Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-12-27


blew out his light, hurriedly resumed
his clothes and passed out into the
darkness. He was armed, but, for
that matter, had worn a pistol in his
belt all the evening. Noiselessly he
CROPPED along to the stable, where he
found the surveyors pack and un-
rolled the damp blankets Not an in
viting bed, surely, for a rheumatic,
but he pulled off his boots and hat,
and lay down with the blanket drawn
over his head after the manner of the
accustomed camper.
The first dull light of a cloudy morn
ing scarcely showed between the
cainks of the log stable when two men
with sawed-off shot-guns in hand en-
tered it and, stirring up the sleeper
with a foot, commanded Byrnes to put
up his hands. He was not easy to
rouse, but at the third call scrambled
up, saying: Look out for that sorrel
horse, stranger, he's kicker"
Now who are you and what are you
doing here?" demanded one of the
men.
I'm surveyor, and I'm looking for
Dolan's outfit, replied Byrnes prompt
ly: have you seen them?"
who is in the cabins?" asked the
man; talk fast. am the sheriff of
| this county; Jim, here, is my dep
uty"
One cabin is empty, far as know"
said Byrnes, land the man that owns
! the place is alone in the other"
81 appoint you deputy to help me
arrest him." said the sheriff Got a
gum"
Yes, | got a gun" said Byrnes,
but | don't want anybody to waste
any powder on me. The county don't
| pay me any salary to go up against
| things
| Come along You have no choice.
| I appoint you," said the sheriff.
What do you want this settler for?"
asked Byrnes, as he examined the
loads In his revolver; "he don't look
like a bad one
Il want him for a dozen hold-ups
on the stage road" he answered, land
for letting his gun go off a few times.
and for robbing the mails and for some
other trifies. Ready?"
The young surveyor Weakened soon
after dawn, and looked out OF the cab
ms one window just as the three arm
ed men quickly and silently came to
the door. He recognized his host among
them, and his instant conclusion was
that he had fallen among thieves. The
door had no fastenings and had al
| OF he
crowded the heavy table against it
braced himself, and cried out Il It the
first man who stuck his nose through
the door would lose 1t.
"Plunk him through the door" sug
gested Byrnes as they paused
Il would" said the sheriff, only
want to get him alive, so as TO fine
not where he caches his plumber. Now
listen, you man inside" he continued
you are only one against three, anC
you are bound to lose. You may ge
one of us. but you can't get us ALL anC
If you don't walk out like a gentleman
We will fire this shanty and smoke yol
out. You know me- I'm the sheriff
of this county, and | want you"
, You can't hold me up If ther'
were 30 of you" said the surveyor
land you wouldn't get five dollar
apiece if you did"
'Hold-up be damned" replied tn
sheriff impatiently; you've got hold
, up on the brain. You know me, Nv
, got a warrant for you. Look here,
) said he. poking it through the door
Why" said the surveyor, you ar
q barking up the wrong tree, sheriff.
7 and he got down from the table an
q flung open the door; I'm not
Byrnes; that's the man you want
pointing at his host.
o That's all right" said the sheriff
lust keep your hands up until &,
the bracelets, will your" And despit
, his protests the surveyor was ham
cuffed and disarmed.
!, Now, where's your plunder?" aske
the sheriff. You know 1 can make
/. little easier for you If you show U
q what you've got"
'I1l make IL easier for you IL yc
= take me into town handcuffed,' rotor
q ed the indignant surveyor why,
q men in that town know who am
n Lots of people will know you b
fore you get out of this scrape." 7
Z. piled the sheriff You have be,
% pretty smooth. II you want to be
"a fool now you got caught, suit yourse
put Wen find the stun just the sam
.. Jim"-to his deputy-"put the pr
g oner on my horse and take him In. p
7 him In the steel tank. Come ba
n. with two more men to search for t
q stuff. There must be fortune
"a coin lying around here somewhel
.. and am going to stay and look
70 up"
va The sheriff was so eager to beg
H. the search that he scarcely waited
n get his prisoner mounted and starts
You will consider yourself spec