The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1915-01-21
oo,y.,ehs, 1s14, By Louis Joseph vance

run"
The girl started to speak, but merely
dropped limp hands at her sides and
rolled her eyes helplessly.
eve do our BEST" Marrophat OBJ
served. 1--WE can't be blamed If
something = somehow - always hap
pens to tip the others off,"
The girl swung to face him with
blazing eyes. Gust what does that
mean?" she demanded in dangerous
voice.
Marrophat lifted his shoulders.
"Nothing-much," he allowed 81 am
only thinking how strange it is that
Mr.. Law can't be caught by any sort
of stratagem-when you are on the job,
Miss Judith"
The girls hands were clenched into
fists, white knuckles showing through
the flesh. "You contemplate puppy!"
she snapped.
But on this her voice failed; for her
tyes travelled past the person Of Mr..
Marrophat to the doorway Of the draw
ing room and found it framing q
stranger.
Excuse me, friends" he offered in
lazy, semi-humorous drawl. 1t pains
me considerable to butt in on this
happy family gathering, but business
Is business, same as usual, and I got
to asst you-all to please put up your
hands!'
What do~you want?' the invalid de-
manded.
why" drawled the bandit, nothing
in particular-only your cash. Shell
out, if you please-sents all and the
LADY, too" He ran an appreciative
glance down the figure which Judith's
disguise revealed rather than con-
:ealed. ''If you'll pardon my takin'
notice." he amended. "Pahs,,s I
wouldn't if the lady's clothes didn't fit
her so alfred quick!"
Keep a civil tongue in your head,
my mani" Judith counseled, without
any show Of fear.
At the same time her fathers voice
brought her to her senses.
Judith! Be quiet. Let me deal
with this gentleman. am sure we
can come to some arrangement"
"You bet your life," agreed the gen.
tleman as the girl mutinously stepped
back. "I know what want, and you
all know you got it: so the name of
the said arrangement is just shell
out"
Zone minute" the invalid inter-
posed. Don't misunderstood me: l
guarantee you shall be amply salts
fed. give you my word-the word
Of Seneca Trine.'
The eyes of the bandit widened.
mo? Is that so? Seneca Trine, the
railroad king? Sure's you're born
you're him: I've seen your picture
in the papers dozen times. Well,
now,..si looks like I'd drawn a full
hoase 70 this pair Of deuces, don't it?
sYYou ought to be able to pay something
I handsome"
"Iil pay you far more handsomely
than you dream of If you'll do as I
wis.," Trine interrupted quickly. do
me the service wish-and name
your price: whatever it is, you shall
have it,"
Nothing could be fairer'n that!"
the two-gun man admitted suspicious
ly. "BusNwhat's the number Of this
here servica1Iike you call it,"
Listen to msS" Trine bent his head
forward and jabhed the air with an
emphatic forefnger. What's the life
of man worth in thfS neck Of the
woods?"
How much you got?")
'rIl pay you ten Thousand dollars
sor the life of the man viii name"
The eyes Of the bandit narrowed.
Hold on, my friend: is that whaGyo
call my naming my own price?"
name it. then,". said Trine.
"Give me thousand on account" said,
the other, "and paper saying you'll
pay me nineteen thousand more in ex-
change for it and one dead man, prop
erly identified as the one you want
signed by you-and your mans as
good as dead this minute, providing
he's in riding distance of this here
car
Trine waved his hand at his secre-
tary. Jimmy, find a thousand dollars
for this gentleman. Make out the
paper he indicates for the balance,
and I'll sign it."
"Ain't you powerful trustful, Mr..
Trine? How do you know I'll do any
thing more'n pocket that thousand and
fade delicately away"
"My daughter and this gentleman,
Mr.. Marrophat, will accompany you"
ooh, that's the way Of 1t, is it?"
"Name?" interjected the secretary,
writing busily with the top Of his at
tache case for a desk.
"Slade," said the bandit, James
Slade." Again Trine punctured the az
mosphere with his index finger. "Tlle
man whose life want is named Alan
Law. He is running away with ny
daughter, Rose, accompanied by per-
son named Barcus, disguised as Pull
man porter"
"The three Of them having recent
escaped from train wreck up yonder
on the trestle?" Hopi Jim interposed.
you've met them?" Judith demand
ed, whirling round.
about an hour ago, or maybe an
hour and half" Hopi jim replied, "a
good ways down the road. They
stopped and asst where they could get
put up fer the night. kindly directed
them on to Mesa, down in the Painted
hills yonder.'
CHAPTER xxxVll,