Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-04-11
CHAPTER XII.
THE I.ETTERA CHANGE HANDS AGA

THE LETTERS CHANGE HANDS AGAIN.
: What seemed at the moment an in
, comprehensive puzzle had, as we after
ward learned, very simple explanation
One of the G.. S. directors, Mr.. Bald
win, who had come in on Mr.. Camp
car was the owner Of great cattle
ranch near Rock Butte. When the trail
/ had been held at that station for few
minutes, Camp went to the conductor
demanded the cause for the delay an(
was shown my telegram. Seeing through
the device, the party had at once gone
to this ranch, where the owner, Bald
win, mounted them, and it was theil
! dust cloud we had seen as they rode uI
to Ash Forks. To make matters more
serious, Baldwin had rounded up his
cowboys and brought them along with
him in order to make any resistance i'm
possible.
/ made no objection to the sheriff
serving the paper, though it nearly
broke my heart to see Madge's face. Te
cheer her 1 said suggestively: They've
got me, but they haven't got the letters,
Miss Cullen. And, remember, it's al
ways darkest before the dawn, and tho
stars in their courses are against Caesar.
With the sheriff and Mr.. Camp theI
walked over to the saloon, where Judge
Wilson was waiting to dispose of my
case. Mr.. Cullen and Albert tried te
come, too, but all outsiders We're ex.
cluded by order of the court" I was
told to show cause why I should moi
forthwith produce the letters, and an.
swered that / asked an adjournment OF
the case so that l might be heard by
counsel 1t was denied, as was to have
been expected. Indeed, why they TOOK
the trouble to 90 through the forms was
beyond me. 1 told Wilson should moi
produce the letters, and he asked if
knew what that meant. couldn't helI
laughing and retorting:
ut very appropriately means con
tempt of the court, your honor.
"Pll give you a stiff term, young
man." he said.
habeas corpus proceedings in United
States court and one more to get the
papers here" rejoined pleasantly.
Seeing that I understood the moves
too we'll to be bluffed, the judge, Mr..
Camp and the lawyer held whispered
consultation. My surprise can be mag
ined when, at its conclusion, Mr.. Camp
said:
"Your honor. charge Richard Cor.
don with being concerned in the holding
up of the Missouri Western overland,
No. 8, on the night Of Oct. IA and ask
that he be taken into custody on that
charge"
I couldn't make out this new move
and puzzled over it, while Judge Wilson
ordered my commitment. But the next
step revealed the object, for the lawyer
then asked for search warrant to look
for stolen property. The judge was
equally obliging and began to fill one
out on the instant.
This made me feel pretty serious, for
the letters were in my breast pocket, |
and swore at my own stupidity in not
having put them in the station safe
when | had first arrived at Ash Forks |
There weren't many moments i'll which .
to think while the judge scrubbed away
was | did lot of head work, without.
however, finding mdce than one way out
of the snarl, and when | saw the judge
finish off his signature with Il flourish
played IA pretty desperate card
you re just too late, gentlemen,
said, pointing out the side window of
the saloon. There comes the cavalry"
The three conspirators jumped to their
feet and bolted for the window Even
the sheriff turned to look. As he did so
l gave him shove toward the three,
which sent them all sprawling on the
floor in pretty badly mixed up condi-
ton. | made dash for the door, and
as | went through it | grabbed the key
and locked them in. As | turned to do
so l saw the lot struggling up from the
floor, and, knowing that it wouldn't
take them many seconds to find their
way out through the window, didn't
waste much time in watching them.
Camp, Baldwin and the judge had
left their horses Just outside the saloon,
and there they Were still patiently stand
ing, with their brides thrown over their
heads. as only western horses will stand.
1t didn't take me long to have those
brides back in place, and as 1 tossed
each over the peak of the Mexican sad
lle gave two of the ponies slaps which
started them off at lope across the
railroad tracks. 1 swung myself into
he saddle of the third and fiicked him
with the loose ends of the bride in a
way which made him understand that
meant business.
Baldwin's cowboys had most of them
scattered to the various saloons of the
place, but two of them were standing in
he doorway of store. acted SO quick
y, however, that they didn't seem to
AXE in what was about till / was well
Then l heard yell, and,
earring that they might shoot-for the
cowboy does love to use his gum turn
ID sharp at the saloon corner and rode
Up the side street, just in time to see
camp climbing through the window,
With Baldwin's head in view behind
i'm.
Before had ridden 100 feet 1 realiz-
d that I had done up horse under me,
nd, considering that he had covered
ver 40 miles that afternoon in pretty
uick time, it was not surprising that
here wasn't very much go left in him.
knew that Baldwin's cowboys could
et new mounts in plenty without vast