when I walked leisurely to the barn, and after
paying for his keeping, ordered him saddled, and immediately started out
on the jump. Just as I passed from the barn I noticed a man coming on
the run towards me. I put spurs to the animal, when the man yelled,
"Halt! halt!" but I wasn't halting, and kept on down the street, looking
back at the gentleman as my horse sped rapidly along.

He then yelled: "Stop that man! stop that man!"

[Illustration: "STOP THAT MAN! STOP THAT MAN."]

I kept looking back, and had just begun to congratulate myself on my
success, when suddenly my horse came to a full stop, and I landed
forward astride his neck, hanging on by his mane. I then discovered a
large policeman holding him by the bit.

I dismounted, and as the gentleman who had been running behind came up
to where we were, the police officer said to him:

"Mr. Cavanaugh, what shall I do with the horse?"

"Take him back to the stable, for the time being," was the answer.

I then said:

"I now recognize you as the gentleman and detective whom I was
introduced to a few weeks ago by an acquaintance from Bronson, Mich., at
which place I believe you formerly resided, and where I married my
wife."

"Sure enough," he answered. "Your wife and I were school children
together. Johnston is your name."

"Yes, sir."

"Well, great Heavens! you're no horse-thief!"

"Well, who in thunder said I was? I am sure I never said so," was my
reply.

"What have you painted this horse for?" he inquired.

"Well, I guess I'll have to tell you privately," I answered.

We then walked along together, and I explained everything.

"Well, this case," said he, "has been reported to the Captain of Police;
and I guess you'd better go over to his office and explain matters, and
a note from him to the proprietor of the sale-stable will help you to
dispose of the horse."

We visited the Captain, to whom I explained, and as proof of my
statement produced my papers and some newspaper clippings.

The Captain said if I was sleek enough to trade a lightning-rod agent
out of a horse with a patent right, I ought to be pensioned. He said
he'd send word to the stable-man that it was all right, which I suppose
he did. At any rate, I sold out to the proprietor inside of an hour.

I then decided to go immediately to Findlay and see what grounds they
had for wanting to arrest us.

On arriving there I spent about three hours in trying to find an
officer who would