Evening star., 1927-08-16


And vet he had the same in.
dorser. The security he offer
ed was ample. Even The cashier
admitted that. The cashier also lnti'
mated, at suggestion of another IN
dorser, that the bank wouldn't care
10 renew the note on any condition.
Why? Farmer Britton was ponder
inc the question as he stumbled out.
The note would he due in four DAYS
and couldn't be renewed. What would
that mean--foreclosure? That was
what the cashier had intimated.
His mind went over the three
horses. the half-dozen COWS. the sheep.
pigs and poultry. even the farm ma
chinery--but four days. All couidn [
he made to meet half the mortgage.
A finger beckoned from the post
office steps across the street.
Hello. Britton," a voice called.
"Come over here" Then. a lower
voice as the farmer drew near.
Turned you down. too, eh?"
"W-what, You tried, Diggs? Your
note amt due for two weeks Vet.
Il know. But / wanted to feel
sure
"What1l we do"
"W ell.-with stitch catch in his
voice. 50 quickly checked that his
companion did not even notice, moth
in much. I guess. but wait. sup
pose we GO out on the stone hutment
Of the bridge Nonder an sit down.
We can watch the thief-Catchers While
we talk. Look. yonder goes bunch
now, with guns an dogs, an yes,
ones swingin' an old stove poker.
What looms they are. I bet half the
towns out huntin' that reward an
IT,
THE robbers likely hundred miles
from here now"
Digs shook his head. Don't guess
SO" he said. THE only sensible thing
done was the bank telegraphin' TO all
the railroad stations round. That
was done so quick he couldn't slip
out with his heft of booty. Why, the
Ieweler said he took more'n 20 pounds
of silver out of his place alone. not
to mention the dry goods an other
stores he entered. He must he
regular city cracksman to do things
IN the way he did.
Funny old Briggs could offer re
ward"
Does seem so. for a fact. An still.
from what I hear the old fellow
pretty we'll scared up. Seems the rob
her took a lot OF papers from the
bank. some Of 'em private property or
Briggs. Folks do say they mean lot
to him. Anyhow, he's offered sl.Soo
for their return. with no questions
asked. The others have run the re-
ward up to over $4,000. But they
want the capture of the rohher."
Think he'll be captured"
"Not likely. It's been over week
now, an there's no question but the
fobber's a cute one. My idea is that
he's hidin' somewhere right now,
waitin' for it to blow over"
They had reached the abutment of
the bridge and sat down. Before
them, rising in rocky. broken lines
for nearly four miles to the summit.
lay the mountainside. There were
stretches of timber and isolated trees
and groups where the rock afforded
scant rootage. Among the broken
yocks were many caves and hiding
paaces.
The two men studied it speculative
~. Here and there they could see men
ami boys nosing about. Once or twice
they heard a gun fired.
Suddenly Diggs slapped a hand
upon his knee.
robber, Britton?" he chuckled.
Britton did not answer for some
time. Carefully he studied the noun.
tsinside.
WELL" he said at length. 'I sure
wouldn't crawl into one Of them caves
the townsfolks are peepin' into an
tryin' to drive their dogs in. I'd want
to see what was going on, SO I'd know
when TO skip"
My idea prezactly." approved
Diggs. 'Now, see that little clump of
fir trees way up yonder near the top,
bout three miles,"
"'Course. You an me climbed up
there once to hide from the boys.
Branches so thick you couldn't see
fellow six foot off. Bang-up hidin'
place.
That's where I'd hide" agreed
Diggs. From one of them fir tops a
man could look all over the mountain.
side an he couldn't be seen from be-
low. II hunter climbed tree to
search. the man could swing across
the branches TO another tree. There
are six In the group. Yes, IL twas me.
I'd hide my stealin's in some hole be-
low. an then keep a lookout from
ar top. An say, Britton," the chuckle
in his voice changing to a grin, that
broadened to his ears, that robbers
just as cute as you an me. We've
roamed that slope since boys, an know
what them fir trees offer. An I've
an idea a cute robber could pick out
as much with one look. My real duty