"Yes, young fellers," the sheriff con
tinued, "you stand accused of gettln'
some mighty valuable documents
from the German gentleman. He'll
be down by the next train to Identify
you, and. In tho, -.meanwhile, I'd jest
better take charge of any papers or
letters you two may be carryln'. Of
course, I ain't sayln' he's light and
you're wrong. That's to be shown at
the hearin' before the proper authori
ties. Anyway, I'll see If you are totln'
anything like what he claims was
taken from him."
The sheriff thrust an tnqulstive hand
Into the front of Brockett's shirt and
at the same Identical moment that
section of the car seemed filled with
life, animation and agitated doings.
Brockett as the sheriff bent forward,
drove hla knee savagely upward, and
the sheriff, with a yowl of angulBh and
surprise, fell back, doubling up and
going to the floor. His falling body
completely blocked the aisle so far as
his deputies were concerned, and
there was really no reason why Solano
should reach across the Intervenir
space to smite one of the worthy A
kansans upon the nose. He did, he ;
ever, and the deputy, falling upon t.
chief, made the progress of the coi
stabulary doubly difficult Before they
could get the tangle cleared, both boys
were out of the car, and were dash
ing up a little runway which slopes
downward to the Little Rock station.
They were two good city blocks away
and not losing any ground wben tbe
frantic sheriff and his men tumbled
from the car, and a few minutes later
they vanished Into a jungly network
of vines and shrubbery beside the
river.
The sheriff sighted the disappear
ing figures and trained a long blue re
volver on the fast-receding Brockett.
