The Nine-Mile Hold-Up 



Although they were very taciturn and uncommunica- 

 tive about their business prior to the War, I learned that 

 they had been living in Europe when it broke out, and had 

 enlisted with the American Army when it joined forces 

 with the other Allies. From bits of conversation which 

 I overheard during several days that we spent together 

 under canvas near the head-waters of the Shelburne 

 River, I gathered that they had been at one time well 

 acquainted with the western United States, As I had 

 spent some years in the West myself, mining and hunting, 

 I naturally tried to enter into conversation with them on 

 what I had a right to believe would be a mutually interest- 

 ing subject. Each attempt, however, that I made to 

 draw them into conversation about the great mountains 

 and Bad Lands of Utah and Colorado was met with 

 utter silence, until, discouraged, I dropped the subject 

 entirely. 



Mr. Matthews seemed to be interested that I wrote 

 for the sporting magazines, and said that he was doing 

 a little writing himself. I noticed that he carried 

 materials with him for this purpose, and did considerable 

 writing at convenient times. After they had each killed 

 a mxOose and were packing up ready to leave, Mr. Matthews 

 handed me a roll of manuscript. 



" I've written a little story here, pardner," he said, 

 '' that perhaps may look good enough to you to send to 

 some of the magazines you are writing for. I write for 

 fun and not for money. If you can make anything out 

 of this you are welcome to do so. So long !" 



They climbed into the waiting car, and waving good- 

 bye were whirled away. 



The following is the manuscript : 



167 



