The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1909-07-22

in just as | does every night"
"That don't matter" retorted Mason
with warmth, we can't take chances.
and W. must find what made the
Uoise II we have to look all night.
Nothing could have fell II 1t hadn't
been pushed over and IL takes some
thing live to push things over.
haint liked the way that stranger has
been poking around here lately. I've
had my suspicions of him all the time
and came near as anything taking 9
pot shot at him that day I found him
hid out behind a bowlder watching the
mouth of the mine through his spy
glass"
why didn't YOU" queried Belden
in snCering tone. 'I'd done 1t, II
| had been the one to find him
Whst's the matter with you is you
don't want to do a thing but copper
your share of the swag and play safe
all the time. Wish I'd "a found him
He'd been wolf feed in less'n no time
well, taint no use fussing about II
now" replied Mason. I'm glad ]
didn't shoot him. for It would have
brought a lot of detectives and gov.
ernment men about here and would
have spoiled our gamc right off.
"well. let's so back 90 bed" yawned
Belden, ignoring the taunt.
Not until we've found what made
that noise," answered Mason. "YoL
walt here until l set the headlight
from the Office. This blamed lantern
amt worth shucks."
"All right" grumbled Belden, and
Mason went towards the door, swing
ing the lantern as he walked.
had heard enough to justify me In
arresting the men and in going to any
length to accomplish 1t. Mason would
not be gone long, | we'll knew. so ]
decided to capture Belden before his
partner returned.
I stealthily crawled from under the
table, my stocking feet making nc
warily approached the unconscious
Belden. could just make out his
bulk, where he stood In a dark por
\ tion of the building. and | could hear
the rustling of his clothing. He
scratched a match and | held my
breath. Fortune favored me. He was
| lighting corn-cob pipe. his back fair
ly TO me. Like a shadow | gllded to-
ward him and with quick, sure
stroke brought my heavy revolver
down upon the back of his neck with
a sickening. crunching impact.
He fell without groan and lay like
one dead. Nevertheless. | took the
precaution to slip pair of handcuffs
upon his wrists. and then | sprang
towards the door through which
could see the light of Masons lantern
advancing. / was not second toe
soon. AS Mason crossed the threshold
struck him heavy blow upon the
head and he went down like an o,
in the shambles. handcuffed hin
and picked up his lantern.
Next, packed the unconscious mer
into the room where they slept ant
deposited them upon the bed, aftel
which / set about restoring them Il
consciousness. This room opened into
the office where was situated the
vault. After some little time Masor
groaned and sat upright.
well. pardner." was his crestfaller
carefully, Il guess you hold the trump
cards. What do you mean to dc
next?"
He showed no resentment ant
seemed, at first, to think that | wal
bandit. showed him my badge
which had an electrical effect upor
him.
In my brief acquaintance with hin
l marked him as q man who woult
confess everything and endeavor Il
escape punishment by duplicating hi
confederates, SO l explained to hin
as much Of my suspicious as seemed
expedient and made several guesses
This quite overpowered him. and aftel
Il he was as plant as wax In my
hands. He confessed everything an(
opened the big vault for me ant
showed me the books of the company
/ had expected to have some difficult!
with him and to have to do NOR,
bluffing than proved necessary, bu
he did everything In his power t.
help me.
He said that he, Belden, and Hud
son had turned the trick without as
sistcnce. They had conceived thu
gigantic fraud when the mine begai
to fall, and had experienced little dif
ficulty in putting It into effect. o.
the fine showing the mine had made a
first, they succeeded in getting 81 1000
900 invested In IL. after which the.
had incorporated and begun to sci
stock. They took the money they re
coived for stock and converted 1t int
gold coin. which they shipped to thu
mine, where 1t was melted down
run into bars, shipped back to thu
city, and sold as bullion, part OF 1
going to pay dividends.
had suspected this when had tn,
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