The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-07-11
TROUBLE--PLENTY
By Charles Alden Seltzer.

Tor several days. But Redmon0 nao cut at least two days from the time of his scheduled appearance by talk ing the mountain trail As things had turned out, Corwin had no cause to fear Cuniff and Low rey But he did fear Redmond and Shorty
 However, he had one advantage over Redmond. He knew Redmond suspected him, but so far he was cer- tain that Redmond was not aware of that.
 So Corwin was smoothly courteous to Redmond during their moments together in the company's office.
 He was so scrupulously exact that he grew constrained and distant, and Redmond, observant and taciturn, smiled inwardly. Once, visiting Shor- ty he spoke obliquely to Gail about the note, discovering that Corwin had talked with her about it, and that she had told him that he (Redmond) had read it. Shorty had been in bed for about a week. and was beginning to be- tray an impatience to escape the con- fines of the sick room, when Red mond, leaving him with the admoni- ton to "stay holed up for a couple of days, yet" rode into Laredo and walked into the company's office, to confront Corwin, who was sitting at his desk.
 'I ain't been doin' much lately" he told Corwin, grinning faintly; mot much except to mosey back an forth between here an the Circle Dot But reckon that'll soon be over-Shorty's showin' signs of comin' to life again, an he'll be pullin' his freight one of these days"
 Corwin made no answer, and Red mond grew businesslike. ga Them hold-ups is always pulled 1 off at the same place, they tell me-" he said.
 "At Triangle Bend" Corwin return Redmond. "If there ain't no busi- ness pressin' you, mebbe you'd ride out there an show me" "Sure.''
 Ten minutes later the two set out. heading into the plains westward | from Laredo, their horses at a slow l lope.
 They talked little. Redmond talk ing the initiative, Corwin preserving his steady and exact courtesy. An hour later they were in a noun tain pass, and soon found themselves on a narrow ledge that projected from the shoulder of a mountain. Above the apex of the ledge bulged 1 huge rock wall, rising many feet | over their heads. Corwin dismounted, grinning at Redmond. He slipped the bridle- rein into the crook of elbow and led his horse-close to the edge of the ledge. Redmond did the same. So clear was the atmosphere that Redmond, squinting against the white blur of the sun could see a horseman riding a ridge in the hills Some view" he remarked to Cor | win.
 | Som etimes I'm pretty sure that New Mexico's got a knack of fore
 shortenin' distance that makes Ari-
 zona take a back seat" | 'Meanin' you're lookin' at that guy | ridin'," said Corwin. Yes; he's pret- | ty plain. That's because he's ridin'
 ridge. an there ain't no back | ground
 He grinned.
 'Nothin' like that here" he went
 on. "Everything's hid. That's what
 makes it a good spot to pull off a | ho1d-up in"
 He pointed across the canon to a rock barrier
 That's where that outlaw bunch
 holes up while waitin' for the stage l when there's any dust The stage
 is exposed here; there's no chance
 to make a getaway, either-can't
 show no speed. It's only a hundred | feet across at this point. Some of the bunch gets over there-reaching | it by a steady climb from the level 1 and some more of them hide in the brush there" He indicated a, clump l of undergrowth that hugged the side of the triagle nearest 1-adero. 'No driver is goin' to be fool enough to
 buck that game" he concluded. | Simple, eh ?" remarked Redmond. 1 An if there's a guard? Then what?'' | Then the road agents ain't expos | in themselves. You see, If a bunch
 is hidin' in the brush there. am they
 see there's a guard with the stage,
 why they just mosey down that slope between them rocks. Much as I know
 about guards. there ain't none of them goin' out of their way to nose | around in the brush, 1ookin' for road agents"
 Well" said Redmond soberly, there ain't much to see here now l
 reckon we'll be goin' back" In Laredo, two hours later. Red
 mond sat at Corwin's desk in the stage station. writing a letter. while Corwin. watching him covertly smoked and lounged in a chair. When
 Redmond finished writing, he tossed
 the letter. sealed and stamped, into
 the office mail-box, got up, and an-
 nounced that he was going to the Circle Dot to see Shorty.
 To Redmond's invitation to come
 along Corwin replied: 'I reckon not
 not today. I've got a heap of work
 to do. Tomorrow, mebbe." But Redmond was fully halfway to
 the Circle Dot before Corwin took ur
 the letter, delicately ran a pencil un-
 der the sealed flap, and drew out the
 contents of the enevelope. Then he
 read:
 Dan Colver.
 | Las Vegas,
 Ship ten thousa nd, accordin' tc | agreement, by Number Eleven Stage on the twentieth. Delay stage so tha it will get to Laredo after dark
 Shorty's sick. so I've got to play hel | a lone hand.
 Corwin studied the letter for a Ions
 time, his eyes gleaming.
 Ten thousand. We'll, that's some
 stake. An he's playin her a lont