The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-16
CHAPTER V.
A TRIP TO THE GRAND CANYON.


stood bordering, for no explanation
that would fit the facts seemed possible.
should have considered the young fell
lows story only an attempt to gain a
little reputation for pluck if in any way
could have accounted for the appear
ance and disappearance of the robbers.
Yet to suppose-which seemed the only
other horn to the dilemma-that the son
and guests of the vice president of the
Missouri Western and one of our own
directors would be concerned in train
robbery was to believe something equal
" improbable. Indeed / should have
put the whole thing down as a practical
joke of Mr.. Cullen's party if it had not
been for the loss of the registered let
tiers. Even practical joker would hard
~ care to go to the length of cutting
open government mail pouches, for Un-
Gle Sam doesn t approve of such conduct.
Whatever the explanation, / had
enough facts TO prevent me from vast
ing more time on that alkaI plain.
Getting the men and horses back on to
the cars, jumped up on the tailboard
and ordered the runner to pull out for
Flagstaff 1t was run of seven hours,
getting US in a little after 8, and in
those hours had done lot of thinking,
which had all come to one result-that
Mr.. Cullen's party was concerned in the
hold up.
The two private cars We're on siding,
but the Cullens had left for the Grand
canyon the moment they had arrived
and were about reaching there by this
time. I went to as and questioned the
cook and waiter, but they either had
seen nothing or else had been primed,
for not a fact did I get from them Go.
ing to my own car, I ordered quick
supper, and while I Twas eating it I ques-
toned my boy He told me that he had
heard the shots and had bolted the front
door of my car. as had ordered when ]
went out; that as he turned to go to a
safer place he had seen a man, revolver
in hand, climb over the offside gate of
Mr.. Cullen's car, and for moment he
had supposed it road agent till he saw
that it was Albert Cullen.
''That was just after had got OFF, ]
asked.
"Yis, sah''
''Then it couldn't have been Mr.. Gull
len, Jim,'' declared, for found him
up at the other end of the car. -
Tell you it wuz, Mr.. Gordon, Jim
insisted. Il done seen his face cl ar in
de light, and he done go into Mr.. Gull
lens car, whar de old gentleman wuz
sittin''
That set me whistling to myself, and
I laughed to think how near had come
to giving nitroglycerin to fellow who
was only shamming heart failure, for
that it was Frederic Cullen who had
climbed on the car / hadn't the slight
est doubt, the resemblance between the
two brothers being quite strong enough
to deceive any one who had never seen
them together. smiled little and re-
marked to myself: 81 think can make
good my boast that would catch the
robbers, but whether the Cullens will
like my doing it I question What is
more. Lord Rallies will owe me bot
tie Then I thought of Madge and
didn't feel as pleased over my success az
had felt a moment before
By o'clock the posse and were in
the saddle and skirting the San Fran
cisco peaks. There was no use OF press
ing the ponies, for our game wasn't
trying to escape, and, for that matter,
couldn't, as the Colorado river wasn't
passable. It was q lovely moonlight
night, and the ride through the pines
was as pretty one az remember ever
to have made. It set me thinking Of
Mad9e and Of our talk the evening be-
fore and Of what change "a hours had
brrm4bt 1t va. l.cE1 YES riding an