h. My hope
was that I might get time to give Fred the tip as to where the
letters were; but before I was within speaking distance Baldwin
came running out from behind the station, and, seeing me,
turned, called back and gesticulated, evidently to summon some
cowboys to head me off. Afraid to shout anything which should
convey the slightest clue as to the whereabouts of the letters,
as the next best thing I pulled a couple of old section reports
from my pocket, intending to ride up and run into my car, for I
knew that the papers in my hand would be taken to be the wanted
letters, and that if I could only get inside the car even for a
moment the suspicion would be that I had been able to hide them.
Unfortunately, the plan was no sooner thought of than I heard
the whistle of a lariat, and before I could guard myself the
noose settled over my head. I threw the papers towards Fred and
Lord Ralles, shouting, "Hide them!" Fred was quick as a flash,
and, grabbing them off the ground, sprang up the steps of my car
and ran inside, just escaping a bullet from my pursuers. I tried
to pull up my pony, for I did not want to be jerked off, but I
was too late, and the next moment I was lying on the ground in a
pretty well shaken and jarred condition, surrounded by a lot of
men.

CHAPTER XII

AN EVENING IN JAIL

Before my ideas had had time to straighten themselves out, I was
lifted to my feet, and half pushed, half lifted to the station
platform. Camp was already there, and as I took this fact in I
saw Frederic and his lordship pulled through the door-way of my
car by the cowboys and dragged out on the platform beside me. The
reports were now in Lord Ralles's hands.

"That's what we want, boys," cried Camp. "Those letters."

"Take your hands off me," said Lord Ralles, coolly, "and I'll
give them to you."

The men who had hold of his arms let go of him, and quick as a
flash Ralles tore the papers in two. He tried to tear them once
more, but, before he could do so, half a dozen men were holding
him, and the papers were forced out of his hands.

Albert Cullen--for all of them were on the platform of 218 by
this time--shouted, "Well done, Ralles!" quite forgetting in the
excitement of the moment his English accent and drawl.

Apparently Camp didn't agree with him, for he ripped out a
string of oaths which he impartially divided among Ralles, the
cowboys, and myself. I was decidedly sorry that I hadn't given
the real l