The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-10-18
CHAPTER XIII.


Even in the Arkansas hills news
travels swiftly, and the boys had hard
ly begun the second installment OF
their fight when they were halted by
a grinning and wholly peaceful negro,
bringing tidings from Little Rock,
with a request that they return forth
with and give whatever evidence they
could against the German noble. "Ah
jes' bout rode hawss to death, gem
men," protested the black man, AN
when All couldn't ride him no longeh
In dis canebrake All done hiked suth-
in pow'ful to cotch yo'. De sheriff,
he lowed dat he'd glib me IS If An
brought yo' in, an dat he'd Jest
racnully kick de debbil outen me If All
didn't-an' so All stirred mahseff right
lively"
Three hours later the youngsters,
stained, muddy and thoroughly tired,
were having a friendly pow-wow with
the sheriff, while a furious German,
who had been forcibly relieved of sun
dry interesting papers, was foaming in
strong though crudely constructed
cell.
Right smart sort OF crook, this
Dutchman," said the sheriff, half-ad-
miringly. Found out, somehow,
which road you boys would take.
Knew mighty well that if he sent any
Sake wires to me I'd do a little in
vestigating before acted any, and so
he makes up his own law forces. Gets
Tom TarbTow, fellow we ran out of
here two years ago-must have been
living in Chicago ever since-to play
my part. Sends deputy sheriffs' down
to help bluff the conductor and you
Would have worked If you hadn't been
handy with your fists and lively on
your legs. What gets me, though, is
his nerve in hiring Pod Morgan's pack
of hounds to trail you. Pods all heat
ed up. Says he don't blame you boys
none for peppering your tracks, but
he'll get satisfaction out of the Ger
man or out of Tom Tarbrow. Says
his dawgs won't be no good again for
six months. maybe never"
How would they have handled us?"
questioned Solano. They couldn't
very we'll put us in any lookup with
no authority except their nerve"
Wouldn't have needed to-" laughed
the sheriff. Their scheme was plain
enough. All they wanted was the pa
pers and letters you boys are carrying.
They'd have took those away from
you and then turned you loose, figur-
ing that you were too completely
bluffed to make any lSck, or to do
anything excepting to go straight
home. Good ideas, sons-but you sure
did sting 'em this time"
What will you do with Baron FOL
fern and his hired menu" asked Brock
EFT with natural curiosity. The sheriff
knitted his brows, thoughtfully.
That's something of poser" adj
mitted the official. If you lads would
stay over and testify we could give
them plenty of chances to work out
nice long Enthusiastically Tom
Tartrow. Impersonating an officer
isn't healthy trick round these parts.
and we'd fix Tom proper. You say.
though, that you have to be on your
way right sudden, and | won't detain
you. Reckon | can send Tom and his
fellows up for a little while without
your help-the testimony of the con-
ductor and of Pod Morgan will Just
about settle them. I'll be cussed II
know what to do with the Dutchman,
thc-gh."
1.-THE baron? He's a spy of the Ger
man government, and one of the
kaiser's most valuable agents." SoIano
remarked.
That's a certain cinch," said the
sheriff but that won't get us much
right now. We know who he is;
we've got some goods on him. and
we've taken a lot of choice credentials
away from him. Wish 1t was war
time-we'd soon settle a polecat like
him. In the wartime We used to
catch Yankee spies round these woods
now and then-and there was no for
mality at all. Not a bit of Formally.
Just a tree-limb and a halter. II we
only had a nice excuse, like those
times, son, we'd tend to your German.
AS It is. I'm afraid we can't do much.
Might print the story on him. but
that would tip off any other spies or
secret agents as to where you boys
were travelling and cause you more
trouble than 1t would be worth"
why not have all his credentials
photographed" suggested Brockett.
land keep one set of copies here.
while sending another set to the Sc
cret service at Washington"
Good idea. boy, Good idea,"
chuckled the sheriff I'm do It. Do