Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1908-07-01

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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, inclosing the
cipher dispatches and their transla-
lions. But this was. soon done, and
the two men, oppressed with their
death-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 fateful
moment arrived? What would it be?
Powder? A slit in the hull? A cum
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 small boat and the message, and
had gone>on her way.
Alfred rose, as stiff with the tension
as If minutes had been hours. That's
all We can do at that end. Keep your
eye and ear buster than your tongue,
AL, for the rest of the day. I'm off to
settle with his nibs, Phineas Cad
wallader. By the way, couldn't you
contrive some way to 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 to
don riding boots and to find Stella for
hurried word. Get Sally B. to hold
Cadwallader here over train time, if
it's possible" Alfred said before his
goodbye. 1T may mean everything
to the company I'll return tonight
if l can
A swift horse took him to the
Front" where he found the superin-
tendent riding his beat. Alfred told
his story briefly and asked if there
was lineman on the force
Jupiter! You can't track that
man, Vincent! The SHOWS come and
gone since that Hecate's job was done"
But, Mr.. Gregory, he'd have to cut
the wire, and he'd have to climb
tree or pole to do it. Could that be
done without leaving a trace?"
What then? How can you prove it
was he?"
How'll know 1 couldn't prove it
unless 1 try?'
"Linemen don't show up often in
my diggings. I'll 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.. Gregory's resourcefulness provided
horse and saddle. The two men set
off without delay. They rode fast till
within nearly five miles of Dutch Flat.
Alfred judging that, since Phineas
took the stage there, his exploit must
be in that neighborhood.
The afternoon was past its half
when they began to inspect each pole
and wire-touched tree with close
scrutiny. Wen work east over these
five miles to Dutch Flat" Alfred said.
IF we find nothing We'll have to stay
over night in town, go east a short
distance in the morning, and then
take it west from here
For the first two or three miles
their search was unrewarded by any
sign. Just at sunset, in a windy little
vale, the lineman's practised eye
caught a peculiar piecing of the wire.
and he climbed nimbly to inspect it.
1t was not joining made by the regu-
lar force, but a recent cut. The
marks of the climbers were also fresh.
rs there anything about it to dis
tinguish it from regular work." AL
fred asked.
'You bet! Any chump could tell, if
he see it close, that it was the work
of an amachure by the way the wires
are tied"
That was something gained but not
enough. How did the man get up
there?"
Before the man could reply Alfred's
eye was caught by the CLEAN of a
crescent of FURNISHED gold. Lying
half imbedded in the wet remains OF
a snowdrift, its upper surface washed
clean and shining, he found cuff but
ton of a peculiar design-a star within
a crescent, the two free points tipped
with diamonds. He knew it, he knew
who owned its fellow! Turning it over
he saw the engraved initials, P. C.
Good enough" he called. I'VE need
no more evidence. You can go on to
town for the night, or back to camp
as you choose. I'll ride too hard fol-
you, perhaps"
The man chose to turn back Alfred
arranged for payment for the extra
work and again rode east.
In few minutes he arrived at the
Dutch Flat Office and telegraphed AL
vim, asking of Phineas. Five minutes
later he was reading the reply: