The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-02-09

passenger anSnted from numbering
local train at Rockville station.
The passenger was a heavily built,
|Sharp-featured man of middle age,
who looked as far from home in his
excellent clothes as the clothes looked
far from home in Rockville. He made
an inquiry Of man on the platform,
and, carrying heavy suitcase, SLOUGH
ed up the main street OF the town with
the unmistakable gait Of Hicks.
Ham Dalton's place was the one
the man had directed him to, and
Hicks, after engaging the best rooms
in the house, for seyenty-five cents,
| scrubbed little of the dust of travel
from his person and went down to the
bar and gambling room. The drink of
whiskey he got made even his trained |
throat writhe and he strolled over to |
the poker table to join a group of calm |
and plainly armed spectators of high |
play.
| From the conversation he picked up
the news Of Rockvale. He learned that |
the dam at Red Gut was washed out;
that Case Egan, a noted rancher, was
in jail for shooting a deputy sheriff,
and that Hal Haines was expecting a
''millionairess gall visitor from New
York
"Whenll she be on?" drawled one of
the players.
"TOmorraS express.
"Sence when did the express stop at
Rockville
"Sence the president of the road told
it to stop for this here young person."
replied the informant crushingly.
Hicks was scanning the faces of the
men about him with purposeful eye.
: Especially he watched ONE a lean
man in red shirt and leather breaches
booted and spurred, who stood near
the table
Hicks approached him. Hello, Pat
ten," he said.
= The man whirled so sharply that
the revolver he had drawn in whirling
: caught in Hicks coat and jerked him
! into the middle of the room. The polk
! err game went on without sound or
= sign of interruption. The bartender
took casual glance at Hicks and the
q gunman, then went on talking to a
I customer as before.
6 Hello, Hicks" said Patten, putting
y up the gun. Pm much obliged that
didn't shoot you. We don't greet old
friends quite so hasty out here, boy,
: as you do in New York-especially
4 when we haven't heard our right
II names in some years." he added in a
lowered voice.
"How long have you been here, Pat!''
. asked Hicks.
"Eight-nine-twelve years; ever
) since that friend Of yours, MIR. Owen,
r. paid me $4,000 for getting rid of q Ger.
tain--what he called certain OBJ.
stacle."
e switch you didn't get rid Off"
|, "NO he made the mistake Of paying
,e me In advance, and it didn't seem
% necessary to harm anybody
Got any of that money left?'
The lean gunman held his head back
and guffawed Its near here,
guess, but it amt mine. 1t dropped be
n tween this bar and that table" he said
" do you want a little job?" asked
S. Hicks. But let's so into an empt!
III wine ROOM
at They strolled into an empty bacl
to room and ordered drinks.
1t What kind of job?" asked Patten
Hicks leaned across the table AM
lg whispered rapidly. His old acquain
III lance drew back, with suspicion.
lie But no foolin' this time warned
Hicks. only part money in advance
% He produced $4,000 in bills from hi
trousers pocket, but secreted it agail
ne quickly as the waiter appeared.
Patten got up an sauntered out int
DIS the barroom, returning presently wit
n. three men of his own brand-broad
in built, grim-eyed ruffians of the ia
a north country--three of Case Egan'
or cattlemen.
ok Mrs. Haines was clustered not onl
by the prospect of meeting her dis
lg Itinguished friend, but by the tumultou
he staging of the great holdup scene tina
he was to mark Pauline's welcome. Ha
he had been up at o'clock in the morn
to ling rehearsing the boys in their parts
He had set off at o'clock for the sta
ton.
r. AS Pauline trim in her travelin
Sc suit of gray and blithe in the clea
to Western air, tripped from the expires
SD all Rockvale was there to meet he
ar Hal Haines, mighty man that he wa
in that region, was red with pride
to the girl who could stop the expires
ng at Rockville gave him her hand
a happy greeting.
ed AS he helped her into the two-seate
IT. blackboard, no one in the crowd M
so ticed the man who had arrived tn
w night before standing on the platfori
ad and pointing out the girl to Tom Pa
ten But Patten was seen 10 moul
ly. and ride rapidly away.
lin II hope you saved some of that low
in. ly Wild West for me, Mr.. Haines,
Zip said Pauline as the finest pair of ho
lid ses in the Double Cross stables whist
ed them along the road to the ranc
to Very little left, Miss Marvin-vel
by little left; still-whoa, there! What
Up this?"
At bend in the road five maske
Try and mounted men had dashed fro
IL cover and quickly surrounded tt
ow blackboard with a circlet of leyelle
as gun-barrels.
to Pauline had time to cry out on
once before she felt herself gripped |
Ter powerful hands and dragged from tt
re- wagon seat, where Hal Haines ST
IN shaking like leaf
by Hell Haines was shaking wit
laughter not fear He stood ND an