Middletown transcript., 1910-02-19

stood gazing at the rapidly ap'
preaching figure on horseback,
recognizing ct length, through
the dust, the familiar form OF
coodby, the stage. driver, astride
one of his own horses. The &C.
currence was so unusual and SO
abrupt that Parker Immediately
dashed Oh the porch and ran to-
ward the express Office, in front
Of which, surrounded By an eager
crowd, the driver had come to .
halt.
And Just as we rounded the
high bluff, this side of Grimes
Point. q sneakin' cuss steps out
into the road and orders me %
toss of the express box, the ex-
cited man was explaining hur-
riedly, stopping, short OF breath,
to wipe away tho sweat that
streamed down his tanned lace.
And you gave it to himf rOsred
the agent, Hall, angrily tuggiug
at the bride of Goodby's horse.
You gave it upl
The sawed of shotgun Pointln
atmy head didn'tlook very peace
full like, the other continued, slid
ing to the ground So you can
bet I didn't waste any words IN
persuasion. / kicked the BOX
out into the. road, and the skunk
took it up on his saddle and slip
ned of into the canyon. KNOW
ed it wasn't no use followin so
I unhitched and came back on
one of the horses, leavin the otner
tied to the wheel.
For the second time that month
the Blue Canyon stage was re-
lieved of its express box-tne
first time to the tune OF three
thousand in dust, this time to
half that amount.
Parker, on the outside OF the
excited circle, listened grimly, his
mouth set and a smoldering light
in his gray eyes. A thousand Ct
that dust belonged to him, destin-
ed for the shelters in Denver
On the previous occasion he had
lost the same amount. He wait
ed patiently for the man to finish
his story, and then determinedly
elbowed his way into the center
of the group.
See here, Hall, he began, tap
ping the agent on the shout
der, What became of that Eas'
tern friend Of yours, ehs To my
mind Of thinking he left rather
sudden, didn't he?
The agent whirled, q sudden
glow Of color in his cheeks.
Don'tgo casting any reflections
on nay friends, Parker, he retort
ed. That man was here to in
vest. I was merely showing hin
around. He left this morning or
horseback, an hour ahead Of the
stage.
Parker watched the speaker
narrowly.
I'm accusing no one, Hall, ht
resumed, after a pause. I'm moi
that kind. But that friend OF yours
didn't look very Eastern. Hi'
leaving looks suspicious, too
Now, If I remember correctly, he
was hanging around camp tht
first time the. stage was robbed
I've lost two thousand dollar:
this month, because the stage
amt been properly guarded. In
getting tired Of it. I'm going tt
get at the bottom OF this affair
and shake things up. That's all
And with that he turned on hii
heel, the men giving way before
him, and plodded slowly up thu
road toward his cabin.
OF course the express company
hurried detectives to the scene
who detected everything excep
the thief. They remained . Weel
and hurriedly slipped away again
For the month following ever!
trip of the stage Was accompanies
hy two silent guards with wicked
sawed.off shotguns. Anothel
month passed peacefully and ont
Of the guards was dropped. An
other lapse of thirty eventles'
DAYS and the second was dispens
ed with.
Abe Parker, the second oldes
man in the district, WAS the hnde
and sole owner of the Fighting
Hope mine and mill. This prop
erty was giving up color to tn
value Of five thousand q month
One afternoon Parker strolle'
down the street and turned int
the express Office: Although
thirty miles from the railroad
the camp Of GoIdhill was blessed
with telegraph facilities. Hall
the agent, was seated behind hi
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