Oxford Democrat., 1921-07-12

tSrbriss, the mounted police command
Cd q few moments Of blinking, I'M
thiakins inactivity from the crowd.
He utilized It In explaining that
the man they intended to hang was
wanted up in Calgary for . particu-
larly atrocious crime.
Tsarlsssly AMI fiuently he lied to
them, asserting official Jurisdiction on
foreign soil. face to face with men
who could, and probably would, Ill
him with lead before he could move
. finger.
But what his nerve and cunning
might have accomplished without hos
ulitiss was denied demonstration BY
the torch sputtering out before any
one responded. In the same instant
the mounted police twisted his knife
through the ropes that held the pris-
oner's feet and hands.
The electric instinct Of self-preser-
walton actuated the hands to release
the neck, and the quick generalship
Of the mounted police swept them
both behind the tree as dozen re-
volvers flashed out the suddenly re-
stored anger and deadly purpose OF
the mob.
A single bullet answered, sent back
along the trail to discourage pursuit,
as the mounted police dragged after
him a companion who but for him
would have been black in the face
and dead. The training Of the plains
took him straight to his horse.
With his charge clinging blindly to
the saddle. he was leading the way
back along the trail northward when
the first Of the mob reached the hotel.
When the bulk Of the mob came In,
they bore the stiffening frame Of one
whose lungs bled from the bullet the
mounted police loosened along the
trail.
On the barroom table he coughed
out his life, and the admission that
he was the one that should have stood
upon the barrel. His crime was the
fruit Of whisky-muddled game Of
seven-up for the money the man they
had meant to hang had paid for the
pony.
Morning found the mounted police
steadily leading his horse toward the
boundary-line.
"What made you do itT demanded
the still uncomprehending rider at
spring where they drank. did you be-
hsve my storyT
at wasn't your story" admitted the
mounted police. 1T was the girl with
the blue eyes and the roses. You see.
I know all about her."
"You know all about her7"
"Yes, there's another like her over
In England. 4 was just on my way
to see II she wasn't tired Of waiting.
Best not to talk about 1t where were
going. They might call 1t desertion."
At the spot where the mounted po-
lice had looked back on Canada the
day before, he stopped and made
rope handcuff Of his halter.
u am an officer Of this country"
he explained, "and cannot knowingly
aid you to escape when you're accused
Of crime. ! hope you are innocent,
and We will do our best to send you
back to where you can have a fair
trial"
II was all q part Of the prevailing
fateful mystery to the man in the sad
die. he felt his hands bound again
without opposition. A little later they
turned bluff into rest-camp Of the
mounted police.
",Allo. Dickl Where you been att
Lieutenants been worrying" chai
lenged the guard.
The lieutenant commented pointedly
On q member Of his command drop
ping out for two days and reporting
with no better excuse for absence than
q fugitive from the states.
The detachment had been ordered
ND north, and should be already on
the move.
run this chap down to the line,
and turn him over to anybody that
happens along. And be deuced quick
about 1t.
There came happy day In Indiana
that winter for a man who failed to
find q gold mine, but kept maiden's
heart. BE was clean, game. and free
from stain.
Away up in Assiniboia, q mounted
police doubled his patrol to keep from
freezing. 1t would be warmer over
home now-but what did that matter?
A girl has to be settled some time in
life, and there are many willing lads
left in England.