The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-09-24
What is IT." I asked.

There's no one here, said Abrams,
with puzzled look.
went forward to the engine. The
engineer was as close-mouthed as
though words were going at a dollar
apiece and the market bounding up
ward. When l tried to question the
fireman the engineer recovered his
tongue and had so many orders to be
attended to that my words were lost
in a rattle of coal and clang of iron.
And the engine, having drunk its
fill, changed its labored breathing to
kissing and swishing of steam that
sent the hot vapor lar on both sides,
and then gathering speed, puffed its
swift way back the road by which it
had come, leaving the car deserted on
siding.
Here's a go!" cried Fitzhugh. "a
regular puzzler!"
THE first thing is 10 to visit the
telegraph Office at once" said 1.
The operator was just locking his
little room in the station as we came
up.
mo, sir, no telegrams," he said;
none for anybody"
That is new way Of running
trains" l said with show of indif-
ference, nodding toward the empty
| car.
"Oh, there was a party came up"
said the agent; "a dozen fellows or
more. Bill said they took a fancy to
get off mile or more down here, and
as they were an ugly-looking crew he
didn't say anything to stop them"
Il don't see what they can be doing
up in this part of the country" l re.
turned innocently.
Il guess they know their business
anyway, it's none of mine," said the
agent. DO you go in here, sir? Well,
it will save you from a wetting."
We had been walking toward the
| hotel, and the chatty agent left us
under its veranda just as the light
drops began to patter down in the dust
of the road, and to dim the outlines OF
the distant hills.
The home guard of our party re-
ceived the news calmly.
Wainwright had established a
modus vivendi with his young charge
and l saw that he managed to get a
word out of him now and then. l had
to abandon the theory that the boy
was dumb, but suspected that it was
fear rather than discretion that bird
led his tongue.
do you think the gang have got
into town." asked one.
They'll have wet jackets if they are
on the road" | returned, looking al
the rain outside.
Hadn't we better find out?" in
quired Wainwright.
Are you in a hurry?" l asked in
turn. The landlord has promised tC
send up a good dinner in a few min
ues."
But you see"
Yes, / see," l interrupted Il see
this-that they are here, that there
are a dozen or more of them, and thai
they are ready for any deviltry. What
more can we find out by roaming ovel
the country?"
Wainwright nodded his agreement
with me.
And then" continued they won
try to do anything until after dark
not before the middle of the night,
should say-or until the townspeoplC
have gone to bed"
You're right, sir" said Abrams. 81
dark night and clear field suits tina
gang best"
"Well here's the dinner" said
80 you can make yourselves easy
Porter, you may keep an eye on tn,
stairway, and Brown may watch from
the windows. The rest Of us will fal
to-"
In the midst of the meal Porte
came in.
DARBY Meeker's in the office be
low" he announced.
Very good" / said. Just TAX
Fitzhugh and Wilson with you and asl
Mr.. Meeker to join u.s.
The men looked blank. Porter wa
the first to speak.
You don't mean"
81 mean to bring him up here"
said blandly, rising from the table
Il suppose, though, it's my place a
host to do the honors."
, "No-no," came in chorus from tn
men.
, Come on, Porter-Fitzhugh-Wil
son." | said; and then added sharply
sit down, the rest of you! We don
need regiment to ask a man to din
ner."
Tha others sank back into thei
seats and the three | had named fo
lowed me meekly down the hall an
Stair9
CTO Re CoNTINUEDD
~ sd Piss