The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1909-03-27

No" replied Murray. Il wouldn't.
| ! have no fancy for seeing anyone
| hanged"
| We'll. that's Just what you're trying
10 do with me" remarked the pris-
oner, in an injured tone.
Its a very unfortunate thing" re-
turned Murray, ''and l hope l won't be
responsible for your death
Cole was game to the core. and his
nerve never deserted MN Tor an IN
slant. Despite the terrible predica-
ment in which he found himself placed
his face did not lose its ruddy color
or jolly, care-free expression.
Its like this he said, coolly. Il
1 suppose ! ought to shoot you. and IL
had gun handy I'd do it, for busi-
ness is business. and war is hellish
business, Wilson. But maybe there's
another way out of the tangle. There
is $50, 900 in gold represented by those
cheques. They are as good this min
ute as the gold in the Bank OF Mon
treal. You can keep them. No one
on board here knows | have them.
| You may cash them whenever you
wish. All | ask is that you won't know
enough to get the rope around my
neck, and that if the chance comes
you'll do me friendly turn to help
me escape. Once I'm out you can give
me $500, or enough to get south, or
you needn't give me five cents. It's
a fair bargain, isn't 1t, Wilson? My
young friend. you'll never get such a
golden chance again in your life"
Murray merely smiled, glanced at
the tempting bait Fortune was dan
Cling before his eyes-and shook his
head.
You may be telling the truth. Mr.
Cole" he said. quietly. Il may never
get such chance again. I'll do what
l can for YOU in as far as it may be
consistent with my duty but I can
not make you any promises"
For the first time since his arrest
a frown darkened the prisoners brow.
Wilson, you're fool" he said,
sharply.
Murray turned upon him swiftly.
That may be your view of the mat
ter he said, grimly. so we won't
argue. But let me ask you one ques-
ton. Would you be willing to sell
out the confederacy?'
Coles imperious manner changed, he
put out his hand and grasped Muir
rays. shaking 1t warmly.
No | wouldn't" he said, frankly;
"and l respect your patriotism, Will
son. We understand each other bet
ter now
Captor and prisoner, now imbued
with a mutual admiration. sat and
chatted in friendly tones. Cole asked
Murray where he had first seen him.
and the youthful detective narrated
the story of the chase. giving him full
details even to the numbers of the
rooms in the hotels the southerner
had stopped at When he had fin
ished Cole laughed.
Its straight yarn" he acknowl-
edged. land you've got everything
right But ] could swear on a stack
of Bibles as high as this ship that l
never saw you before we met in San
dusky.'
Capt. Carter alone had been in the
secret of Murrays masquerade as
Wilson. He had arranged for the
boats crew to be waiting at the land
ing to take Cole to the ship, and Muir
|
thus learned of the message concerning
the "16 shares" His quick intui-
tion enabled him to read between
the lines and transform the shares
into men to arrive aboard the steamer
Parsons. With Cole safely in durance
vile Capt. Carter now made, ready to
capture the raiders who had seized the
Parsons. Neither he nor Murray was
aware at the time that Cole had ar
ranged for the Parsons to stay outside
until he should venture out of the har
Dor with his yacht and signal them to
come in. He was TO slip away from
his guests at the Seven-Mile house.
drive swiftly to Sandusky, and go out
to meet the Parsons, hile the Union
officers were enjoying themselves
miles away.
1t was agreed that the confederates
in possession of the Parsons. upon
meeting Cole. were to go in small
boats to the Michigan. capture the
ship, and then run over to John sons
island and release the 1000 southern
prisoners, chiefly officers. imprisoned
there. They intended to land them at
Point Pelee, in Canada. across the
lake. Not much difficulty was antici-
pated in capturing the Michigan, as
when the approaching boats we're chal-
on board her, would answer and dis
arm all suspicion.
Once aboard the confederates be-