, a telegram came for the Colonel. He
opened it in the post office. Octavius coming in at the same time for
his first mail noticed at once the change in his face--he looked
stricken.

"What is it, Colonel?" he asked anxiously, joining him.

For answer Milton Caukins held out the telegram. It was from the State
authorities; its purport that the Colonel was to form a posse and be
prepared to aid, to the extent of his powers, the New York detectives
who were coming on the early evening train. The fugitive from justice
had left New York and been traced to Hallsport.

"I've had a premonition of this--it's the last stroke, Tave--here, in
his home--among us--and his mother!--and, in duty bound, I, of all
others, must be the man to finish the ugly job--"

Octavius Buzzby's face worked strangely. "It's tough for you, Colonel,
but I guess a Maine man knows his whole duty--only, for God's sake,
don't ask me!" It was a groan rather than an ejaculation. The two
continued to talk in a low tone.

"I shall call for volunteers and then get them sworn in--it means stiff
work for to-night. We'll keep this from Aurora, Tave; she mustn't know
_this_."

"Yes, if we can. Are you going to ask any of our own folks to volunteer,
Milton?" In times of great stress and sorrow his townspeople called the
Colonel by his Christian name.

"No; I'm going to ask some of the men who don't know him well--some of
the foreigners; Poggi's one. He'll know some others up in The Gore. And
I don't believe, Tave, there's one of our own would volunteer, do you?"

"No, I don't. We can't go that far; it would be like cutting our own
throats."

"You're right, Tave--that's the way I feel; but"--he squared his
shoulders--"it's got to be done and the sooner it's over the better for
us all--but, Tave, I hope to God he'll keep out of our way!"

"Amen," said Octavius Buzzby.

The two stood together in the office a moment longer in gloomy silence,
then they went out into the street.

"Well, I must get to work," said the Colonel finally, "the time's scant.
I'll telephone my wife first. We can't keep this to ourselves long;
everybody, from the quarrymen to the station master, will be keen on the
scent."

"I'm glad no reward was offered," said Octavius.

"So am I." The Colonel spoke emphatically. "The roughscuff won't
volunteer without that, and I shall be reasonably certain of some good
men--God! and I'm saying this of Champney Googe--it makes me sick; who'd