The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1907-09-27

We deplOre violence in Such cases.
Those were his honor's very words"
"You may give his honor my cotupli
ments and tell him that we are sorry
not to see things his way. but there
are points involved in this business
that he doesn't know anything about
and we. unfortunately, have no time
to lay them before him"
The sheriff's seeming satisfaction
with his position on the wall and his
disposition to parley had begun to
arouse my suspicious. and Larry sew.
eral times exclaimed impatiently at
the absurdity of discussing my affairs
with a person whom he insisted on
calling a constable, to the sheriff's evi.
dent annoyance.
you. sir,-weve got our eye on you,
and you'd better come along peace.
able. Laurance Donovan; the descrip,
tions fits you to t."
You could buy nice farm with
that reward. couldn't you-" began
Larry, but at that moment Bates ran
toward US calling loudly.
They're coming across the lake.
SIR" he reported. and instantly the
sheriff's head disappeared, and as we
ran toward the house we heard his
horse pounding down the road toward
st. Agatha's.
THE law be damned. They don't in
tend to come in here by the front door
as matter OF law" said Larry. Pick
erings merely using the sheriff to give
respectabi!ity to his maneuvers."
Jt for. pf
motives. We ran across the meadow
past the water tower and down to the
boat-house. Far out on the lake we
saw half dozen men approaching the
Gieaarm grounds. They advanced
steadily over the light snow that lay
upon the ice, one man slightly in ad-
rance and evidently The leader.
Its Morgan" exclaimed Bates.
"And there's Ferguson
Larry chuckled and slapped his
thigh
Observe that stocky little devil just
behind the leader. He's my friend
from Scotland Yard Lads. this is
really an international affair"
Bates. go back to the house and
call at any sign of attack" ! ordered
THE sheriff's loose somewhere
"And Pickering is directing his
forces from afar," remarked Stoddard.
Il count ten men in Morgan's line"
said Larry, 'and the sheriff and his
deputy make two more. That's IL. not
counting Pickering, that we know Of
on the other side
Warn them away before they get
I'VE don't want to hurt people II we
can help it."-and at this | went to the
end OF the pier. Morgan and his men
were now quite near, and there was no
mistaking their intentions. Most Of
them carried guns. the others re-
volvers and long ice hooks.
Morgan" | called, holding up my
hands Tor a truce, we wish you no
harm. but II you enter these grounds
you do so at your peril"
They had paused at word from
Morgan and listened sullenly.
We're all sworn deputy sheriffs."
called the caretaker smoothly. We've
got the law behind us
THAT must be why you're coming
in the back way" I replied.
The thickset man whom Larry had
identified az the English detective now
came closer and addressed me in q
high key.
You're harboring a bad man. Mr..
Glenarm. You'd better give him up.
I've got my papers and the American
law supports me You'll get yourself
into trouble II You protect that man.
" ci, hot t,'
a very dangerous character"
Thanks, Davidson!" called Larry.
You'd better keep out Of this. You
now I'm bad man with the shillalah!"
THAT you are, you blackguard!"
yelled the officer, SO spItefully that we
all laughed.
I drew back to the boathouse.
"They are not going to kill anybody
II they can help It," remarked Stod-
dard, amy more than we are. Even
deputy sheriffs are not turned loose TO
do murder and the Wabana county
court wouldn't. II 1t hadn't been i'm
posed on by Pickering, lend itself to a
game like this And this business here
is only private affair between Picker.
ing and the sheriff"
Now we're in for 1t, yelled Larry:
and the IL men, In close order, came
running across the ice toward the
shore.
open order. and fall back slowly
toward the house. commanded. And
we deployed from the boat house, while
the attacking party still clung to-
gether.-a strategic error on their side,
as Larry assured us.