e was panting heavily, and his
legs trembled.

"None of your business! Get off these grounds at once; they're private!"

"None o' your sass, now, young man; I'm an officer of the law, an' a
detective to boot! We sha'n't stand any nonsense. The place is
surrounded and he can't escape! Where is he?"

"That's for you to find out if you're such a good detective! This is
David Bracken's place, and you can find him at his home on the hilltop
yonder!"

"Ask him what we've done, George," whispered Barnes.

"We ain't after Mr. Bracken, young feller, but you know what we _do_
want! He's in there--you're shielding him--we won't parley much longer!
Send him out!" said Anderson Crow.

"If you come a foot nearer you'll get shot into the middle of kingdom
come!" shouted Crosby defiantly.

The inmates gasped, for there was not a firearm on the place.

"Be careful!" warned the Reverend "Jimmy" nervously.

"Goin' to resist, eh? Well, we'll get him; don't you worry; an' that
ornery female o' hisn', too!"

"Did you hear that?" exclaimed Jack Barnes. "Let me get at the old rat."
He was making for the door when the two women obstructed the way. Both
were frantic with fear.

"But he called you a female!" roared he.

"Well, I _am_!" she wailed miserably.

"Who is it you want?" asked Crosby from the window.

"That's all right," roared Anderson Crow; "purduce him at once!"

"Is this the fellow?" and Crosby dragged the Reverend "Jimmy" into view.
There was a moment's inspection of the cadaverous face, and then the
sleuths shook their heads.

"Not on your life!" said Mr. Crow. "But he's in there--Ike Smalley seen
him an' his paramount go up the steps from the landin'! 'Twon't do no
good to hide him, young feller; he's--"

"Well, let me tell you something. You are too late--they're married!"
cried Crosby triumphantly.

"I don't give a cuss if they're married and have sixteen children!"
shouted the exasperated Crow, his badge fairly dancing. "He's got to
surrender!"

"Oh, he does, eh?"

"Yes, sir-ee-o-bob; he's got to give up, dead or alive! Trot him out
lively, now!"

"I don't mind telling you that Mr. Barnes is here; but I'd like to know
why you're hunting him down like a wild beast, shooting at him and
Miss--I mean Mrs. Barnes. It's an outrage!"

"Oh, we ain't the on'y people that can kill and slaughter! She's just
as bad as he is, for that matter--an' so are you and that other
lantern-jawed outlaw in there." The Rev