The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-11-20
other summoned by wire fro;

house at the Springs had been'prompt-
ly rejected by the surgeon. A fever
had hold of John Armitage, who was
Ill enough without the wound in his
shoulder, and the surgeon moved his
traps to the bungalow and took charge
of the case. Oscar had brought Clai-
borne's bag and all was now in readi-
ness for the night.
Oscars erect figure at salute and his
respectful voice brought Claiborne
down from the stars.
1--WE can get rid of the prisoners to-
night-yes?'
Eat midnight two secret service men
will be here from Washington to travel
with them to Baltimore to their boat.
The baron and my father arranged
it over the telephone from the Springs.
The prisoners understand that they are
in serious trouble and have agreed to
go quietly. The government agents are
discreet men. You brought up the
buckboardT'
But the men should be hanged, for
they shot our captain, and he may die"
The little man spoke with sad ca
dence. A pathos in his erect, sturdy
figure, his lowered tone as he referred
to Armitage, touched Claiborne.
"He will get well, Oscar Everything
will seem brighter tomorrow. You had
better sleep until it is time to drive to
the train"
Oscar stepped nearer, and his voice
sank to O whisper.
81 have not forgotten the tall man
who died; it is not well for him to go
unburied. You are not Catholic
no?"
"You need not tell me how-or any
thing about it. But you are sure he is
quite dead?'
"He is dead He was bad man and
died very terribly" said Oscar, and he
! took off his hat and drew his sleeve
across his forehead Il will tell you
| just how it was. When my horse took
the wall and got their bullets and tum-
| bled down dead. the big man they
! called Zmai saw how it was, that we
were all coming over after them, and
ran. He kept running through the
| brambles and over the stones, and l
| thought he would soon turn and we
might have a fight, but he did not stop,
and could not let him get away. 1t
was our captain who said, We must
take then nrisOners,' was it not SOP"
"Yes; tlat was; Mr. Armitage's wish.V
"Then | saw that We were going to-
| ward the bridge. tbs one they do not
use there at the deep ravine. l had
crossed it once and knew that it was
weak and shaky, and l Stacked up and
watched him. He kept on, and just
| before he came to it, when l was very
close to him, for he was slow runner
| yes ?-being so big and clumsy, he
! turned and shot at me with his revolv-
er, but he was in q hurry and missed,
| but he ran on. His feet struck the
| planks Of the bridge with a great jar
and cracking, but he kept running and
| stumbled and fell once with a mad
| clatter OF the planks. He was a cow
. ard with q heart of water and would
| not stop when l called and come back
| fer little fight. The wires Of the
bridge hummed. and the bridge swung
|
midway Of the bridge the big wires
that held 1t began to shrek out Of the
old posts that held them, though l had
| rot touched them, and it seemed many
| years that passed while the whole OF
| il dangled in the air like q bird nest
IL Il storm. and the creek down below
| laughed at that big coward. l still
heard his hoofs humping the planks
until the bridge dropped from under
| him ard left him for q long second
| with his arms and legs flying In the
air. Yes: it was very horrible to see
| And then his great body went down
down. God, it was a very dreadful
way for a wicked man to die!''
| And Oscar brushed his hat with his
sleeve and looked away at the purple
and gray ridges and their burden OF
| stars.
Yes; it must have been terrible.
said Claiborne.
But now he cannot be left to lie
down there on the rocks, though he
was so wicked and died like beast
l am bad Catholic, but when i was
boy l used to serve mass, and it is
not well for man to lie in a wild
| place where the buzZards will fine
him."
But you cannot bring a priest
Great harm would be done If news OF
this affair were to get abroad. Yor
understand that what has passed here
must never be known by the outside
world. My father and Baron Won Mar
hof have counseled that. and you may
be sure there are reasons why these
things must be kept quiet or they
would seek the laws aid at once"
"Yes; have been a soldier, but after
this little war ! shall bury the dead
In an hour shall be back to drive the
blackboard to Lamar station
Claiborne looked at his watch.
| 81 will go with you," he said.
They started through the wood to
ward the Port of Missing Men. ant
together they found rough inches il
the side of the gap. down which they
made their way toilsomely to the
bowlder lined stream that laughed an6
1 ttrn, biaJ Foo n1ilv NJ tho hottom Of tht