entment of our action was just what might have been expected from
people who believed implicitly in the innocence of their child, and
regarded any attempt to deprive him of his liberty as an unpardonable
outrage.

As respectfully, but as firmly as possible William stated his
determination to arrest the young man, and informed them that every
opportunity would be afforded him to defend himself, and to remove the
stain upon his character when the proper time arrived.

Eugene Pearson, the culprit, was the least disturbed of the party. His
coolness was imperturbable. He flatly denied all knowledge of the
robbery, and in the strongest terms, assured his weeping and
grief-stricken relatives of his innocence.

The arrest, however, was quietly accomplished, and Pearson was soon
confined beneath the same roof which sheltered his associate in crime,
Newton Edwards.

Early the next morning the town was alive with people and the greatest
excitement prevailed. The news of Eugene Pearson's arrest had spread far
and wide, and a universal sentiment of indignation pervaded the whole
community. Angry men gathered at the corners of the street, and threats
of vengeance against the officers of my agency were loudly uttered. A
lawless outrage had been committed by us, and the righteous indignation
of an injured community refused to be appeased. The hotel where my men
were stopping was besieged by the angry citizens, and our actions were
denounced in the most belligerent manner. Eugene Pearson, in their
opinion, was above suspicion; he was their ideal of a moral young man,
his father was respected everywhere, and the base and unwarranted
invasion of their home by my officers was an indignity which they were
resolved they would not allow to pass unpunished. As the morning
advanced the excitement increased, and several of the boldest of the
angry citizens approached William, and in no complimentary terms
expressed their contempt, not only for him individually, but for the
methods which had been used to ferret out and apprehend men who were
innocent of any wrong.

Under ordinary circumstances William would have resented these insults,
and that too in a manner that would have convinced them that he was
fully able to defend himself; but realizing the importance of coolness
and discretion at this critical juncture, he preserved his good humor,
and securing their attention for a few moments, he requested them not to
be too hasty in their actio