Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-05-02

cowboys, I walked toward them. o
the way Baldwin said in low voice
'Deliver the letters and We'll tell tn
boys there has been mistake. Other
wise"-
When he came up to the five, / calle'
to them that had agreed to surrende
the letters. While was saying it Mis-
Cullen Joined them. and it was curiou
to see how respectfully the cowboy
took off their hats and fell back.
You are quite right" Mr.. Cutler
called Give them the letters at once. ;
''Oh, do, Mr. Gordon" said Madge
still white and breathless with emotion
"The money is nothing. Don't think"
1t was all she could say.
| felt pretty small, but with Camp
and Baldwin, now reinforced by Judge
| Wilson, ] went to the station, ordered
the agent to open the safe, took out the
! three letters and handed them to Mr..
Camp, realizing how poor Madge must
have felt on Hance's trail.
just as he took them we heard out
side the first note of bugle, and as it
sounded by fours, column left" my
heart gave big jump and the blood
came rushing to my face. Camp, Bald
win and Wilson dashed out of the door,
and | wasn't two feet behind them.
There was a squadron Of cavalry swing
ing circle round the station, and we
had barely reached the platform when
the bugle sounded Halt" quickly fol-
lowed by Forward left. " AS the ranks
wheeled and closed up as a solid line
about us | could have cheered with de-
light There was a moments dramatic
hush. in which we could all hear the
breathing of the winded horses, and
then came the clatter of sword and
spurs as an officer sprang from his sad
die.
II want Richard Gordon" the Off
Ger called.
said, "At your service and badly
in need of yours, Captain Singer"
Hope the delay hasn't spoiled
things" said the captain. 'We had
cursed fool of a guide, who took the
wrong trail and ran us into Limestone
canyon, where we had to camp for the
night
/ explained the situation as quickly
as | could, and the captain eyes gleam-
ed. I'D have given bad quarter to
have got here ten minutes sooner and
ridden my men over those scoundrels,
he muttered II saw them scatter as
we rode up, and if I'd known what
they'd beer doing we'd have given
them a volley." Then he walked over
to Mr.. Camp and said, "Give me those
letters. "
II hold those letters by virtue of an
oIder''- Camp began.
"Give me those letters" the captain
"Do you intend high handed inter-
ference with the civil authorities?"
Judge Wilson demanded.
Come, come" said the captain.
you have taken forcible possession Of
the United States property. Any talk
about civil authorities is rubbish, and
you know it..
II will never cried Mr.. Camp.
Corporal Jackson, dismount guard
If six men" rang the captains voice,
him.
Evidently something IN the voice or
,rder convinced Mr. Camp, for the let
ers were hastily produced and given to
Singer, who at once handed them to me-
turned with them to the Cullens, and,
said, "All's well that ends
veil "
But they didn't seem to care bit
bout the recovery Of the letters and |
,nly wanted to have handshake all /
ound over my escape Even Lord Rallies !
aid, "Glad we could be Of little serv.
ce" and didn't refuse my thanks, .
hough the deuce knows they We're bad .
y enough expressed, i'll my conscious. (
less that l had done an ungentlemanly
rick over those trousers of his and that
% had been above remembering it when
was in real danger. I'm ashamed
nough to confess that when Miss Gull
Ell held out her hand l made believe
ot to see it, I'm bad hand at pretend
ng, and | saw Madge color up at my
CT.
The captain finally called me off to
onsult about our proceedings. felt no
cry strong love for Camp Baldwin or
wilson, but didn't see that a military
rrest would accomplish anything, and
fter little discussion it was decided
D let them alone. as we could well af-
ord to do, having won.
This matter decided, l said to the
aptain: I'm be obliged if you'll put a
uard round my car. And then, if you
nd your officers will come inside,
ave a-something in a bottle recon-
lended for removing alkali dust from
ne tonsils.
Every happy to test your prescrip-
on, said Singer genially.
1 started to go with him, but I could
OF resist turning to Mr.. Camp and his
lends and saying:
Gentlemen, the G. s. is big affair,
ut it isn't quite big enough to fight
lie Z. s."
CHAPTER XVI.
GLOOMY GOODBY.