Page:Cy Warman--The express messenger and other tales of the rail.djvu/47

Rh "Drop that gun," repeated the Sheriff. A cowboy shied a rope at the dark man, but he dodged it.

"One minute," said he, opening his shirt and showing his death wound, "you 'll have no trouble arresting me."

"Where's the murderer?" shouted an excited citizen.

"There's the chief," said the dark man, pointing to the wounded Sheriff. The Sheriff scowled.

"Is the express agent here?" asked the principal speaker, and a fat man with a red face came forward.

"This messenger is innocent. I mean to kill the first man who offers to lay a hand on him; after that you must protect him. This letter, which I have taken the liberty to open, explains it all. The sack of gold he left in the tank, you 'll find where I cached it in the river opposite the engine. The paper, I suppose, is all there by his side. He was afraid of being robbed, and was trying to reach the junction when he was assaulted by these idiots whom he mistook for robbers, and how well he fought, his