“No, but he threatened that he would some time take my life.”
“He is a terrible man!” said Mrs. Mason, shuddering. “I shall not feel safe to-night with him in the house.”
“I don’t propose to let him stay in the house all night.”
The prisoner, the farmer and his wife looked at Luke inquiringly.
“I think, farmer,” said Luke, “you’d better harness up and we will take our friend to the jail in Crampton.”
“What, to-night?”
“Yes; the sooner he is safely disposed of the better; at any rate we will have shifted the responsibility to the authorities.”
“Yes, it will be better,” said Mrs. Mason in a tone of relief.
The buggy was made ready, and the outlaw was packed in the back part of it. Toward nightfall the warden of the prison at Crampton was startled by the arrival of the farmer and Luke bringing with them the notorious outlaw whose name was in every mouth. He hardly knew whether to be sorry or glad, for no prison yet had been secure enough to hold him.
“I will leave my name,” said Luke, “and I shall hereafter claim the reward for his capture.”