deputy.
"Nope."
"That a tarpaulin you got in the back of the bed? Jest saw it by thelightnin'."
"Got the bacon kivered to keep it from gittin' wet 'n case it rains,"hastily interposed Scott. He was discussing within himself theadvisability of knocking the deputy from the seat and whipping the teaminto a gallop, leaving him behind.
"You don't mind my crawlin' under the tarpaulin if it rains, do you,Scott?"
"There ain't no--no room under it, Harry, an' I won't allow that baconto git wet under no consideration."
A generous though nerve-racking crash of thunder changed the current ofconversation. It drifted from the weather immediately, however, to aone-sided discussion of the escaped horse thief.
"I guess he's a purty slick one," they heard the deputy say. "Austinsaid he had him dead to rights in his barn! That big bulldog of his hadhim treed on a beam, but when we got there, just after dark, the darnedcuss was gone, an' the dog was trapped up in a box-stall. By thunder, itshowed how desperate the feller is. He evidently come down from thatbeam an' jest naturally picked that turrible bulldog up by the neck an'throwed him over into the stall."
"Have you got a revolver?" asked Higgins loudly.
"Sure! You don't s'pose I'd go up against that kind of a man without agun, do you?"
"Oh, goodness!" some one whispered in Crosby's ear.
"But he ain't armed," argued Higgins. "If he'd had a gun don't yous'pose he'd shot that dog an' got away long before he did?"
"That shows how much you know about these crooks, Higgins," said theother loftily. "He had a mighty good reason for not shooting the dog."
"What was the reason?"
"I don't know jest what it was, but any darned fool ought to see that hehad a reason. Else why didn't he shoot? Course he had a reason. But thefunny part of the whole thing is what has become of the woman."
"What woman?"
"That widder," responded the other, and Crosby felt her arm harden. "Inever thought much o' that woman. You'd think she owned the whole townof Dexter to see her paradin' around the streets, showin' off her cityclothes, an' all such stuff. They do say she led George Delancy a devilof a life, an' it's no wonder he died."
"The wretch!" came from the rear of the wagon.
"Well, she's up and skipped out with the horse thief. Austin says shetried to protect him, and I guess they had a regular family row over theaffair. She's gone an' the man's gone, an' it looks darned suspicious.He was a good-lookin' feller, Austin says, an' she's dead crazy to gitanother man, I've heard. Dang me, it's jest as I said to Davis: Iwouldn't put it above her to take up with this good-lookin' thief an'skip off with him. Her husband's been dead more'n two year, an' she'stoo darned purty to stay in strict mournin' longer'n she has to---"
But just then something strong, firm, and resistless grasped his neckfrom behind, and, even as he opened his mouth to gasp out his surpriseand alarm, a vise-like grip shut down on his thigh, and then, he wasjerked backward, lifted upward, tossed outward, falling downward. Thewagon clattered off in the night, and a tall man and a woman looked overthe side of the wagon-bed and waited for the next flash of lightning toshow them where the official gossiper had fallen. The long, blinding,flash came, and Crosby saw the man as he picked himself from the ditchat the roadside.
"Whip up, Higgins, and we'll leave him so far behind he'll never catchus," cried Crosby eagerly. The first drops of rain began to fall andMrs. Delancy hurriedly crawled beneath the tarpaulin, urging him tofollow at once. Another flash of lightning revealed the deputy, far backin the road waving his hands frantically.
"I'm glad his neck isn't broken. Hurry on, Mr. Higgins; it is now moreurgent than ever that you save your bacon."
'"Tain't very comfortable ridin' for Mrs. Delancy," apologized Higgins,his horses in a lope.
"If the marshal asks you why you didn't stop and help his deputy, justtell him that the desperado held a pistol at your head and commanded youto drive like the devil. Holy mackerel, here comes the deluge!"
An instant later he was under the tarpaulin, crouching beside his fellowfugitive. Conversation was impossible, so great was the noise of therain-storm and the rattle of the wagon over the hard pike. He did hisbest to protect her from the jars and bumps incident to the leaping andjolting of the wagon, and both were filled with rejoicing when Higginsshouted "Whoa!" to the horses and brought the wild ride to an end.
"Where are we?" cried Crosby, sticking his head from beneath thetarpaulin.
"We're in the dump-shed of the grain elevator, just across the trackfrom the depot."
"And the ride is over?"
"Yep. Did you get bumped much?"
"It was worse, a thousand times, than sitting on the beam," bemoaned asweet, tired voice, and a moment later the two refugees stood erect inthe wagon, neither quite sure that legs so tired and stiff could serveas support.
"It was awful; wasn't it?" Crosby said, stretching himself painfully.
"Are you not drenched to the skin, Mr. Higgins?" cried Mrs. Delancyanxiously. "How selfish of us not to have thought of you before!"
"Oh, that's all right. This gum coat kept me purty dry."
He and Crosby assisted her from the wagon, and, while the former gavehis attention to the wet and shivering horses, the latter took her armand walked up and down the dark shed with her.
"I think you are regretting the impulse that urged you into this folly,"he was saying.
"If you persist in accusing me of faintheartedness, Mr. Crosby, I'llnever speak to you again," she said. "I cast my lot with a desperado, asthe deputy insinuated, and I am sure you have not heard me bewail myfate. Isn't it worth something to have one day and night of realadventure? My gown must be a sight, and I know my hair is justdreadful, but my heart is gayer and brighter to-night than it has beenin years."
"And you don't regret anything that has happened?" he asked, pressingher arm ever so slightly.
"My only regret is that you heard what the deputy said about me. Youdon't believe I am like that, do you?" There was sweet womanly concernin her voice.
"I wish it were light enough to see your face," he answered, his lipsclose to her ear. "I know you are blushing, and you must be morebeautiful--Oh, no, of course I don't think you are at all as he paintedyou," he concluded, suddenly checking himself and answering theplaintive question he had almost ignored.
"Thank you, kind sir," she said lightly, but he failed not to observethe tinge of confusion in the laugh that followed.
"If you'll watch the team, Mr. Crosby," the voice of Higgins broke in atthis timely juncture, "I'll run acrost to the depot an' ast about thetrain."
"Much obliged, old man; much obliged," returned Crosby affably. "Are youafraid to be alone in the dark?" he asked, as Higgins rushed out intothe rain. The storm had abated by this time and there was but thefaintest suggestion of distant thunder and lightning, the after-fall ofrain being little more than a drizzle.
"Awfully," she confessed, "but it's safer here than on the beam," sheadded, and his heart grew very tender as he detected the fatigue in hervoice. "Anyhow, we have the papers safely signed."
"Mrs. Delancy, I--I swear that you shall never regret this day andnight," he said, stopping in his walk and placing his hands on hershoulders. She caught her breath quickly. "Do you know what I mean?"
"I--I think--I'm not quite sure," she stammered.
"You will know some day," he said huskily.
When Mr. Higgins appeared at the end of the shed, carrying a lightedlantern, he saw a tall young man and a tall young woman standing side byside, awaiting his approach with the unconcern of persons who have nointerest in common.
"Ah, a lantern," cried Crosby. "Now we can see what we look likeand--and who we are."
Higgins informed them that an east-bound passenger train went through intwenty minutes, stopping on the side track to allow west-bound No. 7 topass. This train also took water near the bridge which crossed the riverjust west of the depot. The west-bound train was on
time, the otherabout five minutes late. He brought the welcome news that the rain wasover and that a few stars were peeping through the western sky. Therewas unwelcome news, however, in the statement that the mud was ankledeep from the elevator to the station platform and that the washing outof a street culvert would prevent him from using the wagon.
"I don't mind the mud," said Mrs. Delancy, very bravely indeed.
"My dear Mrs. Delancy, I can and will carry you a mile or more ratherthan have one atom of Lonesomeville mud bespatter those charming bootsof yours," said Crosby cheerfully, and her protestations were uselessagainst the argument of both men.
The distance was not great from the sheds to the station and was sooncovered. Crosby was muddy to his knees, but his fair passenger was asdry as toast when he lowered her to the platform.
"You are every bit as strong as the hero in the modern novel," she saidgaily. "After this, I'll believe every word the author says about hisstalwart, indomitable hero."
To say that Higgins was glad to be homeward bound would be putting ittoo mildly. The sigh of relief that came from him as he drove out oftown a few minutes later was so audible that he heard it himself andsmiled contentedly. If he expected to meet the unlamented Harry Brown onthe home trip, he was to be agreeably disappointed. Mr. Brown was not onthe roadway. He was, instead, on the depot platform at Lonesomeville,and when the westbound express train whistled for the station he wasstanding grimly in front of two dumbfounded young people who satsleepily and unwarily on a baggage truck.
The feeble-eyed lantern sat on the platform near Crosby's swinging feet,and the picture that it looked upon was one suggestive of the cheap,sensational, and bloodcurdling border drama. A mud-covered man stoodbefore the trapped fugitives, a huge revolver in his hand, the muzzle ofwhich, even though it wobbled painfully, was uncomfortably close to Mr.Crosby's nose.
"Throw up your hands!" said Brown, his hoarse voice shaking perceptibly.Crosby's hands went up instantly, for he was a man and a diplomat.
"Point it the other way!" cried the lady, with true feminine tact. "Howdare you!--Oh, will it go off? Please, please put it away! We won't tryto escape!"
"I'm takin' no chances on this feller," said Brown grimly. "It won't gooff, ma'am, unless he makes a move to git away."
"What do you want?" demanded Crosby indignantly. "My money? Take it, ifyou like, but don't be long about it."
"I'm no robber, darn you."
"Well, what in thunder do you mean then by holding me up at the point ofa revolver?"
"I'm an officer of the law an' I arrest you. That's what I'm here for,"said Brown.
"Arrest me?" exclaimed Crosby in great amazement. "What have I done?"
"No back talk now, young feller. You're the man we're after, an' itwon't do you any good to chew the rag about it."
"If you don't turn that horrid pistol away, I'll faint," criedfemininity in collapse. Crosby's arm went about her waist and she hidher terror-stricken eyes on his shoulder.
"Keep that hand up!" cried Brown threateningly.
"Don't be mean about it, old man. Can't you see that my arm is not atall dangerous?"
"I've got to search you."
"Search me? Well, I guess not. Where is your authority?"
"I'm a deputy marshal from Dexter."
"Have you been sworn in, sir?"
"Aw, that's all right now. No more rag chewin' out of you. That'll doYOU! Keep your hands up!"
"What am I charged with?"
"Attempted horse stealin', an' you know it."
"Have you a warrant? What is my name?"
"That'll do you now; that'll do you."
"See here, my fine friend, you've made a sad mistake. I'm not the manyou want. I'm ready to go to jail, if you insist, but it cost you everydollar you have in the world. I'll make you pay dearly for calling anhonest man a thief, sir." Crosby's indignation was beautifully assumedand it took effect.
"Mr. Austin is the man who ordered your arrest," he explained. "I knowMrs. Delancy here all right, an' she left Austin's with you."
"What are you talking about, man? She is my cousin and drove over herethis evening to see me between trains. I think you'd better lower yourgun, my friend. This will go mighty hard with you."
"But---"
"He has you confused with that horse thief who said his name was Crosby,Tom," said she, pinching his arm delightedly. "He was the worst-lookingbrute I ever saw. I thought Mr. Austin had him so secure with thebulldog as guardian. Did he escape?"
"Yes, an' you went with him," exclaimed Brown, making a final stand."An' I know all about how you come over here in Scott Higgins's wagontoo."
"The man is crazy!" exclaimed Mrs. Delancy.
"He may have escaped from the asylum up north of here," whisperedCrosby, loud enough for the deputy to hear.
"Here comes the train," cried she. "Now we can ask the train men todisarm him and send him back to the asylum. Isn't it awful that suchdangerous people can be at large?"
Brown lowered his pistol as the engine thundered past. The pilot wasalmost in the long bridge at the end of the depot when the train stoppedto wait for the eastbound express to pass. The instant that Brown'srevolver arm was lowered and his head turned with uncertainty to look atthe train, Crosby's hand went to his coat pocket, and when the deputyturned toward him again he found himself looking into the shiny,glittering barrel of a pistol.
"Throw that gun away, my friend," said Crosby in a low tone, "or I'llblow your brains out."
"Great Scott!" gasped Brown.
"Throw it away!"
"Don't kill him," pleaded Mrs. Delancy. Brown's knees were shaking likeleaves and his teeth chattered. His revolver sailed through the air andclattered on the brick pavement beyond the end of the platform. "Don'tshoot," he pleaded, ready to drop to his knees.
"I won't if you are good and kind and obliging," said Crosby sternly."Turn around--face the engine. That's right. Now listen to me. I've gotthis pistol jammed squarely against your back, and if you make a falsemove--well, you won't have time to regret it. Answer my questions too.How long is that bridge?"
"I--I do--don't kno--ow."
"It's rather long, isn't it?"
"With the fill and trestle it's nearly half a mile."
"What is the next stop west of here for this train?"
"Hopville, forty mile west."
"Where does the east-bound train stop next after leaving here?"
"It don't stop till it gits over in Indiana, thirty mile or more."
"I'm much obliged to you. Now walk straight ahead until you come to theblind end of the mail car."
At the front end of the mail car Crosby and his prisoner halted. Everyone knows that the head end of the coach just back of the engine tenderis "blind." That is, there is no door leading to the interior, and onemust stand outside on the narrow platform if, perchance, he is therewhen the train starts. As the east-bound train pulled in from thebridge, coming to a stop on the track beyond the west-bound train,Crosby commanded his erstwhile captor to climb aboard the blind end ofthe mail coach.
"Geewhillikers, don't make me do that," groaned the unhappy Brown.
"Get aboard and don't argue. You can come back to-morrow, you know, andyou're perfectly safe if you stay awake and don't roll off. Hurry up! Ifyou try to jump off before you reach the bridge I'll shoot."
A moment later the train pulled into the bridge and Crosby hurried backto his anxious companion. Brown was on his way to a station forty mileswest, and he did not dare risk jumping off. By the time the trainreached the far end of the bridge it was running forty miles an hour.
"Where is he?" she cried in alarm as he rushed with her across theintervening space to the coveted "east-bound."
"I'll tell you all about it when we get inside this train," he answered."I think Brown is where he can't telegraph to head us off any placealong the line, and if we once get into Indiana we are comparativelysafe. Up you go!" and he lifted her up the car steps.
"Safe," sh
e sighed, as they dropped into a seat in a coach.
"I'm ashamed to mention it, my dear accomplice, but are you quite sureyou have your purse with you? With the usual luck of a common thief, Iam penniless."
"Penniless because you gave your fortune to the cause of freedom," shesupplemented, fumbling in her chatelaine bag for her purse. "Here it is.The contents are yours until the end of our romance."
The conductor took fare from him to Lafayette and informed themud-covered gentleman that he could get a train from that city toChicago at 2:30 in the morning.
"We're all right now," said Crosby