"Sh!" he replied. "We're held up by highwaymen, I think!"
"Oh, how lovely!" she whispered rapturously.
"How far are you goin'?" came the strange voice from the night.
"Oh, 's far ag'in as half," responded Higgins warily.
"That you, Scott?" demanded the other.
"Yep."
"Say, Scott, gimme a ride, will you? Goin' as far as Lonesomeville?"
"What you doin' out this time o' night?" demanded Higgins.
"Lookin' for a feller that tried to steal Mr. Austin's horses. We thought we had him cornered up to the place, but he got away somehow. But we'll get him. Davis has got fifty men scouring the country, I bet. I been sent on to Lonesomeville to head him off if he tries to take a train. He's a purty desperate character, they say, too, Scott. Say, gimme a lift as far as you're agoin', won't you?"
"I—I—well, I reckon so," floundered the helpless Higgins.