The silver messenger., 1910-12-06
CHAPTER lX.-Continued.

" ANAA SASy OOu6AC q lOAOly oAOAA6
to allow belated passenger train to
pass, the conductor brewed coffee and
cooked supper, and Ardmore called in
the detectives and trainmen. The
sense Of knowing real people. whose
daily occupations were so novel and
interesting, touched him afresh with
delight. These men said much in few
words. One of the detectives chaffed
Cooke covertly about some adventure
in which they had been jointly asso-
ciated
Il never thought they'd get the lead
out of you after that business in Mis-
souri,. You were regular mine,"
said the detective to Cooke, and
Cooke glanced deprecatingly at Ard
more.
Hes the little joker, all right"
"You can't kill him." remarked the
detective. 1--WE seen 1t tried"
Before the train started the detect
ives crawled back into their car, and
Cooke drew out some blankets,
tossed them on bench for Ardmore,
and threw himself down without ado.
Ardmore held to his post in the tow
er, as lone as the lookout in a crows
nest. The night air swept more cool
ly in as they neared the hills, and the
trains single brakeman came down
as though descending from the sky,
rubbed the cinders from his eyes, and
returned to his vigil armed with a
handful of Ardmores cigars
For the greater part of the night
they enjoyed free track, and
thumped the rails at a lively clip.
Shortly after midnight Ardmore
crawled below and went to sleep. At
five o'clock Cooke called him.
We're on the switch at Kildare.
One Of your men is here waiting for
you"
Big Paul. the German forester, was
called in, and Ardmore made his toilet
in a pail of water while listening to
the big fellows report. Cooke
| joined in the conversation, and Ard
more was gratified to see that the
two men met on common ground in
discussing the local geography The
forester described in clear, straight
forward English just what he had
done. He had distributed his men
well through the hills, and they were
now posted as pickets on points fa-
vOrable for observation They had
found along the streams four widely
scattered stills, and these were being
watched. Paul drew a small map,
showing the homes of the most ac-
tive members of the Appleweight
gang, and Ardmore indicated all these
points as nearly as possible on the
county map he had brought with him.
Here's Raccoon creek, and my
own land runs right through there
just about here, isn't it Paul? l al
ways remember the creek, because
like the name so much"
you are right, Mr. Ardmore. The
best timber you have lies along there,
and your land crosses the North Car
olina boundary into South Carolina
about here. There's Mingo county.
South Carolina, you see.'
well, that dashes mel" exclaimed
Ardmore, striking the table with his
fist. 'I never knew one state from
another, but you must be right"
I'm positive of it, Mr.. Ardmore
One of my men has been living there
on the creek to protect your timber.
Some of these outlaws have been cut
ting off our wood"
1T seems to me l remember the
place. There's log house hanging
on the creek. You took me by it
-once, but it never entered my head
that the state line was so close"
1T runs right through the house!
And some one, years ago, blazed the
trees along there, so it is very easy
to tell when you step from one state
to another. My man left there re-
Gently, refusing to stay any longer.
These Appleweight people thought he
was a spy, and posted notice on his
door warning him to leave. so l shift
ed him to the other end of the es-
tate"