Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-02-25

blew out his light, hurriedly resumed
| his clothes and passed out into the
| darkness. He was armed, but, for
that matter, had worn a pistol in his
belt all the evening. Noiselessly he
CROPPED along to the stable, where he
found the surveyors pack and un-
rolled the damp blankets. Not an In
viting bed, surely for a rheumatic,
but he pulled off his boots and hat,
and lay down with the blanket drawn
over his head after the manner OF the
accustomed camper.
The first dull light OF cloudy morn
ing scarcely showed between the
chinks of the log stable when two men
with sawed-off shot-guns in hand en-.
tered IL and, stirring up the sleeper
with a foot, commanded Byrnes to put
up his hands. He was not easy to
rouse, but at the third call scrambled
up, saying: Look out for that sorrel
horse, stranger, he's a kicker"
Now Who are you and what are you
doing here?' demanded one of the
men.
I'm surveyor, and I'm looking for
Dolan's outfit replied Byrnes prompt.
ly; "have you seen them?"
who Is in the cabins?' asked the
man; talk fast | am the sheriff of
this county; Jim, here, is my dep,
uty."
"One cabin is empty. far as | know"
said Byrnes, land the man that owns
| the place is alone in the other
Il appoint you a deputy to help me
arrest him." said the sheriff. Got a
gum"
Yes, | got a Gun." said Byrnes,
"but | don't want anybody to waste
any powder on me- The county don't
pay me any salary to go UP against
things"
Come along. You have no choice,
| appoint YOU" said the sheriff.
What do you want this settler for?"
asked Byrnes, as he examined the
loads in his revolver; "he don't look
like a bad one"
Il want him for a dozen hold-ups
on the stage road" he answered, land
for letting his gun go off few times,
and for robbing the mails and for some
other trifies. Ready?"
The young surveyor wakened soon
after dawn, and looked out OF the cab
ms one window just as the three arm
ed men quickly and silently came to
the door He recognized his host among
them, and his instant conclusion was
that he had fallen among thieves. The
door had no fastenings and had al
ready been pushed aiar when he
crowded the heavy table against it,
braced himself and cried out that the
first man who stuck his nose through
the door would lose it.
"Plunk him through the door," sug-
gested Byrnes as they paused.
Il would" said the sheriff. "only
want TO get him alive, SO as to find
not where he caches his plumber. Now
listen, you man inside" he continued
you are only one against three, and
you are bound to lose. You may get
one of us, but you cant get us all, and
If you don't walk out like a gentleman
we will fire this shanty and smoke you
out. You know me. I'm the sheriff
of this county, and want YOU"
You can't hold me up il there
were so of you," said the surveyor
and you wouldn't get five dollars
apiece If you did"
"Hold-up be damned replied the
sheriff impatiently; you've got hold
up on the brain. You know me, I've
got warrant for you. Look here,
| hA
Why" said the surveyor, you are
barking up the wrong tree, sheriff,
and he got down from the table an(
flung open the door; I'm not JC
Byrnes; that's the man you want,
pointing at his host.
That's all right" said the sheriff
lust keep your hands up until | ge
the bracelets, will you?" And despite
his protests the surveyor was hand
cuffed and disarmed.
Now, where's your plunder?" askc
the sheriff "You know / can make i
little easier for you il you show vi
what you've got"
I'll make it easier for you If yo,
take me into town handcuffed retort
: ed the indignant surveyor. why, 5
men in that town know who am
Lots of people will know you be
fore you get out of this scrape," re
piled the sheriff. "You have bee
pretty smooth. II you want to be
fool now you got caught, suit yourself
out we'll find the stuff just the same
Jim"-to his deputy-"put the pris
oner on my horse and take him in. Pu
. him in the steel tank. Gene BAG
with two more men to search for tn
: stuff. There must be a fortune 4
: coin lying around here somewhere
5 and I am going to stay and look
; up"
e The sheriff was so eager to begi
e the search that he scarcely waited {
: get his prisoner mounted and started
:. "You will consider yourself specii
| deputy to assist me until my me
; come from town." he said to Byrne
v who wanted to be off to find his gu
/? veyors.
l What has the man done?" aske
= Byrnes.
: HE is the most successful roa