Evening star., 1902-02-22

president of the bank in which the gold
was held. and Benkinsop. government
secret service man, holding a conference
over the movement of the bullion.
You are the very man we have been
waiting for said the superintendent.
About this gold shipment, Mr.. Montago'-
indicating the bank president-"favors the
regular train and armed guard What
is your idea about it
My notion is that secrecy is better than
force, if we can manage it, l ventured. Il
have been to see the sheriff, and he says a
guard of such deputies a $ he could swear IN
at short notice could not be relied on.
The government man nodded assent to
this, and the bank president called for my
alternative.
1T is open to certain objections, and 1t
depends upon Mr.. Bossuet,' ! replied. 1T
is generally known in the camp that Gold
Hill is the end of the pay run. and that the
goes back from here with no booty
large enough to tempt the robbers II they
are out for the gold shipment The pay
car will run special in any event; why not
let it run ahead of the regular and carry
the gold?''
The objections materialized at once. If
the robbers were in Gold Hill with spies
out the bullion could never be moved from
the bank without their knowing 1t. So
said the bank president; and Mr.. Bossuet
demurred because he had his wife and
daughter with him. Even the government
officer thought it would be extra hazardous,
and Mr.. Savage capped the climax Of pro-
test by saying:
1T can't be done, Graves; l was just tell
regular train for the run down to the juno
ton. We are shy an engineer.
Bronco Peter" queried.
He nodded.
He killed another of Byram's pet Nor
mans, and had to let him go.
Here was my opportunity-and Bronco
Petes.
Cant you give him another chance, Mr..
Savage?'
The superintendent thought not. 1T
would be subversive Of all discipline was
his wording Of 1t.
"Yes, 1 know. But he is the man for
this emergency 1t is barely possible that
the undertaking may ask for a good bit of
cold nerve, and I'll back Tennessee moon
sinner against the world for that"
"A what?' said the secret service man,
sharply.
l laughed and corrected myself II said
'moonshiner,' and l meant 'mountaineer.
Bronco Pete is a Tennesseean."
Blenkinsop drew notebook from his
pocket and began to turn the leaves. We
dropped him out of the discussion, and by
dint of a little special pleading I won my
point. Mr.. Bossuet withdrew his objection
the bank president admitted that there
might be one chance in hundred Of NOV
ing the gold secretly from the bank to the
car; and Mr.. Savage sent the porter with a
message to Pete, directing him to report at
once for duty.
We were all four in the midst Of the
train-tme station hustle on the platform
when the negro came back with Bronco
Pete in tow. For once the lack-luster eyes
had lost their stiffness, and the stoop and
shuttle were gone.
Il allow 1 amt go'n' to forget this, Mis-
tab Savage" he began, in his soft, slow
drawl; but the superintendent cut him OFF
brusquely.
Never mind that I said I'd discharge
you, and l did. But didn't say wouldn't
L.
here and make her up with the pay car to
run first section of No. A. Be lively
about it; we haven't any time to SELL
Pete came to attention like a soldier or
sion of the moment 1 lost sight of Blen-
kinsop. but little later / saw him at the
step of 2o6, talking to Bronco Pete. When
he came back to us he was smiling sar.
donically.
"You are quite right" he said to me
"Your Tennesseean Is the man for youl
money. He has just been telling me that
he is in need of another months pay.
have taken the liberty to assure him tha,
the express company will see that he gets
1t If he pulls through on this run without
-er-let say, without killing any cat
tie" And before / could enter dis
claimer to this unauthorized bargain. he
put his back to me and said to the super
intendent: IF you don't object. I'll make
one In your little picnic party"
The plan for transferring the gold from
the Dank vaults TO the car was not q very
brilliant one but 1t was the best we could
devise on the spur Of the moment.
The pay car was a disused Pullman
special" half Office and half hotel Bos.
suet was an epicure, and 1t was a standing
joke on the line that he took In supplies
| for the pay-car kitchen at every stop
Hence, when the delivery wagon of well
known firm Of grocers came down with
hampers for the private car, there was
nothing about 1t to excite suspicion.
At least, that was what we hoped, and
SO we believed when the transfer was
safely made and the 258. with Bronco Pete
at the throttle. was picking her way out
| Of the Gold Hill yards and preening her.
self for the fight down the mountain. The
paymaster was in the central compartment,
with his womankind: the superintendent
| who was our acting conductor. was on the
engine with Pete. and Blenkinsop and
stood on the rear platform.
Its q CO." said I. not without some
pridefM emotions The plan Of embarka
tion had been mine.
Blenkinsop pointed to q horseman in &
wide tapping sombrero galloping break
neck down the wagon road. which led BY
a short cut to the foot Of the mountain.
THAT remains to be seen." he said
doubtfully. How far is 1t to Mountsfoo
by the railroad?"
"It is a grade loop" said I; flour miles