Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-12-22

remainder back into the inner pocket.
1t was only q minute or two after =
this that the red-faced mans impa-
tience blossomed into the thirst that
will not be denied, and he went into
the saloon to get a drink, first putting
the cabman on guard.
"Get down here and keep an eye on
this dicky-bird," he ordered. Slug
him If he tries to make break"
But the cabman hung back.
I'm no fightin' man. sorr; an. be-
sides, don't dare lave me harrses."
he objected. But the officer broke in
angrily.
What the devil are you afraid Off
He's got the clamps on, and couldn't
hurt you II he wanted to. Come down
here!"
The little Irishman clambered down
from his box reluctantly, with the
reins looped over his arm. When he
peered in at the open window of the
carriage the big man had passed be-
yond the swinging screens of the sa-
loon entrance and Griswold seized his
opportunity quickly.
whats your job worth. my manf"
he whispered.
The cabman snatched swift glance
over his shoulder before he ventured
to answer.
Don't yez be timptin' a poor man
wild wife an swim childer hangin' to
um-don't yez do 1t. sorrl"
Griswold, the brother-keeping. woJlld
have thought twice before opening
any door of temptation for a brother
IN tho Griaupld had M,
compunctions.
"It's two hundred dollars to you II
you can get me away from here be-
fore that red.faced drunkard comes
back. Have a runaway-anything!
Here's the money!"
For a single timorous instant the
cabman hesitated. Then he took tho
roll of money and crammed It into his
pocket without looking at 1t. Before
Griswold could brace himself there
was a quick whish of the whip. pip
ing cry from the driver, and the
horses sprang away at reckless gal-
lop. with the little Irishman hanging
to the reins and shouting feebly like .
faint-hearted Automedon.
Griswold caught passing glimpse
Of the red-faced man wiping his lips
in the doorway of the saloon as the
carriage bounded forward: and when
the critical instant came, he was care
full to fall out on the riverward side
Of the vehicle. It was a desperate en-
pedient, since he could not wait to
choose the favorable moment, and the
handouts made him practically help
less. Chance saved the clumsy escape
from resulting in speedy recapturo
When he tumbled out Of the lurching
carriage he was hurled violently
against something that figured as a
wall of solid masonry and was half
stunned by the concussion. None the
less. he had wit enough to lie notion
less in the shadow OF the wall. and
the hue and cry. augmented by this
time to a yelling mob. swept past
without discovering him.
When it was safe to do SO. he sat
up and felt for broken bones. There
were none; and he looked about him.
The wall of masonry resolved itself
into a cargo OF brick piled on the
levee side of the street, and obeying
the primary impulse Of fugitive. he
quickly put the sheltering bulk of It
between himself and the lighted thor
oughfare.
The next step had to be resoluteiy
thought out. How was he to get rid
of the handouts? Any policeman
would have a key. and there were
doubtless plenty of locksmiths in st.
Louis. But both of these sources Of
assistance were out OF the question.
Whom, then? The answer came in
one word-McGrath. On a day when
the upriver voyage was no more than
fairly begun, one of the negroes In the
crew had procured a bottle Of bad
whisky. To pacify him the mate had
put him in irons, using two pairs OF
handouts for the purpose. Therefore,
McGrath must have key.
But would McGrath do It? That rs
mained to be seen; and since hesita-
tion was no part of Griswold's equip
ment, he covered the fetters as well
as he could with a scrap Of baggins,
and walked boldly down the levee and
aboard the Belle Julie. falling into line
with the returning file Of roustabouta-
The mate was at the heel of the
foot plank. and he saw at once what
the scrap of sacking was meant TO
hide.
Hello. there, Gavitt!" he called. not
less grufly than of yore. but without
the customary imprecation; "what gre
ye doing with thin things on?"
Griswold told a straight story. con-
cealing nothing-not even the detee-
tiye's refusal to tell him what he was
arrested for.
"Ye'd ought to find that cabby and