Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-03-18
BY H. M. EGBERT

believed to be the work OF Clancy'i
gang"
West bound, did you say?" exclaim
ed the other "Why-why-" He broke
of and eyed the other suspiciously
again. Il guess there won't be no hold
ups with this special" he answered
grimly There's nothing worth
plundering aboard of her and thereN
be two armed men in the cab. Get
that?"
"You seem to think I'm one Of the
thieves" remarked Haynes petutantly
in the broad dialect Of the West.
why" said the other candidly
maybe you are and maybe you amt
But there won't be no hold-ups on thiA
special. Thanks!"
Haynes spun on his heel as though
offended and re-entered the vehicle
which proceeded slowly westward
along the road that ran for a short
distance parallel with the embank
ment. About mile from the station
1t ended in deep gully. beyond
which was nothing but fiat prairie for
a hundred miles and little more, un
till the steep ascent Of the Blue Noun
tain range began. Haynes laughed
grimly as they sped through the dark
ness.
Hes going west then" he said.
"It's lucky we had this old auto COW
cred, Theobald, for 1t must be nearly
zero outside. Keep up your courage.
man: in two hours, or three at the
outside, all will be over and you'll be
on your way back to your comfortable
house in Nokomis. as snug as though
you'd never left your bed to answer
my summons"
They drew up the automobile and
waited patiently. some distance from
the road. in case the station master
should send searchers for them. Three
hundred feet from the embankment
they would have escaped the observa-
tion of the most keen-eyed hunters IN
that darkness and in the snow which
fell steadily about them.
Meanwhile Judge Charters, suit
cases in hand. was waiting at the rail-
road station. He had driven his own
automobile through the bitter weath.
er and now stamped impatiently up
and down the platform. waiting for the
engine and car to come alongside.
When 1t arrived he noticed the two
guards beside the driver.
who are those menT" he asked
sharply.
Assistants" answered the station.
master. He would not arouse the
judges fears by detailing the news
OF the hold-up which he had received.
With sure instinct he had discerned
the lie that had been told him He had
no doubt that the two men were actu.
ally members of Clancey's gang sent
to make observations. But, being un.
armed, he had prudently suffered them
to withdraw. He had privately In.
structed the driver to keep a sharp
lookout for obstacles upon the track.
Only at one spot could such be placed,
for the prairie stretched away, with
out a sign Of tree, clear to the Blue
Mountains-and then on and on again
until the foothills of the Rockies and
the broad alkali plains confronted
them. At the Blue Mountains only,
where the engine must slow down to
surmount the hills. could any attempt
occur. And the guards carried loaded
rifles.
Judge Charters knew nothing OF
any danger. His only danger he felt
he had shaken off when he stepped
into his warm, comfortable car. Hop
kins had not forgotten his love OF
comfort. Beside the sleeping berth
was a table piled with magazines,
box of choice cigars, and little case
containing some of those liqueurs
which the Judge dearly loved. When
the train drew out of Nokomis he set
tied himself down in his chair. all
fear forsaking him.
He meant to take ship at Portland
for San Francisco under an alias;
thence to double back on his tracks
toward the south, possibly to cross
into Mexico. His plans were not ma
tured. Confident that he had out.
witted his former victim. he placed his
fears behind him.
He had no ties. He lived the lux
urious, selfish life of an elderly bach.
elor. To break new ground was easy.
He had no qualms. He had meant to
retire soon anyway. He felt that he
had acted wisely in arriving at his
decision to fly.
He had heard the name Clancy
mentioned softly as he was about to
step into the car, and the word sent
a sudden flash of recollection through
his brain. He remembered Clancy
that patient, easy-going middle-aged
man who had become involved in
lawsuit with the Nokomis Land Com
pany a year or two previously. Clancy
had been a power in Nokomis by rea-
son of his large interests there and
his answering honesty. 1t had been
q stiff fight before the land gang
trapped him. Judge Charteris shiv-
cred as he remembered how, when he
sentenced him to ten years In the
penitentiary, Clancy had threatened
him in court and denounced him as
tool OF the confederates. Then had
come the spectacular escape from
prison; ana the respectable, portly
gentleman-a little like himself-had
become an outlaw and the terror OF
the country. Yes, 1t was well that
he had planned this fight.
The train rolled on. A blissful