- - . .. .- .. - .. . . .- -..
...- . - - .. . . - . - .... . .. . . .-. . . . .. - .. .. .-.
.. ...- . - . . -.. .- .. .. -. . - - . . - - . .. .- ..
-. .- .- .. . .. .. ...- .. -. - -. .-. . .. . . - - .....
.... . . . -. .. .-.. ..... . .. . ..... .- .- - . -.. - . .
.. -- -- . - .. .- - . - .. .. ... . . .. ...- . .....
. . .. . - - ..... - . . . .. .. .. - - .- -. -.. .- - - ..-
... .. ... ... ..- . -.. -... .. .. -.-. ..- - .. -.. - -. .- -
..-... . . -. ... .. - -. - .... . . . -.. . . . .. . . ..
. .- - - .....

That may not look particularly intelligible, but if the Phoenix
operator had been talking over the 'phone to me he couldn't have said
any plainer--

"Sheriff yavapai county ash forks arizona be at rail road station
three forty-five today to meet train arriving from phoenix prepared to
immediately serve peremptory mandamus issued tonight by judge wilson
sig theodore e camp."

My question being pretty thoroughly answered, I went back and
continued my walk; but before five minutes had passed, the operator
came out, and handed me a message. It was from Fred, and read thus:--

"Camp, Baldwin, and lawyer went at once to house of Judge Wilson,
where they stayed an hour. They then returned with judge to station,
and after despatching a telegram have taken seats in train for Ash
Fork, leaving here at three twenty-five. I shall return with them."

A bigger idiot than I could have understood the move. I was to be
hauled before Judge Wilson by means of mandamus proceedings, and, as
he was notoriously a G.S. judge, and was coming to Ash Fork solely
to oblige Mr. Camp, he would unquestionably declare the letters the
property of Mr. Camp and order their delivery.

Apparently I had my choice of being a traitor to Madge, of going to
prison for contempt of court, or of running away, which was not far
off from acknowledging that I had done something wrong. I didn't like
any one of the options.

CHAPTER IX

A TALK BEFORE BREAKFAST

Looking at my watch, I found it was a little after three, which meant
six in Washington: allowing for transmission, a telegram would reach
there in time to be on hand with the opening of the Departments. I
therefore wired at once to the following effect:--

"Postmaster-General, Washington, D.C. A peremptory mandamus has been
issued by Territorial judge to compel me to deliver to addressee the
three registered letters which by your directions, issued October