River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-05-06

tween people that he had ever come
across during his career as an officer.
He felt positive that one of the pair
was the object Of his quest, but which
one he could not tell. The men were
playing pool, and resumed their game
as the bartender went behind the coun-
ter to serve the new arrivals. There
was mirror at the back of the bar,
and Murray could see the players re-
fected in it as he stood facing the
glass. Dutch Peter demanded some
whisky, and as ne did so ruse for
finding out which of the customers was
his quarry occurred to Murray.
Whats yours?" asked the bar
tender.
Pll-drink-water," said Murray, in
loud, distinct tone, adding, rapidly:
with whisky on the side"
AS he spoke he watched the six men
through the mirror, and saw one of the
pair of doubles glance up, shift uneas-
lily, eye the newcomers an instant, and
| turn again to the game. Slight as
the action was, it satisfied Murray that
he had discovered which was Badly
Drinkwater. He finished his drink
and stood leaning on the bar for a
moment, studying the situation. How
to secure his man, without fight, and
perhaps a shooting melee, was the
problem he had to solve, and it did not
look like very easy one. Dutch
Peter, also fully awake to the serious
ness of the task before them, glanced
anxiously at his companion. At last
faint smile glimmered on Murray's
face, and followed by the deputy he
went outside, united the horses, and
drove the team up to the saloon and
beyond the door. Then he turned and
addressed his companion:
See here, Peter" he said, impress
lively, you can understand that this
is a pretty risky job that we have
in hand. I've picked out Drinkwater
among that bunch in there, but pick
ing him out and getting him away are
two different things altogether. AS
sure as fate there will be mighty
rough scrap if we try to take him out
of that joint by force, as those fellows
in there are all friends of his, they
are not likely to stand by quietly and
see him dragged away. Now, my idea
is that if there is bound to be a fight,
it had better come off out here in the
open, where Baldy's friends will find
it harder to surround us. The odds
would be too heavy against us in the
saloon"
Dutch Peter nodded wisely. "Yah,
dot ISIS So" he agreed. "Und he be
one of the two pig fellow, ISIS he
not?"
eyes," replied Murray, she is the
big chap who wears the gray hat.
We must trick him into coming out
here; that will be our only chance of
laying hands on him. I'll tell you
how we'll try to work it. You just
step inside and tell him that there is a
woman wants to speak to him at the
door, Be certain that you come out
ahead of him, and the moment you
get outside jump for the wagon and
the reins as quickly as you know how.
Leave the rest to me; there's nothing
but a surprise and sudden action can
bring us out on top"
Dutch Peter chuckled. Evidently the
prospect of lively struggle appealed
favorably to him, even though the odds
were against them. Murray, noting his
cheerful grin, and the solidity of his
square, thick-set frame, felt much en-
couraged. To have his companion turn
out a coward at a critical moment
would have put serious crimp in his
plans, for the task awaiting him was
one that man could scarcely have at
tempted single-handed.
dot ISIS a goot way" commented
the deputy. Il go now und get him
oud,"
He stepped into the saloon, and
Murray took up position close by the
door, holding the reins loosely, while
he awaited Peters return. 1t was an
, anxious moment, and it almost seemed
to the detective as though he had
been waiting hours instead of seconds
before the door swung open and the
figure of the deputy emerged. The
latter obeyed instructions to the very
letter. He gained the wagon with an
active spring and snatched the reins
from Murrays hands, just as the huge,
burly frame of Badly Drinkwater
crossed the threshold.
He stood for an instant peering
around in search of the female whose
messenger had called him. Murray,
standing back in the shadow Of the
building, with set teeth and tense
muscles in readiness for a spring,
waited for the crucial moment to hurl
himself upon his prey. The big fellow
stepped toward the wagon, and hailed
Peter in angry tones.
Where's that skirt you said wanted
to see me?" he demanded.
There was no reply, and the next
moment Drinkwater staggered back as
Murray leaped savagely upon him.
! The vise-like grip of the detectives
sinewy hands choked back the cry for
| help which was about to issue from
the victims throat: then suddenly
shifting his hold he threw all his
strength into a tremendous heave
which hurled Drinkwater off his feet
and landed him sprawling on the floor
of the wagon. Dutch Peter no sooner
] perceived the arrival of the new pas