The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-01-30

with the coming OF daylight, he
rose and walked ont. When he re-
turned, his companion had awakened.
The latter, after a civil "Good-morn-
ing" asked how the road was.
"Under three feet of snow"
The judge broke out almost
fiercely:
Il must get to waiopoi to-day. Tho
Dunedin mail will be passing through
ct this evening"
sDo you know the rcad?" asked
Barton.
"Not step of the way; but you
can act as guide. / will give you a
hundred pounds to be put on the
train for Dunedin. But the sessions
alone are not drawing me-" protested
the Judge. lie went on: IL had a
telegram yesterday saying that my
little girl"-his voice broke--"is dan.
gerously ILL.,"
Barton folded his arms and looked
out on the sea of snow. He turned
and said, quietly:
you shall go. 1 will take you.
Now let us have breakfast"
When the meal was ever, the
Samaritan put on his hat. Ye
tramped over to the store, and re-
turned with a borrowed horse. With
la a few minutes the men were
mounted. Barton led the way. He
was gloomy and silent. Once or
twice McAlister tried to draw his
companion into conversation, but
failed. This irritated the judge, and
looking about for something to snarl
at. he exclaimed:
What on earth Is that bulglng the
pocket of your jacket?"
Barton withdrew a revolver.
SIS IL loaded?" asked the Judge.
81 don't carry 1t for show"
what do you carry it for?"
"Self-protection.
A puzzled look came into the
judges eyes. Then ne turned, half
fiercely, upon the other with the
question:
"Who are you?"
Excuse me- am travelling IN.
cog"
A grave expression was on the
judges face. Barton seemed to read
its meaning, for without another
word he flung the frearm into
snowdrift.
There was brief silence, broken
by Barton's voice, exclaiming:
Steady there! We are close upon
a small bridge without a parapet.
Your horse is slipping. Get off, you
fool!"
McAlister, realizing the danger,
slid from the saddle. Fortunately,
he alighted on his uninjured foot,
and the soft snow saved him from
anything worse than a shaking. The
mare, floundering downward in the
huge snowdrift. was beyond help.
Barton shifted the saddle back
ward, then having assisted his COM
panion into 1t, mounted before him.
1t was twenty-five minutes to
when McAlister, leaning on the
Samaritan's arm, limped into the
Waiopoi station. During the few
! minutes passed in obtaining some re-
freshment from the station master,
the judges companion was stern of
| face and silent.
| McAlister more than once cast
keen glance at him, and more than
once also did this terror of criminals
brush his hands across his eyes
| When the train steamed into the sta.
tion the Judge rose; he had arranged
to have compartment to himself.
Il am going" he said to his late
rescuer. "Will your"
He was about to ask again for the
others name, but at this moment two
men who had entered the waiting
room exchanged hurried whispers.
The judge, looking up, recognized
two OF the colony's most noted de-
tectives. Cooll.- and masterfully
Judge McAlister turned upon them.
Have you heard the news about
Barton, the cattle stealer?"
The men glanced at the judges
companion, and looked their inquiry.
KILLED by falling over cliff down
south. Sad thing for his-cr-
aunt"
Very sad!" uttered one OF the
men. with far-away look.
So" went on the Judge, at will
be only waste OF time looking for
him. You understand"
| Without a shadow of doubt the
detectives did.
Walker" said the terror of GRIM
inals, to the Samaritan. "you will
come with me to Dunedin"
|
Perhaps Of all Judge McAlister's
friends the one most honored, and
very certainly the one most loved, is
an ex-reprobate who has become one
of 80 most prosperous farmers in
| the NliOny Nav Xorlr XUeal,t-