street
lamp looking wildly after the vanish
ing cloud.
Capt Revere was smoking in the
moonlight before his tent when he
heard the clatter of horses hoofs
coming loud on the rocks and dull on
the sand. "Kelly's drunk again." he
guessed, as he walked toward the cor
raj. But there he found Holiday dis
mounting. The men came running, but
the dude" laughed in their faces and
said:
1--WE got him, fellows; there at the
end of my rope"
Tomlxins, all befuddled with his vain
stalking, galloped up as they stopped
over the bound outlaw. They carried
the limp prisoner into a tent and
searched him, and in his greasy pocket
they found letter which read:
Sweetheart: I found the flowers on my
] table after supper. ] know they came
| from you. Meet me at the middle post OF
the bridge at nine o'clock tonight. Ihavs
something to tel you. Your own
"FLoRENcE."
They looked up at Holiday.
''T didn't forge the letter" he said.
blusbing. "She sent 1t 80 me all right.
But I-er-just fixed up the envelope 9
little."-Chicago Record-Herald.