Mexico Missouri message., 1908-06-25

company's office in Sacramento telling 4
Of Alvins discovery and asking relief |
from his train for the day. A third |
dispatch went to the county sheriff, |
telling him Of the wire tapping and
OF the evidence against Cadwallader.
While waiting for replies Alfred
wrote to Gov. Stanford. inclosiug the
cipher dispatches and their transla.
lions. but this was soon done. and
the two men. oppressed with their
deaih.laden secret watched the clock
feverIshly.
The minutes dragged as intolerably
for Alfred. though he wore his mask
more easily than Alvin. Would they
be In time? Would they catch the
little steamer before she left port for
her fate? Even then. would they find
the Infamous secret before it's fatcful
moment arrived? What would It be?
Powder A slit In the hull? A Gun.
ming injury to the boiler
At last san Francisco called. Alvin
sprang to the key. The steamer had
started. had been hailed. had waited
for a small boat and the message and
had gone on her way
Alfred rose as stin with the tension
as II minutes had been hours. That's
all We can do al that end. Keep your
| eye and ear buster than your tongue,
| Al, for the rest of the day. I'm on 10
| settle with his nibs. phineas Cad.
! walladcr by the way. couldn't you
! contriyc some way 20 get him left?
! The train reported late In leaving,
false report something like that"
Alvin nodded. Guess | can think
up that trick in four hours"
At the hotel Alfred took only time 10
don riding boots and to find Stella for
a hurried word Get Sally -. to hold
Cadwallader here over train time. II
it's possible Alfred said before his
goodbye. 1t may mean everything
10 the company. I'll return tonight
II can"
Front" where he found the superin.
tendcnt riding his beat. Alfred told
his story briefly and asked II there
was a lincman on the force.
Jupiter, You can't track that
man. Vincent The SHOWS come and
gone since that HcCate's job was done.
but, Mr.. Gregory, he'd have to Tut
the wire, and he'd have to climb a
tree or a pole to do Il. Could that De
done without leaving a trace
What then? How can you prove It
was he?"
How'll ! kaow | couldn't prove It
unless | try"
"Llncmcn don't show up often 10
my diggings. III ask Bennett; his sec
ton begins here"
Inquiry discovered an intelligent
man who had worked on the line. His
climbers were at camp near by; and
Mr.. GrcEory's resourcefulncss provided
horse and saddle. The two men sci
on without delay. They rode fast III!
within nearly five miles OF Dutch Flat
Alfred Judging that. since Phinca'
took the stage there. his exploit mus
be in that ueighborhood.
The afternoon was past It's hal
when they began to inspect each poll
aud wirc.tOuched tree with clos
scrutiny Wen work east over thes,
Ave miles to Dutch Flat" Alfred said
III we find nothing well have to sta!
over night in town. 90 east a shor
distance in the morning, and ther
take II west from here"
For the first two or three mile
their search was unrcwarded by an,
sign. Just at sunset In a windy littl
vale. the lineman's practised ey
caught n peculiar piccing Of the wire
and he climbed uimbly to inspect II
II was not a joining made by the regu
lar force, hu; recent cut. III
marks Of the climbers were also fresh
Is there anything about It to d!,
tinguish II from regular work." a
fred asked.
You bet Any chump could tel.
he see II close. that IL was the wor
OF an amachurc by the way the wire
are tied"
l. That was something gained, but nc
enough. How did the man get u
there"
5 Before the man could reply Alfred
II eye was caught by the CLEAN OF
crescent OF FURNISHED gold. Lynn
g half imbedded in the wet remains {
g a snowdrift, It's upper surface washc
clean and shining. he found a cum bu
u ton Of peculiar design--a star With
a crescent. the two free points tippe
T. with diamonds He knew II. he KNEE
T. who owned its fellow, Turning ii owe
Is he saw the engraved initials, 7. c.
y, Good enough" he called. We nee
p" no more evidence. You can go on
. town for the night. or back to cam
as you choose. III ride too hard tC
y, you, perhaps"
~ The man chose 10 turn back. Alfre
- arranged FOR payment for the eXtT
. work and again rode east.
In a few minutes he arrived AT N