The Washington herald., 1912-01-26
CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIII.
Even In the Arkansas hills news trav-
els swiftly. and the boys had hardly be-
gun the second installment OF their flight
when they were halted by grInning and
wholly peaceful negro. bringing tidings
from Little Rock, with a request that
they return forthwith and give whatever
evidence they could against the German
noble. ''Ah jes' bout rode hawss TO
death, gemmen." protested the black
man. IAN when All couldn't ride him no
longeh in dis canebrake All done hiked
suthin' pow ful to cotch yo'. De sheriff,
he lowed dat he'd glib me s. II All
brought yo' in. an dat he'd lest nachully
kick de debbil outen me IL All didn't
an so All stirred mahseff right lively
Three hours later the youngsters,
stained. muddy and thoroughly tired.
were having n friendly pow-wow with
the sheriff, while q furious German. who
teresting papers. was foaming in a strong
though crudely constructed cell.
Right smart sort OF crook, this Dutch
man." said the sheriff. half admiringly.
Found out, somehow, which road you
boys would take. Knew mighty well that
II he sent any fake wires to me I'd do
little investigating before acted any.
and so he makes up his own law forces.
Gets Tom Tarbrow. a fellow We run out
OF here two years ago-must have been
living in Chicago ever since-to play my
part. Sends deputy sheriffs down to
help blum the conductor and you young
sters. Good scheme. Would have worked
II 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 or hounds to trail you.
Pods all heated 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 SoIano. They couldn't very
well put US in any lookup with no author
ity except their nerve"
Wouldn't have needed to-" laughed the
sheriff Their scheme was plain enough.
All they wanted was the papers and let
ters you boys are carrying. They's have
took those away from you and then
turned you loose. figuring that you were
too completely bluffed to make any kick,
or to do anything excepting to 20 straight
home. Good ideas, sons-but you sure did
sting 'em this time"
What will you do with Baron Zollern
and his hired men?" asked Brockett, with
natural curiosity. The sheriff knitted his
brows. thoughtfully.
That's something of a poser" ad-
mitted the official. IF you lads would
stay over and testify We could give them
plenty OF chances TO work out nice
long sentence-specially Tom Tarbrow.
Impersonating an officer isn't a 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 I
won't detain you Reckon can sent Tom
and his fellows up for little while with
out your help-the testimony OF the con-
ductor and OF Pod Morgan win Just about
settle them. I'll be cussed II know what
TO do with the Dutchman, though"
The baron? He's a spy Of the German
government. and one of the KaiseTs
most valuable agents." Solano remarked.
That's a certain cinch." said the sher-
IN, 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
lot of choice credentials away from him. |
Wish Il was war time-we'd soon settle |
a polecat like him. In the war time we
used TO catch Yankee spies round these |
woods now and then-and there was no
formality at all. Not a bit OF formalfty. |
Just a tree limb and halter. II we only |
had a nice excuse, like those times, son, |
we'd tend to your German. As II is, I'm |
afraid we can't do much. Might print the |
story on him, but that would tip on any |
you boys were travelling and cause you |
more trouble than II would be worth"
why not have all his credentials pho-l
tographed?'' suggested Brockett. and |
keep one set of copies here, while send |
ing another set 10 the secret service at |
Washington"
the sheriff. 'I'u do it, Do It right away"
And a few hours later, various highly |
valued documents, papers that would |
cause tremendous strings in the land |
of the Black Eagle. were en- route TO |
The sheriff, by way Of good /
measure and variety, presented the boys /
with a set OF the Photographic duplicates, |
kent a set himself, and sent still another /
set 10 oficiaI friends in Chicago. As to ]
the baron: He raveds He called heaven
and the internal regions alike to witness
that dire calamities would descend upon /
the limited states, the State Of Arkan-
sas, the city OF Little Rock. and the /
hardy sheriff, unless his papers were re-
turned and all duplicates destroyed.
the sheriff, apparently but
little frightened, had the baron photo
Vraphed while at the height OF his ora
tory. and presented the boys with SOU
venir copies OF the proofs
Late in the evening, somewhat re-
freshed by the hospitality OF the sheriff.
the boys resumed their journey. The
sheriff himself escorted them 70 the train,
and with him came Pod Morgan, owner
Of the bloodhounds banned oy the pepper
lricx : few short hours before. Mr.. Nor
Ean showed no resentment against the
Youngsters. and even insisted on sending
4 young hound to the home address OF
zach one-s'a dawg," as Mr.. Morgan
stated Il, "thatn be real comfort TO
yore family, an viii be mighty useful
when II comes tub keepn ioreign !. snekes axe,
praI' oe Mr. Morgan's famous bloodhounds
were vvitb him and the boys learned. with
that tho dreaded man
.rackers were rather small. measiy-iook-s