The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-09

bishop rode with his head bowed on
his breast, asleep; he had learned the
trick of taking sleep when and where
he could.
Wheaton felt the numbing of his
hands and feet in the cold night air
man long used to a particular sensa-
ton of pain welcomes new one
mat proves counter-irritant. He
reviewed again the grounds on which
ne might have excused himself
from taking this trip. Nothing, he
argued, could be more absurd than
this adventure on an errand which
might much better have been left to
professional detectives. But it seemed
a far cry back to his desk at the bank,
and to the tasks there which he really
enjoyed. In a few hours the daily
routine would be in progress. The
familiar scenes Of the opening passed
before him-the clerks taking their
places; the slamming of the big books
upon the desks as they were brought
from the vault; the jingle Of coin in
the cages as the .tellers assorted it and
made ready for the days business. He
saw himself at his desk, the executive
| officer Of the most substantial insti-
tuition in Clarkson, his signature car
rying the banks pledge, his position
| one of dignity and authority.
But he was on William Porter's
service; he pictured himself walking
into the bank from a fruitless quest,
but one which would attract attention
| to himself. If they found the boy and
released him safely, he would share
! the thanks and praise which would be
the reward of the rescuing party. He
| had no idea that Snyder would be cap
tured; and he even planned to help
| him escape if he could do SO.
They had turned off from the main
highway and were we'll up in the
branch road that ran to the Poindex-
This is right, Wheaton, isn't it?'
asked Saxton, drawing UP the ponies.
Eyes, this Is the ranch road.'
| They went forward slowly. The
clouds were more compactly mar
shaled now and the stars were fewer.
Suddenly Saxton brought the ponies
to stand and pointed to a dark pile
that doomed ahead of them. The Poin-
dexter house stood forth sonber in
\ the thin starlight.
rs that the placer" asked the
bishop now wide awake.
| Chats It," said Wheaton. '"This
! road ends there. The rivers just be-
yond the cottonwoods. That first
building was Poindexter's barn 1t cost
more than the courthouse Of this
county,
| IodAlOa gave Tie sIelnS 10
and jumped out. mo more smoking >
he said, throwing away his cigar
You stay here and TIL reconnoiter g
bit, 4 He3lWalked swiftly toward the
4 great barn@Mhich lay between him an6
| the house, There was no sign of life
in the place. He crept thru the barb.
wire fence into the corral. He haG
barred and padlocked the barn door
on his last visit, and he satisfied him
self that the fastenings had not beer
disturbed. There were no indication:
that any one had visited the place
He reasoned that if Snyder had sough
the ranchhouse for a rendezvous hi
!. had not come afoot. SaXton wa
: therefore spdisappointed to find thu
i barn door. locked and the cora
empty; there was little use in looking
further, he concluded but befor'
joining the others he resolved to maxi
sure that the house also was empty
1t was quite dark and he walked bold
) ly up to it. The wind had risen AM
whistled shrilly around it; loos
blind under the caves tapped noisil.
as he drew near. The great front doc
: was closed; he pushed against 1T an
found it securely fastened. He hat
brought with him key to a rea
!, door, and he started around the hous
) to try it and to make sure that tn
house was not occupied.
I, At the corner toward the river, glas
!. suddenly crunched under his feet. TIL