erend "Jimmy" gasped and turned a
fiery red.

"Did he call me a--say!" and he pushed Crosby aside. "I'd have you to
understand that I'm a minister of the gospel--I am the Reverend James
Bracken, of--"

A roar of laughter greeted his attempt to explain; and there were a few
remarks so uncomplimentary that the man of cloth sank back in sheer
hopelessness.

"Well, I'll give them reason to think that I'm something of a
desperado," grated the Reverend "Jimmy," squaring his shoulders. "If
they attempt to put foot inside my uncle's house I'll--I'll smash a few
heads."

"Bravo!" cried Mrs. Crosby. She was his cousin, and up to that time had
had small regard for her mild-mannered relative.

"He can preach the funeral!" shouted Ike Smalley. By this time there
were a dozen men on the bank below.

"I give you fair warning," cried Anderson Crow impressively. "We're
goin' to surround the house, an' we'll take that rascal if we have to
shoot the boards into sawdust!"

"But what has he done, except to get married?" called Crosby as the
posse began to spread out.

"Do you s'pose I'm fool enough to tell you if you don't know?" said
Anderson Crow. "Just as like as not you'd be claimin' the thousand
dollars reward if you knowed it had been offered! Spread out, boys, an'
we'll show 'em dern quick!"

There was dead silence inside the house for a full minute. Every eye was
wide and every mouth was open in surprise and consternation.

"A thousand dollars reward!" gasped Jack Barnes. "Then, good Lord, I
_must_ have done something!"

"What _have_ you been doing, Jack Barnes?" cried his bride, aghast.

"I must have robbed a train," said he dejectedly.

"Well, this is serious, after all," said Crosby. "It's not an eloper
they're after, but a desperado."

"A kidnaper, perhaps," suggested his wife.

"What are we to do?" demanded Jack Barnes.

"First, old man, what have you actually done?" asked the Reverend
"Jimmy."

"Nothing that's worth a thousand dollars, I'm dead sure," said Barnes
positively. "By George, Marjory, this is a nice mess I've led you into!"

"It's all right, Jack; I'm happier than I ever was before in my life. We
ran away to get married, and I'll go to jail with you if they'll take
me."

"This is no time for kissing," objected Crosby sourly. "We must find out
what it all means. Leave it to me."

It was getting dark in the room, and the shadows were heavy on the
hills. While the remaining members of the be