Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-02-18
CHAPTER XIII.

SCENT.
AS he spoke we heard the grating of
wheels on the shingly high-road that
skirted the cemetery. In an instan.
Number Two had blown out the cam
die and opened the door softly.
1t was a bright moonlight night,
and we could distinctly see a trap,
from which seven men got out noise
lessly. They stood a moment, and
then, in obedience to a muffled word
OF command, each produced something
that, from the way in which the moon
light glanced upon it, appeared to be
polished metal.
Don't move, any one, on your life" a"
said Number Two, in an imperative
whisper. We're betrayed, and by tn at
woman; but | see way out of it.
I'm going to bluff them. It's the only
way. I'm going to send all but one
or two of them-all but one If | can
manage it-off on wild goose chase.
The one that's left | shall find an ex-
Cuse to bring in here. The instant he
crosses the door you must down him.
One crushing blow on the head first,
anu bllCll llDiSll Hllu Oll Wullt Dt ulI-
conscious. Now, I'm going out to them
to pretend I'm the informer. It's an
impudent bit of bluff, but it's our only
chance. Even if it fails, we shan't
be any the worse off than we were"
AS he spoke he ran forward to meet
the advancing constables.
why are you so late?" he called
ont ssrrbn,r,,.o
of them drove off in a trap ten min
utes ago, along the road there, to
catch the midnight express from Stol-
by. | wouldn't leave here for fear OF
missing you, but | wish you'd come
earlier. The other has gone to catch
the last train up from here. If one of
you comes with me we can secure him
all right Two of us will be enough
for that job. Hadn't the rest of you
better drive after the other four?
You'll be six to four, but remember
they're armed. If you are quick about
it, you'll get to Stolby station as soon
as they will. But there's not an in
stant to lose. If they catch that train
they'll be in London before you can
telegraph, and the game'll be up"
1t was, as he said, an ''impudent
bluff" but it succeeded, as impudence
often does.
Tumble in, lads. Sharp as you can.
l wouldn't miss 'em for a thousand
pounds" yelled the man in command
of the constables. You stay with
him, as he suggests, Brown, and Sc
cure the fifth man. Well get the other
four right enough. But don't let the
mind. His evidence is too valuable
to run the risk. of losing it."
The boldness of Number Two's ruse
and the unsuspecting way in which the
police had 'tumbled" to it fairly took
my breath away. Before l had got it
back, the trap containing the six de-
tenders of the peace was tearing
along the Stolby road like a fire-en-
gine.
They'll catch them all right" said
Number Two gleefully to the consta-
BILE who had been told off to assist him
in the capture of the conspirator who
was supposed to have gone to Tar
borough station. And now you and
I'll make sure of the other man.
Well have the whole six of them safe
ly lodged in stone walls tonight
Come along-there's no time to lose
If one of ems left at large, my life
wouldn't be worth a moments pur-
chase when they know who's turned in
former. But stop minute; my bags
in the shed, and as it contains the
documents that prove their guilt, the
inspector there won't thank us for
leaving it behind us. I'll run back
and get it."
mot without me-" said the con-
stable knowingly. my instructions
were not to lose sight of you, my
friend; and though it's all square, I've
no doubt, I'm bound to obey instruc-
tions.'
ooh, come, by all MEANS" said
Number Two indifferently.
''Yes, l mean to-" was the police
mans answer, as he took his COM
panion's arm.
The words were the last he uttered
for, as he stopped his head to enter
the shed, Number Six, who was stand
ing in the shadow of the door, struck
him terrific blow with a brick he
had snatched up from the floor.
1t crush ed in the poor devils skull
as easily as a tap from spoon
crushes the shell of an egg, and he
went down without cry.
''That'll do" said Number Two.
you did it quite scientifically, my
friend. Now, gentlemen, / think we'd
better make ourselves scarce. We
shall not have time to attend to this
lady's funeral service, after all.
You're satisfied now, hope, that it is
this woman who was the traitor. It's
lucky thing for us it was so. If q
man was going to turn informer he'd
have taken care to do the thing prop
erly, and to have taken time about it,
not have gone in some hysterical mo-
ment to a set of BOBBY country bob
bies. She could only have laid infor-
nation lust before the meetinS or