Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-27
CHAPTER XII.
An Evening In Iail.

Before my ideas had had time to straight
en- themselves out I was lifted to my feet
and half pushed, half lifted to the station
platform. Camp was already there. and as
1 took this fact in saw Frederic and his
lordship pulled, through the doorway OF my
car by the cowboys and dragged out on the
platform beside me. The reports were now
in Lord Rallies hands.
That's what we want boys" cried
Camp. 'Those letters
Take your hands off me-" said Lord
Rallies, coolly. land I'll give them to YOU"
The men who had hold of his arms let go
OF him, and quick as flash Rallies tore the
papers in two. He tried to tear them once
more, but before he could do so half
dozen men were holding him, and the pa
pers were forced out of his hands.
Albert Cullen-for all of them were on the
platform of 21S by this Unrestricted,
well done, Ralles!' quite forgetting In the
excitement of the moment his English &C
cent and drawl.
Apparently Camp didn't agree with him,
for he ripped out string of 0aths which
he impartially divided among Rallies the
that hadn't given the real letters, for his
lordship clearly had no scruple about de-
stroying them, and knew few men whom
I would have seen behind prison bars with
as little personal regret. However, no one
had, so far as could see. paid the slightest
attention to the pony, and the probabilities
were that he was already headed for Bald
wins ranch, with no likelihood of his stop
ping until he reached home. At least that
was what hoped; but there were a lot of
ponies standing about, and, not knowing
the markings of the one I had ridden.
wasn't able to tell whether he might not
be among them.
Just as the, fragments of the papers were
passed over to Mr.. Camp he was Joined by
Baldwin and the judge, and Camp held the
torn pieces up to them, saying:
r1nnxy tvynf rrt, hAy oxvf4 to frrva
Don't let that trouble you.'' said the
Judge. Make an affidavit before me, re-
citing the manner in which they were de-
stroyed, and I'll grant you mandamus
bona f1de proxies. Let me see how much
injured they are"
Camp unfolded the papers, and chuckled
to myself at the look Of surprise that over
spread his face as he took in the fact that
they were nothing but section reports. And,
though I don't like cuss words, I have to
acknowledge that l enjoyed the two or
three that he promptly calculated.
When the first surprise of the trio was
over they called on the sheriff, who arrived
OPPORTUNITY, to take us into 81 and search
the three of us-a proceeding that puzzled
Fred and his lordship not a little, for they
weren't on to the fact that the letters
hadn't been recovered. I presume the lat
ter will some day write book dwelling on
the favorite theme Of the foreigner, that
there is no personal privacy in America,
and 1 don't know but his experiences justi-
fly the view. The running remarks as the
search was made seemed to open Fred's
eyes, for he looked at me with puzzled
air, but winked and frowned at him, and
he put his face In order.
When the papers were not found on any
of US, Camp and Baldwin both nearly went
demented. Baldwin suggested that had
never had the papers, but Camp argued
that Fred or Lord Rallies must have hidden
them In the car. in spite OF the fact that
= k@S
that they couldn't have had time to hide
the papers. Anyway, they spent an hour
in ferreting about in my car, and even
searched my two darkies, on the possibility
that the true letters had been passed on to
them.
While they were engaged in this I was
trying to think out some way Of letting Mr.
Cullen and Albert know where the letters
were. The problem was to suggest the
saddle to them without letting the cow
boys understand and by good luck I
thought had the means. Albert had COM
planned to me the day we had ridden out to
the Indian dwellings at Flagstaff that his
saddle fretted some CALLED spots which he
had chafed on his trip to Moran's Point.
Hoping he would "catch on shouted to
him:
How are your sore spots. Albert?"
He looked at me in a puzzled way. and
called, Jaw, I don't understand you'
'Those sore spots you complained about
to me the day before yesterday" I ex-
planned.
He didn't seem any the less befogged as
he replied, Il had forgotten all about
Them
I've got touch of the same trouble"
l went on; land, if were you, I'd look into
the cause
Albert only looked very much mystified,
and 1 didn't dare say more, for at this
point the trio, with the sheriff, came out
of my car. If / hadn't known that the let
tiers were safe could have read the story
in their faces, for more Disguised and
angry-looking men / have rarely seen.
Tney had a talk with the sheriff, and
then Fred, Lord Rallies and were marched
off by the official. his lordship loudly de-
handing sight of a warrant, and protesting
against the illegality Of his arrest, varied
at moments by threats to appeal to the
British foreign office. ETC., all Of which had
about as mucn influence on the sheriff and
his cowboy assistants as a MoqM Indian
Shake dance would have In stopping run
away engine. / confess to feeling a GER
tain grim satisfaction in the fact that If
was to be shut of from seeing MadRe the
Britisher was in the same box with me.
Ash Forks, though only six years old. had
have small jail, and into that we were
showed. Night was come by the time we
were lodged there. and, being in pretty
good appetite, struck the sheriff for some
grub.
."Ill git yer somethin'," he said. good
naturally; but next time yer shove people
Mr.. Gordon, just quit shown yer friends.
My should feels like" perhaps it's Just
well not to say what his shoulder felt
like. The western vocabulary is expressive,
but at times not quite fit for publication
The moment the sheriff gone Fred
wanted the mystery Of the letters ex-
planned, and l told him all there was to
tell, including as good description of the
pony as could give him. We tried to hit
some plan to get word to those outside
but it wasn't to be done. At least it was
a point gained that some one of our party
besides myself knew where the letters were.
The sheriff returned presently with a loaf
of canned bread and tin Of beans. If
had been alone should have kicked at the
food and got permission for my darkies to
send me up something from o.; but
thought I'd see how Lord Rallies would like
genuine western fare. SO l said nothing
That have to state. Is more-or rather
less-than the Britisher did, after he had
sampled the stuff; and really don't blame
him. much as I enjoyed his rage and dis
gust.
1t didn't take long to finish our supper
and then Fred, who hadn't slept much the
night before, stretched out on the floor and
went to sleep. Lord Rallies and sat on
boxes-the only furniture the room con-
tained-about as far apart as we could
get, he in the sulks and whistling cheer
f,,Ilx 49,. f1vAx7