McAllister and His Double

by Edward P. Hendrick

  Extradition

  I

  "Dockbridge," said the District Attorney, coming hurriedly out of hisoffice, "I've got to send you to Seattle. We've just located Andrewsthere--Sam Andrews of the Boodle Bank. One of Barney Conville's cases,you remember. Here's the Governor's requisition. Barney's down inEcuador, so McGinnis of the Central Office will go out to make thearrest; but I must have someone to look after the legal end of it--tofight any writ of _habeas corpus_--and handle the extraditionproceedings. They might get around a mere policeman, so I'm going to askyou to attend to it. The trip won't be unpleasant, and the auditor willgive you a check for your expenses. Remember, now--your job is to _bringAndrews back_!"

  He handed his assistant a bulky document bedecked with seals andribbons, and closed the door. Dockbridge gazed blankly after hisenergetic chief.

  "Oh, certainly, certainly! Don't mention it! _Delighted_, I'm sure!Thank you so much!" he exclaimed with polite sarcasm. Then he turnedferociously to a silent figure sitting behind the railing. "Sudden, eh?Don't even ask me if it's convenient! Exiles me for two months! Justdrop over to Bombay and buy him a package of cigarettes! Or run acrossto Morocco and pick up Perdicaris, like a good fellow! Don't you regardhim as a trifle _inconsequent_?"

  Conville's side partner McGinnis, a gigantic Irishman withextraordinarily long arms and huge hands, climbed disjointedly to hisfeet.

  "_In_-consequence, is it, Mister Dockbridge?" The words came in a gentleroar from the altitudes of his towering form. "Sure, the_in_-consequence of it is that we're to have the pleasure of travellin'togither." He looked big enough to swing the little Assistant lightlyupon one shoulder and stride nimbly across the continent with him.

  "An iligant thrip it will be! I'm only regretful I can't take me wifealong wid me."

  Pat's matrimonial troubles were the common property of the entire force.The only person totally unconscious of their existence was McGinnishimself. His lady, the daughter of fat ex-Detective-Sergeant O'Halloran,made one think inevitably of the small bird that travels through liferoosting on the shoulder of the African buffalo. His domestic life wouldhave been one of wild excitement for the average citizen, but McGinnishad a blind and unwavering faith in the perfection of his spouse.Conceive, however, his surprise when the Assistant District Attorneysuddenly smote him sharply in the abdomen, and shouted:

  "I'll do it!"

  "Phwat?" ejaculated Pat.

  "Take _my_ wife!"

  "Yez have none, ye spalpeen!"

  "I'll have one by to-morrow!"

  "An' is it Miss Peggy ye mane?"

  "No other. The county pays part of the bills. I'll make this my weddingtrip!"

  "God save us, Mr. Dockbridge!" gasped McGinnis. "Ain't he the littledivel!" he added to himself delightedly.

  Peggy had at first opposed strenuously Jack's proposition. The idea ofgoing on one's honeymoon with a policeman! Yes, it was all right tocombine business and pleasure on occasion, but one did not usuallyassociate business with marriage--at least she hoped she did not--forJack Dockbridge knew he hadn't a cent, and neither had she. He explainedguardedly that that was the principal reason in favor of the plan. Theywould have part of their expenses paid.

  Peggy, being a New Englander, acknowledged the force of the argument butpointed out that there was still the policeman.

  Then Dockbridge pictured the West in glowing colors. Why, there were somany bad men out there, one actually needed a body-guard. Had she neverheard of the Nagle case? What, not heard of the Nagle case, and shegoing to marry a lawyer! A newly married pair could not travel alone,unprotected.

  Peggy said he was a fraud, an unadulterated fraud--an unabashed liar!Still, she had those furs that had belonged to her mother. She admitted,also, wondering what the Rockies were like. If she did not marry himnow, how long would he be gone? Six months?

  Jack explained that he might be killed by Indians or desperadoes. Inthat case the wisdom of her course would undoubtedly be apparent. Shecould then marry someone else. But that was the reason a policeman wouldbe desirable. And then he was only a sort of policeman himself, anyway.One more would make little difference. In the end they were married.

  II

  It was a gay little party of three that left Montreal for Vancouver thefollowing Saturday. The red-headed Patrick pruned his speech and provedhimself a most entertaining comrade, as he recounted his adventures insecuring the return of divers famous criminals under the difficultprocess of extradition. He had brought safely back "Red" McIntosh fromNew Orleans, and Trelawney, the English forger, from Quebec; hadcaptured "Strong Arm" Moore in St. Louis, and been an important figurein the old Manhattan Bank cases. He insisted on addressing Dockbridge as"Judge," and introducing him to all strangers as "me distinguishedfrind, the Disthrick Attorney av Noo York."

  There were few passengers for the West, and the triumvirate easilybecame friendly with the conductors, brakemen, and engine hands upon thevarious divisions. The trip itself proved one unalloyed delight. Peggysat for hours spellbound at the windows as the train sang along thefrozen rails around the ice-bound shores of Superior and through thesnow-mantled forests of Ontario. Sometimes the three in furs andmufflers clung to the reverberating platform of the end car watchingthe diminishing track, or held their breath in the swaying cab as theengine thundered through the drifts of Manitoba and Assiniboia towardMoose Jaw, Calgary, and the Rockies.

  In the monotonous hours across the frozen prairie Peggy learned all themysteries of the throttle, the magic of the reversing gear, thepressure-valve and the brakes, and once, when there was a clear trackfor a hundred miles, the driver, with his perspiring brow and frostyback, allowed her slender fingers to guide the dangerous steed. For anhour he stood behind her as she opened and closed the valve, pulled thewhistle at his direction, and slackened on the curves. She wasundeniably pretty. The driver had been stuck on a girl that looked a bitlike her out on the Edmonton run. He opined loudly that by the time theyreached Vancouver Peggy could send her along about as well as he couldhimself. He repeated this emphatically, with much blasphemy, to thefireman.

  Peggy lived in an ecstasy of happiness. At odd moments she peruseddiligently her husband's copy of "Moore on Extradition." She didn'tintend to be the man of the family--she was too sensible for that--butshe saw no reason why a woman should not know something about herhusband's profession, particularly when it was as exciting a one asJack's.

  Four days brought them within sight of the mountains, and the nextmorning, when they stopped for water, the whole range of the CanadianRockies lay around and above them, their virgin summits sparkling in thewinter sun.

  "Glad you came, Peg?" shouted Dockbridge, hurling a feather-weightsnowball in her direction as she stood on the platform in silent wonderat the scene.

  She answered only with a deep inspiration of the dry, cold air.

  "Shure, ain't we all av us?" inquired McGinnis lighting his pipe. "Say,this beats th' Bowery. Th' Tenderloin ain't in it wid this. I'd loike tocamp right here for the rest of me days!"

  There was something so unlikely in this, since, apart from themountains, the only visible object in the landscape was a watering-tank,that they all laughed.

  Up they climbed into the glistening teeth of the divide, clearing atlast the first Titanic bulwark, now in the darkness of Stygian tunnels,now bathed in glittering ether, until, sweeping down past the wholemagnificent range of the Selkirks, they dropped into the boisterouscanyon of the Fraser, and knew that their journey was drawing to a close.

  The blue shadows of morning melted into the breathless splendor of highnoon upon the summit of the world, then, reappearing, faded to purple,azure, gray, until the blazing sun sank in an iridescent line of burningcrests. Night fell again, and the stars crowded down upon them likemyriads of flickering lamps, while the moon swung in and out behind thegiant peaks.

  "Shure, 'tis a sad thing we can't ride in a train, drawin' th' county'smoney foriver!" sighed McGinnis as the sunset died over the foamingrapids.
>
  "Ah, but we've work to do, Pat!" answered Peggy. "You mustn't forget SamAndrews and the Boodle Bank. There's fame and fortune waiting for us."

  On the run down the coast they held a council of war. Pat was tocontinue on to Seattle and arrest the fugitive, while Jack and Peggyhastened to Olympia to secure the Governor's recognition of theircredentials and his warrant for the deliverance of Andrews to therepresentatives of the State of New York.

  The Governor, a short, fat man, with a black beard, proved unexpectedlytractable, and not only issued the warrant, but invited them both tolunch. It developed that he had graduated from Jack's college. Oh, yes,he knew Andrews! Not a bad sort at all. One of those fellows that underpressure of circumstances had technically violated the law, but aperfect gentleman. Of course he had to honor their requisition, but hewas really sorry to see such a decent fellow as Andrews placed underarrest. He was sure that Sam would take the affair in the proper spiritand return with them voluntarily. You must not be too hard on people!Everybody committed crime--inadvertently. There were so many statutesthat you never knew when you were stepping over the line. He franklysympathized with the fugitive, although obliged officially to assistthem. You could not help feeling that way about a man you always dinedwith at the club. Well, the law was the law. He hoped they would have apleasant trip back. He must return himself to the Council Chamber to ablasted hearing--a delegation of confounded Chinese merchants.

  They took the train for Seattle, highly elated. They found McGinnis,together with the prisoner and his lawyer, awaiting them at TheRanier-Grand. Andrews proved to be another stout man, with a brown beardand a pair of genial gray eyes. As the Governor had stated, it was clearthat he was a perfect gentleman. He apologized for bringing his lawyer.It was only, they would understand, to make sure that his arrest wasentirely legal. He had no intention of attempting to retard or thwarttheir purpose in any way. Of course, the whole thing was unfortunate inmany respects, but that he should be desired in New York to unravel thecomplicated affairs of the bank was only natural. Everything could beeasily explained, and, in the meantime, the only thing to do was toreturn with them as quickly as possible. Altogether he was very charmingand entirely convincing. He hoped they would not consider him presumingif he suggested that a few days in Seattle would prove interesting tothem; there was so much that was beautiful in the way of scenery of easyaccess; and in the meantime he could get his affairs in shape a little.

  Peggy thought that was a splendid idea. It would be mean to take Mr.Andrews away without giving him a chance to say good-by to his friends,and she wanted to see Victoria and Esquimault, and Tacoma. While Mr.Andrews (in charge of McGinnis) was arranging his business matters, sheand Jack could do the sights. In the meantime they could all livetogether at the hotel, and no one need know that Mr. Andrews was underarrest at all. Jack saw no harm in this, and neither did McGinnis.Andrews was politely grateful. It was most kind of them to treat himwith such courtesy. He hastened to assure them they would not have anyreason to regret so doing.

  Two days passed. The Dockbridges wearied themselves with sight-seeing,while Andrews busied himself with arrangements to depart. The favorableimpression made by the prisoner upon his captors had steadily increased,and in a short time they found themselves regarding him in the light ofa most agreeable companion whom fate had thrown in their way.

  "And now for New York!" exclaimed Jack, lighting his cigar, as they sataround the dinner-table on the evening of the third day after theirarrival in Seattle. "How shall we go--Northern Pacific, Union, or TheShort Line and across on The Rock Island?"

  "Divel a bit do I care," answered Pat comfortably from behind anenormous Manuel Garcia Extravaganza, tendered him by Mr. Andrews. "Th'longer th' better, suits _me_. 'Tis the county pays me, an' I loikeridin' in the cars down to th' ground."

  "What is the prettiest way, Mr. Andrews?" inquired Peggy, "You know thecountry. Where would we see the most mountains?"

  Had it not been for the thick clouds of cigar smoke, they would havenoticed the flash of Andrews' gray eyes which so quickly died away. Hehesitated a moment, as if giving the matter the consideration itdeserved.

  "There's practically no choice," he replied at length, knocking the ashfrom his cigar. "They're all lovely at this time of year. The RockIsland route is longer, but perhaps it is the more interesting." Hepaused doubtfully, then resumed his cigar.

  But Peggy, who at the thought of the trip had become all eagerness, hadobserved his manner.

  "You were going to add something, Mr. Andrews; what was it?"

  Andrews smiled. "Oh, nothing! I was about to say that if it wasn't sucha tough journey you might go back by the Northern Montana and connectwith the Soo. It's a magnificent trip in summer, but I dare say prettycold in winter. Wonderful scenery, though."

  "Let's go!" exclaimed Peggy. "That's what we are after--scenery! I don'tcare if it _is_ cold. I've got my furs. Montana, you say? And the Soo?That sounds like Indians. What do you say, Jack?"

  "Oh, I don't mind!" answered her husband. "Andrews knows best. He's beenthat way. Sure, if you say so."

  Andrews hid a smile by lighting another cigar.

  He hesitated a moment as if giving the matter theconsideration it deserved.]

  III

  All day long the snow had been falling steadily in big, fluffy flakes.The heavy train ploughed through dense pine-clad ravines, besidetorrents buried far below the snow, under sheds into whose inkyblackness the engine plunged as into the bowels of the earth, acrossvibrating trestles, and up grades that seemed never-ending, where thedriving-wheels slipped and ground ineffectually, then clutched thesanded rails and slowly forged onward. For two days it had been thus,and from the windows only the gently falling, ever-falling snow met theeye. Heavy clouds shrouded the shoulders of the mountains, and thegorges between them were choked with mist. And onward, upward, alwaysupward groaned the train.

  Inside Jack's compartment in the first Pullman sat the four members ofour party playing cards, now on the best of terms. They had long sincegiven up condoling upon the weather, and had settled down to making thebest of it with cards, chess-board, and books. Between McGinnis and theprisoner flowed an unending stream of anecdotes and adventures. It couldnot be denied that the erstwhile bank president was a man of muchculture and wide reading. He had studied for the bar, and from time totime astounded Dockbridge by the acuteness of his mental processes. Thiswas the afternoon of the second day, and they were just completing theirthirteenth rubber of whist.

  The snow fell thicker as the light waned; soon the lamps were lightedand the shades were drawn. The through passengers on the train were few,and the good-natured conductor had adopted the party for the trip.

  "We're 'most at the top o' the pass," he remarked, as he paused toinspect Jack's hand over his shoulder. "Should ha' made it an hour agobut for this blank snow. I never saw it so thick. Too bad you've missedthe whole range, and to-morrow morning we'll be at Souris, and thennothin' but prairie all across Dakota. When you wake up, themountains'll be two hundred miles west of you. Hard luck!"

  "My trick," said Andrews. "What's that, conductor? Souris to-morrowmorning? Any stops to-night?"

  "Nope; clear down-hill track all the way. There's a flag station an hourbeyond the divide--Ferguson's Gulch, and sometimes we stop for water atRed River. There's no regular station there, and Jim wants to make uptime, so I reckon we'll make the run without stoppin'. Are you folksready for dinner?"

  The strain on the wheels suddenly relaxed, and it seemed as though thewhole train sighed with relief. Ahead, the engine gave a succession ofquick snorts, as if rejoicing at once more reaching a level. The traingathered head-way.

  "She's over the divide," announced the conductor, taking a bite from theplug of tobacco carefully wrapped in his red silk handkerchief. "Now Jimcan let her run."

  "What do you call the divide?" asked Peggy.

  "The Lower Kootenay," he answered. "Oh, it's great here in summer!Finest thing in Canada, in my opin
ion."

  "In Canada!" exclaimed Dockbridge, with a start. "What do you mean? Arewe in Canada?"

  "You've been in Canada since three o'clock," was the reply. "We crossthe lower left-hand corner of Alberta--look on the map there in thefolder. After makin' the divide we drop right back into Montana. Theycouldn't cross the Rockies at this point without leavin' the States fora few miles."

  The conductor arose and unfolded the map.

  "Ye see, here's where we leave Clarke Fork, then we skirt this range,turn north, followin' that river there, the north branch of theFlathead, and so over the line; then we turn and jam right through therange. Two hours from now you'll be back in the old U.S."

  Dockbridge had started to his feet and was staring intently at the map.It was only too true. They were in Canada. _In Canada!_ And they wereholding their prisoner without due process of law! The warrant of theGovernors of New York and Washington were valueless in his Majesty'sDominion. Did Andrews know? Jack pretended to study the map before himand glanced furtively across the table. Pat was scowling ferociously atthe cards before him, and Andrews was lighting a cigarette. Apparentlyhe had heard nothing--or had paid no attention to what the conductor wassaying. With his brain in a whirl Dockbridge folded up the time-tableand handed it back.

  "Well, I'm getting ravenous," he remarked.

  Just then the porter appeared from the direction of the buffet carryingtheir evening meal.

  "Same here," echoed Andrews.

  For an hour or more they lingered over the table, Andrews seeming inunusually good spirits. Dockbridge ceased to feel any uneasiness. Herealized how easily he might have been trapped, but no harm was done inthe present instance, for the minute section of Alberta which theytraversed offered no opportunities for the securing of any legal processby which their prisoner could be released. Again, Andrews had not urgedthe route upon them; that had been Peggy's doing. And, moreover, was henot returning with them of his own free-will? No, it was absurd to havebeen so upset at such a trifling matter.

  "What do you say to some more whist? You and I'll be partners this time,Andrews."

  The things were cleared from the table and they began again. The speedof the train seemed to have increased, and the cars swayed from side toside as they sped down the grade. Peggy raised the shade and looked out.The pane was plastered with an ever-changing, kaleidoscopic crust offlakes that spat against it, dropped, clogged against the others, andsagged downward in a dense mass toward the sash. At the top of the glassthe storm could be seen whirling down its myriads outside.

  "What a night!" she ejaculated, as she pulled down the shade.

  At that moment came a prolonged wail from the engine, followed by thequick clutch of the brakes. The wheels groaned and creaked, and thepassengers tossed forward in their seats. Again the whistle shrieked.The train, carried onward by its momentum, ground its wheels against thebrakes which strove to hold them back. Gradually they came to astand-still.

  The conductor rushed toward the door, and a brakeman hurried throughwith a lantern.

  "Ferguson's Gulch!" he shouted as he ran by. "Must ha' signalled us!"

  Dockbridge's heart dropped a beat, and he glanced apprehensively towardAndrews. The latter was smiling, but the hand that held his cigartrembled a very little.

  "You're young yet, Dockbridge," he remarked, with slightly tremuloussarcasm. "There are one or two things still for you to learn. One ofthem is that a United States warrant is useless in Canada. You hadn'tthought of that, eh?"

  "_Warrant_ is it? Shure this is all the warrant _I_ want," replied Pat,snapping a shining Colt from his pocket. "Plaze don't git excited, mefrind. P'r'aps ye don't know it all, yerself. Wan move, an' I'll put sixholes in yer carcus!"

  Dockbridge grasped Peggy by the arm and drew her breathless to her feet."What is it? What is it?" she gasped, clinging to him in the aisle. Jackreached over and released the shade. Outside in the darkness red lightsswung to and fro. A blast of icy air poured into the car from the opendoor. He hurried out into the vestibule. The storm was sweeping byswiftly and silently, and absurdly the motto of his old bicycle clubflashed into his mind, "Volociter et silenter." The lamp above his headthrew a yellow circle against the vast night. He stumbled down the stepsand clung to the rail, putting his head into the sleet. It stung hisface like the tentacles of a sea-monster. In the foreground stood theconductor, already white with the snow, his lantern swinging to leewardin the wind, shouting to a man on horseback. Four other mounted figures,their steeds facing the blast, marked the point where the light endedand the night began again. Three train hands, each with a lantern, pacedto and fro beside the car. Ahead could be heard the coughing of theengine. The man on horseback waved his hand in the direction of thetrain, flung himself heavily to the ground, tossed the reins to one ofthe others, and strode toward the car.

  "Jones and Wilkes, hold the horses; Frazer and White, come along withme," he directed over his shoulder. He pushed by Dockbridge and climbedinto the car. The conductor followed.

  "Where is the officer and his prisoner?" he demanded in a harsh voice.

  "Inside, your Honor," answered the conductor, shaking the snow from hiscoat. "This is Mr. Dockbridge, the District Attorney from New York."

  "Umph!" grunted the stranger. He was an immense man with a heavyjet-black beard and hair in thick curls all over his head. Abroad-brimmed sombrero cast a deep shadow over his features, heighteningtheir natural unpleasantness. Two of the others now jumped upon theplatform and entered the car, and Dockbridge saw that they wore somekind of uniform and that the lining of their overcoats was red. Peggycowered to one side as the three strangers forced their way by her andpaused at the door of the compartment.

  "Is Mr. Andrews here?" inquired the one whom the others addressed asJudge.

  "I am Mr. Andrews. This is the officer who holds me in custody."

  The Judge turned to one of his followers.

  "Serve him!" he growled.

  The one addressed took from beneath his coat a bundle of papers, andselecting one, handed it to McGinnis, who let it fall to the floorwithout a word.

  "Put up that pistol!" continued the Judge.

  At this moment Dockbridge, who had listened as if dazed to the colloquy,now mastered sufficient courage to assert himself.

  "Here! what's all this?" he exclaimed in as determined a manner as hecould manage to assume. "What are you doing in my compartment with yourwet feet? Who the devil are you, anyway?" He squeezed by his hugeantagonist and took his stand by McGinnis.

  The conductor and the majority of the train hands had crowded into thepassageway and filled the door with their dripping and astonished faces.The officer handed another paper to Dockbridge.

  "This is Judge Peters, sir; and this paper is a writ of _habeas corpus_returnable forthwith, sir," said the man.

  Dockbridge glanced at the paper and saw that the officer's statement wascorrect. The paper was a writ ordering him to produce the body of SamuelAndrews before the Honorable Elijah Peters, Judge of the Supreme Courtof Alberta, _forthwith_, and show cause why said Andrews should not beset at liberty. He was trapped. It could not be denied.

  "Is this Judge Peters?" he inquired politely of the man with the blackbeard, who had taken off his hat and seated himself upon the sofa.

  "I am," returned the other curtly. "And I now pronounce this car acourt, and direct you to release your prisoner as detained by youwithout lawful authority."

  He leaned forward and shook his finger threateningly at McGinnis. "Putup that pistol!"

  McGinnis looked at Dockbridge.

  "Put it up, Pat," directed the latter. "There's no occasion forpistols." He winked at Peggy. "Pardon my lack of courtesy in addressingyou, Judge Peters, when you first entered. I was unaware, of course, towhom it was that I spoke."

  The Judge shrugged his shoulders deprecatingly.

  "I'm naturally taken somewhat by surprise, and hardly feel that I can dojustice to my own position in the matter at such short notice. However
,as the court is now in session, I can only ask the privilege of arguingthe matter before your Honor. If I might be permitted to do so, I wouldsuggest that the hearing take place in some larger space than thiscompartment, in which my wife desires speedily to retire." He lookedinquiringly toward the Court.

  "That's right, Jedge," spoke up the conductor. "Don't keep the lady outof her room. You can hold court in the baggage-car."

  The black-bearded man grumblingly arose to his feet, leaving a largepool of water in the middle of the floor.

  "As you choose. Bring along the prisoner, and be quick about it. I'vegot to ride fifteen miles to-night."

  The crowd streamed down the aisle and into the baggage-car in front.McGinnis followed with Andrews.

  "Shall I come along, Jack?" whispered his wife.

  "No, stay here. I'm afraid we're beaten. I shall only spar for time, andtry to invent some way out of it."

  Peggy sadly watched his disappearing form. What a disgusting anticlimax!She reviled herself for being the one who had forced the selection ofthe Montana route. It was all her fault. When a man's married histroubles begin! Jack would lose his job, and then where would they be?She had gotten him into the fix, and now she would do her best to gethim out of it. She threw on his fur coat and cap and followed into thebaggage-car. The Judge had seated himself on a trunk. Jack stood at hisright with the warrant in his hand. A single lantern cast a fitful glareover the two, around whom crowded the passengers and train hands. Peggyheard her husband's somewhat immature voice stating the circumstances ofthe wreck of the Boodle Bank. The Judge seemed not uninterested. Thecrowd was getting larger every moment. Passengers kept coming in inevery kind of dishabille, and last of all the engineer and firemanentered by the forward door. Outside, the huge engine hissed andthrobbed as if impatient of the delay. Peggy slipped unseen behind apile of trunks, snapped the big padlock through the staples of thedoor, then, hurrying back to the compartment, rummaged until she foundJack's box of cigars. Arming herself with these and with her copy of"Moore on Extradition," she made her way back to the baggage-car.

  "Yes, yes, I know all that!" the Judge was saying. "But that's allimmaterial. It ain't what he did. It's what right you've got to hold himin the Dominion of Canada on a warrant from a governor of one of theUnited States. Show me that, or I'll discharge the prisoner here andnow."

  "Excuse me, please," exclaimed Peggy, forcing her way through the thronginto the open space under the lamp, "I thought you might like to smoke.Lawyers all like to smoke."

  There was an immediate response from the Court.

  "Well, I don't care if I do," remarked the Judge more genially."Confounded cold out there in the snow waiting for the train. Thank y'."

  He handed back the box, and Peggy passed it to the engineer and told himto "send it along." Then she whispered in her husband's ear:

  "Read him that chapter on 'International Relations.' Keep it going forten minutes, and we'll win out, yet. I've got a scheme."

  Dockbridge took the book, opened it deliberately, and lighted a cigarfor himself. Peggy pushed back through the spectators to thesleeping-car. Only a solitary brakeman remained outside in the snow,stamping and swinging his arms.

  "Halloo, Mr. Sanders," said Peggy, "you ought to go in and hear theargument. They're having a regular smoke talk. It's so thick I can'tbreathe. They're giving away cigars. I should think you would freeze."

  "Well, I'm froze already," answered Sanders. "I reckon I'll go in andhear the fun. Is that straight about the cigars?"

  "Of course it is," laughed Peggy, while Sanders climbed on board. Thesnow swept by in clouds as Peggy gave one glance at the retreating formof the brakeman, and jumped down into the night.

  IV

  The Judge threw back his burly form against the side of the car andexhaled a thick cloud of smoke.

  "Now, young feller, if you have any legal right to detain your prisoner,let's hear it. This court's goin' to adjourn in just ten minutes by thewatch, and I reckon when it adjourns it'll take the prisoner with it."

  The spectators, who had seated themselves as best they could, lookedexpectantly toward the New Yorker.

  Jack arose, holding the book impressively before him. The gusts from thestorm outside penetrated the cracks of the loosely hung slidingbaggage-door and made the feeble lantern swing and flicker. The smokefrom twenty cigars swirled round the ceiling. The conductor placed hisown lantern on a trunk by Jack's side.

  "If the Court please," began Dockbridge, "while it's entirely true thatno warrant issued out of a court of the United States or by a governorof one of the United States gives any jurisdiction over the person of afugitive who is held in custody in the Dominion of Canada, it isnevertheless a fact that under the principle of comity between friendlynations the government of one will not interfere with an officer ofanother who is performing an official act under color of authority."["Sounds well," said Jack to himself, "but don't mean a blame thing."]"This principle is as old as the law itself, and is sustained by a longseries of decisions in our international tribunals. The doctrine isclearly set forth by Grotius" ["that ought to nail him!"] "when he says:'No nation will voluntarily interfere with a duly authorized officer ofanother nation in the performance of his duty, whose act does notinterfere with the functions of government of the other.'" Hepronounced this balderdash with much solemnity and with great effectupon the assembled train hands. "Now, your Honor, I am a duly authorizedofficer of the State of New York, the same being at peace with theDominion of Canada."

  "Bosh!" interrupted the Judge. "You're talkin' nonsense. I won't be madea fool of any longer. Prisoner discharged. This court stands adjourned,and, as I said, it is goin' to take the prisoner with----"

  A jerk of the train prevented the conclusion of his sentence. There cameanother pull from the engine, followed by a succession of violent puffs.The train started.

  "My God! The engine!" shouted the fireman, making a spring for the door.

  "Locked! Locked!" he yelled, and threw himself upon it. The conductordived for the platform. The Judge started to his feet.

  "This is an infernal trick!" he cried. "Stop this train! D'ye hear? Stopthis train at once!"

  But the train was gathering head-way every moment, and was fast droppingdown the grade. A triumphant whistle shrilled through the night with asuccession of short toots.

  "For God's sake, open the door!" gasped the engineer. "Get a crow-bar,somebody! We'll be going a hundred miles an hour inside of a minute!"But no crow-bar was to be found, and the door resisted all theirefforts. On rushed the train, thundering down the pass, swaying aroundcurves until the frightened occupants of the baggage-car clung to oneanother to retain their foothold, and every moment adding to its speed.The baggage-man threw open the side door. The night dashed by in a solidwall of white.

  "Damme! This is a crime!" roared the Judge. "I'm being kidnapped. YourGovernment shall be notified--if we're not all killed. Can't somebodystop this train? Do you hear? Stop it, I say!"

  For an instant Dockbridge had been as startled as the others. Then itcame to him in one inspired moment. Peggy was on the engine! A series ofwhistles came across the tender.

  "Toot--toot--toot! Toot--toot--toot! Toot--toot--toot! Toot--toot!"--theold Harvard cheer that Peggy had heard echoing across the foot-ballfield a hundred times.

  Of course! She was going to fetch them out of Canada, and then tothunder with all the judges of the Dominion! He began to laughhysterically. On and on, faster and faster, rushed the train. The pallidfaces of the passengers and crew stared strangely out of the blue haze.Breathless, each man struggled to keep his footing, momentarilyexpecting to be dashed into eternity. The minutes dragged as hours,until at last, from somewhere in the rear of the train, the firemanreturned with a wrench, and throwing his whole weight upon the padlock,quickly snapped its staples. The door burst open, sending him flyingheadlong. Through the car poured a furious gust of wind and snow,blinding, suffocating, and into the midst of this jumped the engineer,and,
clambering desperately upon the tender, disappeared.

  Perhaps it was the dimness of the light, but Andrews had suddenly begunto look white and old.

  At the same moment a red light flashed by alongside the track and thetrain roared across a suspension bridge without slackening speed.

  "Red River!" gasped the fireman, clambering to his feet.

  The blood leaped in Jack's veins. Red River! Then they were across theline. Peggy had won! God bless her! With a triumphant glance at thecowering Andrews, he turned upon the frightened crowd.

  "You can't beat the Yankee girl!" he shouted. "Judge, you're right.We've adjourned court, and are taking the prisoner with us--INTO THEUNITED STATES!"

  * * * * *

  Transcriber's Note: In the original edition, the title of each storyappeared twice, first on a page by itself in all capitals, followed by ablank page, and then on the first page of the story in title case. Theseduplicate titles have been deleted. The first title for "TheExtraordinary Adventure of the Baron de Ville" appeared in a shortenedform as "THE BARON DE VILLE". In the HTML version of this text, pagenumbers have been included only on those pages which originallycontained them, not on blank pages or title pages.

  In "McAllister's Christmas", a quotation mark in front of "One as 'aswhite 'air" was deleted, and a second chapter V was renumbered as VI.

  In "The Governor-General's Trunk", "The head bagage-man nodded" waschanged to "The head baggage-man nodded".

  In "The Golden Touch", missing quotation marks were added in front of"When the Colonel realized what it was all about" and "Oh, my leg!" andafter "And it's worth what you ask--five thousand dollars?", "Where hadhe seen that fact?" was changed to "Where had he seen that face?", "thatold VanVorst" was changed to "that old Van Vorst", and "VanVorst satthere" was changed to "Van Vorst sat there".

  In "McAllister's Data of Ethics", a quotation mark was removed after"his scented wife, and gilded chairs--".

  In "McAllister's Marriage", "Don' you want to show me the boy-horse" waschanged to "Don't you want to show me the boy-horse".

  In "The Course of Justice", "slowyl arose" was changed to "slowlyarose".

  In "The Maximilian Diamond", _"What day?" asked the clerk._ was changedto _"'What day?' asked the clerk._