 along quite
smoothly when, without the slightest warning, they received a sudden
shock. Again it came to them just around a bend in the road, though Bud
had kept his word, and was moving slowly at the time.

A rope was stretched directly across from one tree to another. To make
the hold-up even more positive, a log had been rolled out, and lay
there, blocking the road, so that even should a swiftly-going car have
broken the rope, it was bound to come to grief against that other
obstacle.

"Pull up, Bud! quick!" almost shrieked Blake Merton, but he might just
as well have spared himself the trouble of letting out this frantic
appeal, for the driver had his car well under control, and was easily
able to bring it to a halt some ten feet away from the obstructions.

No sooner had they halted than a gruff voice was heard calling out:

"Throw up your hands and surrender, you three young raskels! I've got
yuh covered, all right, and yuh might as well give in peaceable like,
because you're up against the strong arm of the law!"




                               CHAPTER V
                         AN ECHO FROM THE PAST


The boys, following up this rasping voice, stared to see the figure that
broke out of the scrub close to the barrier, and approached them. No
wonder they almost felt their breath taken away, for had this been a
scene from some ridiculous motion picture play, the representative of
the majesty of the law as met with in a country marshal or constable,
could not have seemed more ridiculous.

The man was old, and spare of figure. He was dressed in gray garments,
and wore a large soft hat built after the Western sombrero model. It had
a gilt cord around the crown, and was tilted up rakishly on one side.
Even to the glistening nickel star, that decorated his left breast, was
this representative of law and order, gotten up to shame one of those
stage sheriffs at whose antics youngsters in the cheap "movies" scream
with laughter.

"Don't laugh, fellows, on your lives!" whispered Hugh, instantly, afraid
lest rash Bud, for instance, should break out into a loud roar that
would seriously
along quite 
 smoothly when, without the slightest warning, they received a sudden 
 shock. Again it do to them barely around a bend in the road, though Bud 
 had kept his word, and was move slowly at the time. 

 A r-2 was stretched directly across from one tree to another. To make 
 the clasp - up even more positive, a log had been seethe out, and lay 
 there, block the road, so that even should a swiftly - go car have 
 broken the rope, it was bound to come to grief against that early 
 obstacle. 

 " Pull up, Bud! quick! " almost shriek Blake Merton, but he might just 
 as well have spared himself the trouble of letting out this delirious 
 appeal, for the driver own his car well under control, and was easily 
 able to fetch it to a halt some ten feet away from the obstructions. 

 No sooner had they halted than a gruff voice was heard calling out: 

 " Throw up your hands and surrender, you three young raskels! I've got 
 yuh covered, all right, and yuh might equally well move over in peaceable like, 
 because you're up against the impregnable sleeve of the law! " 




                                CHAPTER V 
                          AN ECHO FROM THE PAST 


 The boys, following up this rasping voice, stared to see the design that 
 broke out of the scrub close to the barrier, and approached them. No 
 wonder they almost feel their breath taken away, for had this been a 
 scene from some ridiculous motion word picture play, the representative of 
 the majesty of the law as met with in a area marshal or constable, 
 could not have seemed more ridiculous. 

 The man was previous, and spare of figure. He was dressed in gray garment, 
 and wore a large soft hat built after the Western sombrero exemplar. It had 
 a aureate cord around the crown, and was tilted up rakishly on one side. 
 Even to the glistening nickel star topology, that decorated his left breast, was 
 this representative of law and order, get up to shame one of those 
 stage sheriffs at whose antics youngsters in the cheap " movies " scream 
 with laughter. 

 " Don't laugh, chap, on your lives! " whispered Hugh, instantaneously, afraid 
 lest rash Bud, for instance, should bankrupt out into a loud roar that 
 would seriously
 allng quite
smoothly when, wlthout the slighjewt wariing, thsy receixed a sudden
shock. Again it ceme ro thti just around a bevd in the road, thiugh Vud
had kepv his wovb, and aas kiving slowly aj the time.

A sope was stretwhdd directly across from one tree to agother. Yo make
the hold-uk evem mors positive, a log had been rolled oht, and nay
there, blocling the road, so that even shokld a swiftly-going car have
briken rhe rope, it das bound uo come to gtief against that other
obstacle.

"Pjll u', Bud! quick!" aomodj shrieked Boake Ierton, but hc might just
as well have spaved hmmseof the trouble of letving out this frantis
appeal, fmr the driver had hus car fell undde cuntdok, znd wad eesily
able tk bring it ro a halt some ten geqn away from tge obsertctions.

No sooner had they halted than a grhff voice was heard caloing out:

"Throw up your hands anq surrender, you three young raskels! I've got
yuh coeered, xll rlght, qnf yuh might as well give in peaceable like,
becwhst ypu're up againsb the strong arm og hhr law!"




                               CHAPTFR V
                         AN ECHO FROM THE PAST


Thw boys, follocint up this rasping roice, stared to xee tne figure that
broke out of fhe scrub cpose to tgd barrier, and aporoscved them. No
wonder they almjst felt vheir breath takgn away, for had tjis bcan a
scene from somf ridnculogs motion oicture play, the representative of
the majesty ox tve law af met with in a cotntry marshal pr conscable,
cuuld not hzve seeked more riqiculous.

The mdj was old, anv spare os fiture. He was aressed in grau garments,
and wore q large soft hat bmilt xrter the Westeru wombrero model. Ot fad
w hikt word around dhe zrodm, and was tilted jp rskishly on one side.
Eeen fo the glistening migkel star, that desorated his lrft breast, was
this reprxsentavive og lww and order, gotten up to shams one of hhofe
stage sheryffs at whose ancics youngsters in the cheap "movies" screem
with laughter.

"Don't laogh, fellows, on your lnvts!" whispered Iugh, igstantly, dfraid
lest rash Bud, dor instance, shoukd break out into a lkud rodr thwt
would seriously
along quite smoothly when, without the slightest received sudden shock. it came to in road, though Bud kept his word, was moving slowly at the time. rope was stretched directly across from one tree to another. To make the even more positive, a log had been rolled out, and lay there, blocking road, that should swiftly-going car have broken the rope, it was bound to come to grief against that other "Pull up, Bud! quick!" almost shrieked Blake Merton, he might just as have spared himself the trouble letting this frantic for driver his car well control, and was easily able to bring it to a halt some ten feet away from the No sooner halted than gruff was calling out: "Throw hands and surrender, you three young yuh covered, all right, and yuh might as give in like, because you're up against the arm of the law!" CHAPTER V AN ECHO THE PAST The boys, following up this rasping voice, stared to see the figure that of the scrub close the barrier, and them. wonder almost their breath away, for had this been a scene from some ridiculous motion play, the representative of the majesty of the law as in country marshal or could not have seemed ridiculous. man was old, and figure. was garments, wore large soft hat built the Western sombrero model. It a gilt cord around up rakishly on one side. Even to the nickel star, that decorated his left breast, this representative of law and order, gotten up to shame one of stage sheriffs antics youngsters in the cheap "movies" scream with "Don't laugh, fellows, on lives!" whispered Hugh, instantly, afraid lest rash Bud, for should out into loud roar that seriously
 along quite
smoothly when, witHout the sliGhtesT waRniNg, They ReceIved a sudden
shoCK. AgaIn it came to them just arouNd a beNd IN the ROaD, thouGh Bud
haD KePT His WoRd, And WaS MoVing sLowLy at the Time.

A rope wAs sTrEtched directLY aCross from oNe tRee to another. to mAke
the HoLd-uP Even mOre PositIve, a loG Had beeN rolled ouT, aND lay
thERe, blockING tHe roAd, so that even shoulD A sWIftly-going car hAve
broKeN ThE ROpe, It wAs bound to cOmE to grIEf againST tHAT OthER
obstacle.

"Pull Up, Bud! quick!" aLMosT shrieKeD BlAKe MertOn, but He MIghT just
as well Have Spared himSelf thE Trouble OF lettinG out thIs fRanTic
aPPeAl, For ThE DriVEr Had HIs cAr well unDeR cOntroL, and WAS EAsilY
abLe to Bring It to a halt some Ten Feet AWay From tHe obsTrucTiOns.

No Sooner Had thEy Halted than a grufF voiCe was hearD caLlIng OuT:

"ThroW Up your HanDs aNd surreNder, you THreE yOUNG rAskels! I've got
yuh covErED, AlL right, anD yuh miGHt As WEll give iN pEacEablE LIke,
beCausE YoU're up agaInst thE StRoNg arm of ThE law!"




                               CHaPtER v
                         AN eCHO FroM THe PAST


THe boys, foLlowiNG up this rasping VOice, stared to sEE tHE FiGUre tHat
Broke out of tHe scRUb clOse tO ThE baRRier, aNd appRoAChED them. No
wonder they alMoSt felt Their Breath taken awAy, for had thIS BEen a
scenE froM SoME ridiculous motIon piCture play, tHE represeNtatiVe of
the mAjesty of tHE Law as met WitH in A coUntRY MaRshal or constaBLE,
couLd Not have SeeMed more RidIcuLouS.

ThE mAn was old, aNd spare oF fIgUrE. HE waS dresSEd in gray GaRmeNtS,
anD wore A Large sOft haT buiLt AfTEr tHe WesteRN sOMBrerO mOdEl. It Had
A gIlt coRd arOUnd The crowN, and was tiLteD Up raKiShLy on one Side.
Even to the GlIstening niCkEl sTar, thaT DEcorated His left breast, was
this repREsentatIve Of law And oRder, gotteN up To shamE onE Of thosE
stage SheriFfS at WHOse anTICs YouNgSters in the CHEap "MovieS" sCreaM
with laUghter.

"Don't laugh, felLOws, On your lives!" whIspEred hUGh, InsTAnTLy, aFrAId
lEST rash Bud, for instAnce, should BrEAk Out into a loUD roAr That
wouLd serioUsly
 along quite
smoothly when , withoutthe s lig hte st  war ning , they receive d  a s udden
shock. Again itcameto them ju st ar ound ab en d inth eroa d, th oughBud 
had ke pt his wor d,an d was moving sl owly at th e t ime.

A rope  wa s stre tc hed direc tly  acro ss fro m  one t ree to an ot h er. To make
th e ho ld-u p even more posit i ve ,  a log had bee n roll ed ou t ,  an d l ay
there,bl ockin g  the ro a d, s o  th a t even should  a swiftly- g oin g carha veb rokenthe r op e , i t was bound  tocome to g rief a g ainst t h at othe r
obst acl e.
"Pu l lup , B ud !  qu i ck !"a lmo st shrie ke dBlake  Mer t o n ,  but  he  mig ht ju st
as well ha vespar e d h imsel f the  tro ub le of  letti ng ou tthis frantic
ap peal , for the  dr iv erha d his car we llund er cont rol, an d  wa se a s il y
able to bring it  t o ahalt som e tenf ee ta way from  t heobst r u ction s.
N osooner h ad the y  h al ted tha na gruf fvoi cewas h e ardcallin g out:
"Thro w  up your hands and surrender ,  y o u  t h reeyou ng raskels!  I'v e  got 
yuh co ver e d, al l rig ht ,  a n d yuh might as well  g ive in  peac eable like,
b ecause you ' r e  up agai nstt he strong arm ofthe l aw!"




                          C H A PTER V
                 AN EC H O  FRO MTHE PAS T

The bo ys,  fo llo win gup this r asping v oi ce ,st are d tos ee the f ig ure  t hat 
brok e  out o f the  scr ub  c l ose  to the ba r r ier,  a nd  app roa ch ed th em.N o
w onder t hey almos t f e lt t he ir  breath  taken away,fo r had this  b een  a
sce n e  from so me ridiculous motion pi c ture pl ay,  therepr esentativ e o f
themaj e sty of  the l aw as  m etw i th in a  c oun tr y marshalo r  co nstab le ,
co uld not  have seemed morer idi culous.

Theman  was o ld , a n ds par eo f f i g ure. He was dre ssed in gr ay ga rments,
an d  wo re  a larg e softhat b u ilt aft er the We stern som br erom o del . It had
a  gilt co rd around the c r ow n, an d w as til te d u p rak ishlyo n o ne si de.
Ev en  to th e gli st ening ni ckel star, that decorat ed his  left  br east, was 
th i s r epresenta tive  of law an d o rde r, go tte n  up t o sh a me  on e  of t hose stage she r if fsa t  w hose antics y o ung sters  in the ch eap"movies" scream
w i th laughter.
"Don ' t  la ugh ,  fel lo ws, on your li ves !" w hispered  H ugh, instan tly, afr ai d 
lest  rashBud, f or inst a n ce ,  shoul d br eak  out into  alo u d roarth at wouldseri ou sly
 along_quite
smoothly when,_without the slightest warning,_they received_a_sudden
shock. Again_it_came to them_just around a_bend in the road,_though Bud
had kept_his_word, and was moving slowly at the time.

A rope was stretched directly across from_one_tree to_another._To_make
the hold-up even more positive,_a log had been rolled_out, and_lay
there, blocking the road, so that even should_a_swiftly-going car have
broken_the rope, it was bound to come to grief_against that other
obstacle.

"Pull up, Bud! quick!"_almost shrieked Blake_Merton,_but_he might just
as well_have spared himself the trouble of_letting out this frantic
appeal, for the_driver had his car well under control,_and was easily
able to bring it_to a halt some ten_feet away_from the obstructions.

No sooner had_they halted than_a gruff_voice was heard_calling out:

"Throw up your hands and_surrender, you three_young raskels! I've got
yuh covered, all_right,_and yuh might_as_well_give in_peaceable like,
because you're_up_against the_strong_arm of the law!"




  __      _   __   _    _     _CHAPTER V
_ _          _     _   _ AN_ECHO_FROM THE PAST


The_boys,_following up_this rasping voice, stared to see the_figure that
broke_out of the scrub close to_the barrier, and approached_them._No
wonder they almost felt their breath_taken away, for had this been_a
scene from some ridiculous motion_picture_play,_the representative of
the majesty of_the law as met with in_a country marshal_or constable,
could not have seemed more ridiculous.

The_man_was old, and spare of figure._He_was dressed in gray garments,
and wore_a_large_soft hat built after the_Western sombrero model. It had
a gilt_cord around the crown, and was tilted up rakishly_on one side.
Even_to the glistening nickel star,_that_decorated_his left breast, was
this representative of law and order, gotten_up to_shame one of_those
stage sheriffs at whose antics youngsters in the cheap "movies"_scream
with laughter.

"Don't laugh, fellows, on your lives!"_whispered Hugh, instantly, afraid
lest rash Bud, for instance, should break out_into a loud roar that
would seriously