placard which covered the lower limbs of his pictorial partner. "Ten
Thousand Dollars reward! Great Scott, Cora, wouldn't I like to catch
those fellows? Great, eh? But it's a desperate gang! The worst ever!"

Just then both became conscious of the fact that some one was
scrutinising them intently from behind. They turned and beheld Anderson
Crow, his badges glistening.

"How are you, officer?" said Jackie cheerily. Miss Marmaduke, in her
happiness, beamed a smile upon the austere man with the chin whiskers.
Anderson was past seventy, but that smile caused the intake of his
breath to almost lift him from the ground.

"First rate, thanks; how's yourself? Readin' the reward notice? Lemme
tell you something. There's goin' to be somethin' happen tarnation soon
that will astonish them fellers ef--" but here Anderson pulled up with a
jerk, realising that he was on the point of betraying a great secret.
Afraid to trust himself in continued conversation, he abruptly said:
"Good afternoon," and started off down the street, his ears tingling.

"Queer old chap, isn't he?" observed Jackie, and immediately forgot him
as they strolled onward.

That evening Tinkletown swarmed with strangers. The weather was fine,
and scores of the summer dwellers in the hills across the river came
over to see the performance, as the advance agent had predicted. Bluff
Top Hotel sent a large delegation of people seeking the variety of life.
There were automobiles, traps, victorias, hay-racks, and "sundowns"
standing all along the street in the vicinity of Hapgood's Grove. It was
to be, in the expansive language of the press agent, "a cultured
audience made up of the elite of the community."

Late in the afternoon, a paralysing thought struck in upon the marshal's
brain. It occurred to him that this band of robbers might also be
engaged to carry off Rosalie Gray. After all, it might be the great
dominant reason for their descent upon the community. Covered with a
perspiration that was not caused by heat, he accosted Wicker Bonner, the
minute that gentleman arrived in town. Rosalie went, of course, to the
Crow home for a short visit with the family.

"Say, Wick, I want you to do me a favour," said Anderson eagerly, taking
the young man aside. "I cain't tell you all about it, 'cause I'm bound
by a deathless oath. But, listen, I'm afraid somethin's goin' to happen
to-night. There's a lot o' strangers here, an' I'm nervous about
Rosalie. Somebody mig