colonel's surprise came.

There, handcuffed, with beard and hair singed close, clothes torn and
face bleeding, walked Ethelbert Brown between the two detectives, while
Jim Hockson, with head bowed and hands behind his back, followed a few
yards behind.

Some one gave the word at the saloon, and the boys hurried out, but the
colonel pointed significantly toward the sorrowful couple, while with
the other hand he pointed an ugly pistol, cocked, toward the saloon.

Millicent hurried from her father's side, and flung her arms about the
sorry figure of her lover; and Jim Hockson, finding his pathway impeded,
raised his eyes, and then blushed violently.

"Sorry for you, sir," said one of the detectives, touching his hat to
Mr. Botayne, "but can't help being glad we got a day ahead of you."

"What amount of money will buy your prisoner?" demanded the unhappy
father.

"Beg pardon, sir--very sorry, but--we'd be compounding felony in that
case, you know," replied one of the officers, gazing with genuine pity
on the weeping girl.

"Don't worry," whispered the colonel in Mr. Botayne's ear; "we'll clean
out them two fellers, and let Tarpaulin loose again. _Ev'ry_ feller come
here for _somethin'_ darn it!" with which sympathizing expression the
colonel again retired.