Believe me, he is ridiculously honest. He may be a
damn fool, but he is honest. Don't blame him. Thanking you, one and all,
for your generous help in our search for the train robbers, we bid you
an affectionate farewell. We may meet again if you travel extensively on
express trains. Good-night!"
With a taunting laugh, Andrew Gregory dropped the flap and leaped after
his companions. Bracken's chauffeur lay senseless by the roadside, and
one of the "detectives" sat in his seat. Even as the audience opened
its collective mouth to shout its wrath and surprise, the big touring
car, with six armed men aboard, leaped away with a rush. Down the dark
road it flew like an express train, its own noise drowning the shouts of
the multitude, far behind.
Bonner, recovering from his stupefaction and rage, led the pursuit,
first commanding Rosalie to hurry home with the women and lock herself
safely indoors.
Anderson Crow, realising what a dupe he had been in the hands of the
clever scoundrels, was covered with fear and shame. The outraged crowd
might have killed him had not his escape been made under cover of
darkness. Shivering and moaning in abject misery, the pride of
Tinkletown fled unseeing, unthinking into the forest along the river. He
was not to know until afterward that his "detectives" had stripped the
rich sojourners of at least ten thousand dollars in money and jewels.
Pages:
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285