sieged party sat silent and
depressed upon the casks and boxes, Crosby stood at the window calling
to the enemy.

"Is he ready to surrender?" thundered Anderson Crow from the shadows.

Then followed a brief and entirely unsatisfactory dialogue between the
two spokesmen. Anderson Crow was firm in his decision that the fugitive
did not have to be told what he had done; and George Crosby was equally
insistent that he had to be told before he could decide whether he was
guilty or innocent.

"We'll starve him out!" said Anderson Crow.

"But there are ladies here, my good man; you won't subject them to such
treatment!"

"You're all of a kind--we're going to take the whole bunch!"

"What do you think will happen to you if you are mistaken in your man?"

"We're not mistaken, dang ye!"

"He could sue you for every dollar you possess. I know, for I'm a
lawyer!"

"Now, I'm sure you're in the job with him. I s'pose you'll try to work
in the insanity dodge! It's a nest of thieves and robbers! Say, I'll
give you five minutes to surrender; if you don't, we'll set fire to the
derned shanty!"

"Look here, boys," said Jack Barnes suddenly, "I've done nothing and am
not afraid to be arrested. I'm going to give myself up." Of course there
was a storm of protest and a flow of tears, but the culprit was firm.
"Tell the old fossil that if he'll guarantee safety to me I'll give up!"

Anderson was almost too quick in promising protection.

"Ask him if he will surrender and make a confession to me--I am Anderson
Crow, sir!" was the marshal's tactful suggestion.

"He'll do both, Mr. Crow!" replied Crosby.

"We've got to take the whole bunch of you, young man. You're all guilty
of conspiracy, the whole caboodle!"

"But the ladies, you darned old Rube--they can't--"

"Looky here, young feller, you can't dictate to me. I'll have you to--"

"We'll all go!" cried Mrs. Crosby warmly.

"To the very end!" added the new Mrs. Barnes.

"What will your father say?" demanded the groom.

"He'll disown me anyway, dear, so what's the difference?"

"It's rather annoying for a minister--" began the Reverend "Jimmy,"
putting on his hat.

"We'll beg off for you!" cried Mrs. Crosby ironically.

"But I'm going to jail, too," finished he grimly.

"All right," called Crosby from the window; "here we come!"

And forth marched the desperate quintet, three strapping young men and
two very pretty and nervous young women. They were met by Ander