tory sat Mr. Thomas Ardmore, chatting with the conductor, while they waited for the right of way. Mr. Ardmore's pockets were filled with papers, and he h

had precipitated the crisis. That officia

and acqu

sh in search of Appleweight. One car of Ardmore's special train contained a machine gun and a supply of rifles; another abundant ammunition and commissary supplies, and the third cots and bags. The men who loafed about the train were a detail of strike-breakers from a detective agency, borrowed for the occasion. Cooke, the conductor of the train, had formerly been in the government secret service, and knew the Carolina hill country as he knew the pa

one of the box-cars, and the train moved slowly out of the Raleigh yards to the main line an

ely autocratic than the freight conductor in his watch-tower. The landscape is disclosed to him in leisurely panoramas; the springs beneath are not so lulling as to dull his senses. If he isn't whipped into the ditch by the humor of

of corn and cotton, the brilliant crimson of German clover, and long stretches of mixed forest held him with enchantment. In a cornfield a girl plowing with a single steer-a little girl in a sunbonnet, who reached wearily up to the plow handles-paused and waved to hi

aily occupations were so novel and interesting, touched him afresh with delight. These men said much in few words. The taciturnity of Cooke, the conductor, in particular, struck Ardmore as very fine, and it occurred

business in Missouri. You were a regular mine," said the de

ittle joker

remarked the detective

thout ado. Ardmore held to his post in the tower, as lone as the lookout in a crow's-nest. The night air swept more coolly in as they neared the hills, and the trai

humped the rails at a lively clip. Shortly after midnight Ardmore

Kildare. One of your men

he local geography. The forester described in clear, straight-forward English just what he had done. He had distributed his men well through the hills, and they were now posted as pickets on points favorable for observation. They had found along the streams

ough there-just about here, isn't it, Paul? I always

ere, and your land crosses the North Carolina boundary into South C

iking the table with his fist. "I never knew o

een living there on the creek to protect your timber.

se hanging on the creek. You took me by it once, but it

you step from one state to another. My man left there recently, refusing to stay any longer. These Appleweight people tho

the sheriff

yesterday I found he had left town and g

hed and slap

of the dungeon w

's afraid to keep any; and he's like the rest of the peo

nd handing a tin cupful to Ardmore. "He's tolerable well off, and could make money honestly if he didn't o

he, Paul?" asked Ardmore, not a little as

come back. And for two years we have lost the corn

ce out of it before

t?" said Ardmore, grinning-"to be arre

t get out of this before the whole community comes to tak

roughly a new chart, marking roads and paths so far as he knew them, and indicating clearly w

h Carolina. We will go to the county town there, and put him in jail. If the sheriff of Mingo is weak-kneed

said Paul gravely, "but

tor had not been known to his employees and tenants as a serious character, but rather as an indolent person who, when he visited his e

; dead or alive

station and signaled t

ase, so far as the main line is concerned, and it might not be a bad idea to establish headquarters there. We have the tools for cutting in on the telegra

ckets. The train crept warily over the spur into the old wood-cutters' camp, where, as

little stroll. The thirsty of Dilwell County know the way to these places as city topers know the way to a bar. We are now in the

he had reared a pyramid of noble resolutions. Life at last entertained him. The way of men of action had been as fabulous to him as the dew that now twinkled before him. Griswold knew books, but here at his side strode a man who knew far more amazing things than were written in any

y away up yonder on that hillside. It seems to me that we smashed one there once when I was in the service; and over there, abou

hore, and scanned the near landscape for a few minutes. Then he po

el under the vines on the right-hand side, your fing

he stump as Cooke directed, thrust again a little deep

dded app

ey don't even change the hiding-places. And while we stand here, you may be pretty sure that a freckled-faced, tow-headed boy or girl is watching us off yonder, and that the word

rutinizing the

piece of calico is a new one-just a fancy

said Ardmore; and he sat down on a boulder and drew o

om at the Guilford House, and the cob parted in his fingers exactly as before.

r. Ardmore. Wher's the g

rything. Mind-reading isn't in it with them. They know who we ar

aid to Governor Dangerfield, 'Governor,' I said, 'don't worry about this Appleweight business. Time is heavy on my hands,' I said. 'You stay in Raleigh and uphold the dignity of your office, and I will take care of the trouble in Dilwell.' And you can't understand, Cooke

boose, it was Ardmore who led, stepping br