The Washington herald., 1912-08-04
CHAPTER XVI.

Lock of Golden Hair.
a the sun was rising in burning
~ August glare over the edge of
the parched prairie, Philip saw
ahead of him the Imprinted board shan
ty that was called Bleak House Station,
and few moments later he saw man
run out into the middle of the track
and stare down at him from under the
shade of his hands. 1t was Billinger,
his English-red face as white as he had
left Gums, his shirt in rags, arms bare,
and his tremendous blond mustaches
crisped and scared by fire. Close to the
station, fastened to posts, were two sad
dle-horses. A mile beyond these things
thin film of smoke clouded the sky.
AS the jigger stopped Philip jumped
from his seat and held out a blistered
hand. Pm Steele-Philip Steele, of
the Northwest Mounted"
And I'm Billinger-agent," said tho
other. Philip noticed that the hand
that gripped his own was raw and bleed
ing. Il got your word, and I've re-
ceived instructions from the department
to place myself at your service. My
wife is at the key. I've found the trail,
and I've got two horses. But there isn't
another man who'll leave up there for
love o God or money. It's horrible!
Two hours ago you'd ave heard their
screams from where you're Standing
the hurt, mean. They won't leave the
wreck-not man, and / don't blame
EN-"
A pretty, brown-haired young wom-
an had come to the door and Billinger
ran to her "Good-by," he cried, taking
her for moment in his big arms. Take
care of the KEY" He turned as quickly
to the horses, talking as they mounted.
1T was robbery" he said-and they SET
off at canter, side by side. There was
two hundred thousand in currency in
the express car. and it's gone. l found
their trail this morning, going into the
North. They're hitting for what we
call the Bad Lands over beyond the
Coyote, twenty miles from here. / don't
suppose there's any time to lose"
No" said Philip. How many are
there"
"Four-mebby more"
Billinger started his horse into gal
lop and Philip purposely held his mount
behind to look at the other man. The
first law of MacGregor's teaching was
to study men, and TO suspect. 1t was
the first law Of the splendid service of
which he was part-and so he looked
hard at Billinger. The Englishman was
hatless. His sandy hair was cropped
short, and his mustaches foated out like
flexible horns from the sides of his
face His shirt was m tatters. In one
piece it was ripped clean of the Shout
der and Philip saw a purplish bruise
where the flesh was bare. He knew
these for the marks of Billingers pres
ence at the wreck Now the man was
equipped for other business. A huge
"forty-four" hung at his waist, a short
carbine swung al his saddle-bow; and
there was something in the manner of
his riding, in the bunch OF his shoulders,
and in the vicious sweep OF his long mus
taches, that satisfied Philip he was a
man who could use them He rode up
alongside of him with new confidence
They were coming to the top of knoll;
at the summit Billinger stopped and
pointed down into hollow quarter of
a mile away.
at will be a loss of time to go down
there" he said, 'and il will do no good.
See that thing that looks like a big log
in the river? That's the top OF the day
coach 1t went in right side up, and
the conductor-who wasn't hurt-says
there were twenty people in it. We
watched it settle from the shore, and
We couldn't do a thing-while they were
dying in there like so many Gagged ratsl
The other coach burned, and that heap
Of stuff you see there is what's left OF
the Pullman and the baggage car.
There's twenty-seven dead stretched
put along the track, and good many
lurt. Great heavens, listen to that"
He shuddered, and Philip sfIuddered,
It the wailing sound Of grief and pain
hat came up to them.
It'll be loss of time-to go down."
repeated the agent
Yes. it would be loss of time"
agreed Philip.
His blood was burning al fever heat
when he raised his eyes from the scene
,elow to Billinger's face Every fight
ng fiber in his body was tingling for
Iction, and at the responsive glare
which he met in Billinger's' eyes he
hrust his hand half over the space that
eparated them.
well get 'em, Bilinger," he cried.
BY God, we'll get EN-
There was something ferocious in the
rush OF the others hand The Eng
teeth cleaned for an instant
,etween his scared ulustaches as he
leeled his mount into canter along
he back of the ridge Five minutes
alter the knoll dipped again into the
lain and at the foot of it Billinger
topped his horse for a second and
ointed to fresh hoof-marks in the prai-
lie sod. Philip jumped from his horse
nd examined the ground.
There are FIVE in the gang. Billinger,
lie said shortly. "All OF them were gal
one" He looked up to
atch Billinger leaning over the poninel
f his saddle staring at something al
most directly under his horses feet
What's that" he demanded. "a
.-
Philip picked it up-a dainty bit of
ne linen, crumpled and sodden by dew,
nd held it out between the forehnges
nd thumb of both hanos.
yes, and a woran's handkerchief.
low what the devil"
He stopped at the look in Billinger's
ace as he reached down for the hand
erchief. The square jaws of the man
;ere set like steel springs, but Philip
oticed that his hand was trembling.
"A woman in the gang" he laughed
S Philip mounted.
They started out at a canter, BillingN
till holding the bit of linen close undoC