Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-31
CHAPTER XIV.
The Surrender Of the Letters.

deal more than was The moment the
stationmaster had made his agreed-upon
announcement he said to the walkers:
Had any news of Mr.. Gordon7'
NO" replied Lord Rallies. And as
the lights keep moving in the town, they
must still be hunting for him.
Il reckon they'll do considerable more
huntin before they find him up there"
chuckied the man. with a self-important
manner. He's hidden away under this ere
platform.
mot right hereT' 1 heard Madge cry,
but had too much to do to take in what
followed. was lying close to the loose
plank, and even before the stationmaster
had completed hts sentence l was sauirm-
Ing through the crack AS freed my legs
l heard two shots, which / knew was the
signal given by the cowboys, followed by a
shrek Of fright from Madge, for which she
was hardly to be blamed I was on my feet
IN an instant and ran down the tracks at
my best speed. 1t wasn't with much hope
of escape, for once out from under the
piankfng found, what l had not before
realized. that day was dawning and al
ready outlines at distance could be seen.
/ did It. NN
Before had run hundred feet / could
near pursuers. and moment later a re-
voIver cracked, ploughing up the dust in
front of me. Another bullet followed and
seeing that affairs were getting desperate.
lodged round the end of some cars
3 ON; TO plump into a man running at
pected that we both fell, and before
could get on my feet one of my pursuers
pumped down on top Of me and I felt
on ea ming ing, cold on the back of my neck.
LIE sui, yer sneakin' coyote of a road
agent, said the man, ''or I'll blow yer SO
lake." "o"' in sal.
preferred to take his advice and lay
nyryhn
all directions heard them coming. calling
TO each other that 1.-The skunk that shot the
woman IL corraled." and other forms of the
same information. In a moment I was
1erked to my feet, only to be swept off them
with equal CELEBRITY, and was half carried.
nal1 dragged. along the tracks. 1t wasn't
as as rough handling as have taken on the
loot ball field, but didn't enjoy it.
In space OF time that seemed ONLY Sec
onos l was close to a telegraph pole, but,
brief as the moment had BEEN a fellow
Win Iariat tied round his waist was half
way up the post. l knew the mob had been
told that had killed woman in the hold
up, for the cowboy, bad as he L. has his
own standards, beyond which he won't 60
But might as well have tried to tell my
innocence to the moon as to get them to
listen to denials, even II could have made
my voice heard.
The lariat was dropped over the cross
sudden silence fell. I thought it was a
little sense of what they were doing. but 1t
was merely due to the command Of Bald
win, who, with Camp. stood just outside
the mob.
Let me say word before you pull" he
called. and then to me he said, Now will
You give up the property7'
l was pretty pale and shaky. but I come
OF st1ffish stock, and I wouldn't have
backed down then, 1t seemed to me, II they
had been going to boil me alive. suppose
1t sounds foolish, and If I had had plenty
of time have no doubt my common sense
would have made wi bo,, Vi q
time, was on the point Of saying NO"
when the door of 21S which lay about two
hundred yards away, few open. and out
came Mr.. Cullen, Fred, Albert, Lord Rallies
and Captain Ackland, all with rifles. OF
course 1t was perfect desperation for the
five to tackle the cowboys but they were
game to do 1t, all the same.
How 1T would have ended I don't know,
but as they sprang of the car platform
Miss Cullen came out on II, and stood there
one hand holding on to the doorway, as II
she needed support, and the other covering
her heart. 1t was too far for me to see
her face, but the whole attitude expressed
such suffering that it was terrible to see.
What was more, her position put her in
range of every shot the cowboys might fire
at the five as they charged. If / could
have stopped them l would have done So
but, since that was impossible, 1 cried:
MI Camp, I'll surrender the letters"
Hold on, boys" shouted Baldwin; walt
till we get the property he stole" And
coming through the crowd, he threw the
moose Off my neck.
Don't shoot, Mr.. Cullen" yelled as my
friends halted and raised their rifles, and
fortunately, the cowboys had opened up
enough to let them hear me and see that 1
was free of the rope.
Escorted by Camp, Baldwin and the cow
boys, l walked toward them On the way
Baldwin said, in a low voice, Deliver the
letters, and Wen tell the boys there has
been mistake. Otherwise"
When we came UP to the five called to
| them that l had agreed to surrender the
letters. While I was saying it Miss Cullen
Joined them, and it was curious to see how
respectfully the cowboys took off their hats
and fell back.
You are quite right" Mr.. Cullen 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.
1 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. It was pretty big take down to
my pride, tell you, and made all the worse
by the way the three gloated over the let
tiers and over our defeat.
We've taught you lesson. young man."
sneered Camp, as after opening the enve
lopes to assure himself that the proxies
were all right, he tucked them into his
pocket. "And we'll teach you another one
after tOday'S election.
Just as he concluded, we heard outside the
first note of a buRle. and as 1t sounded by
tours, column left my heart gave a big
Jump and the blood came rushing to my
face. Camp, Baldwin and Wilson broke
for the door, but got there first and pre-
vented their escape. They tried to force
their way through, but I hadn't blocked
and interfered at foot ball for nothing, and
they might as well have tried to break
through the Sierras. Discovering this,
Camp whipped out his gun and told me to
let them out. Being used to the west,
recognized the goodness Of the argument
and stepped out on the platform, giving
them free passage. But the twenty seconds
I had delayed them had cooked their goose,
for outside was a squadron of cavalry
swinging circle round the station. and we
had barely reached the platform when the
bugle sounded Halt" quickly followed by
Forward, left AS the ranks wheeled
and closed up as solid line about us I
could have cheered with delight. 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 saddle.
II want Richard Gordon the officer
called.
/ responded. AT your service, and badly