Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-01-07
PHIuPSTEELE
yfAeR0yALNoRTHWrSTk0UNTEDPOuC2
1JAMES OLIVER CURw0oO
Author Of The Donser Trail. Theonor of theBs Snowsc;
Copyright 1911, The Bobb.- Merrill Company.

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you're standing-the hurt, I mean.
They won't leave the wreck-not q
man, and l don't blame 'em."
A pretty, brown-haired young wo
man had come to the door and Bill
niger ran to meet her.
"Good-by," he cried, taking her for
a moment in his big arms. Take
care of the key"
He turned as quickly to the horses,
talking as they mounted.
ut was robbery" he said-and
they set off at a canter. side by sidH.
There was two hundred thousand 10
currency in the express car, and it's
gone. found their trail this morn-
ing, going into the North. They're
hitting for what we call the Bad
Lands over beyond the Coyote, twen-
ty miles from here. don't suppose
there's any time to lose"
mo" said Philip. How many are
there?"
"Four-mebby more"
Billinger started his horse into
gallop and Philip purposely held his
man. The first law OF MacGregor's
teaching was to study men, and tc
suspect. 1t was the first law of the
splendid service of which he was
part-and so he looked hard at Bill
niger. The Englishman was hatless.
His sandy 'Nir was cropped short,
and his mustaches floated out like
flexible horns from the sides OF his
face. His shirt was in tatters. In
one place it was ripped clean of the
shoulder and Philip saw a purplish
bruise where the. flesh was bare. He
knew these for the marks of Billing
er's presence at the wreck. Now the
man was equipped for other business.
A huge "forty-four" hung at his
waist, a short carbine swung at his
saddle-bow; and there was some
thing in the manner of his riding,
in the hunch of his shoulders, and
in the vicious sweep of his long
mustaches. that satisfied Philip he
was 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 Bill
niger stopped and pointed down into
hollow a quarter of mile away.
ut will be a loss of time to go
down there" he said, "and it will do
no good. See that thing that looks
like 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 thing-while they were dying
in there like so many Gagged rats!
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 street
ched out along the track, and a good
many hurt. Great Heavens, listen to
| that"
He shuddered and Philip shudder-
ed, at the wailing sound of grief and
pain that came up to them.
It'll be a loss of time-to &c
down." agreed Philip.
His blood was burning at fever
heat when he raised his eyes from
the scene below to Billingers face
Every fighting fiber in his body was
tingling for action, and at the re
sponsive glare which he met in Bill
linger's eyes he thrust his hand hal
over the space that separated them
We'll get 'em, Billinger." he cried
"By God, we'll get 'em!"
There was something ferocious II
the crush of the others hand. The
Englishman's teeth cleaned for al
instant between his scared mustache,
as he heeled his mount into a can
ter along the back of the ridge. Fiv,
minutes later the knoll dipped agaiI
into the plain and at the foot of
Billinger stopped his horse for
second and pointed to fresh hoof
marks in the prairie sod. Phili
jumped from his horse and examines
the ground.
"There are five in the gang, Bill
niger" he said shortly. "All of ther
were galloping-but one"
He looked up to catch Billinge
leaning over the pommel of his sad
die staring at something almost d
rectly under his horses feet.
whats that?" he demanded. Z"
handkerchief"
Philip picked 1t up-a dainty bit {
fine linen, crumpled and sodden b
dew, and held 1t out between tn
forefinger and thumb of both hand
"Yes, and a women's handkerchie
Now what the devil"
He stopped at the look in Billil
: gers face as he reached down II
the handkerchief. The square jaw
Of the man were set like ste
? springs, but Philip noticed that b
hand was trembling.
"A woman in the gang" he iaug
ed as Philip mounted.
A n -