The Sheriff's Blunder

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Hal Whitcomb, a new bank messenger, is given a large sum of money for delivery, by way of the stagecoach route. As the stage goes alone, Whitcomb discovers the Mexican bandits on the trail of the money. He induces the stage driver to give him the money, and he escapes on horseback, while the stage is overtaken and the driver held up by the Mexicans. The driver reaches the town with the news of the hold-up, and is surprised that Hal has not yet appeared with the bank funds, which he was to save. Later, Hal, under suspicion of stealing this money, is captured by the sheriff and posse. Just as he is about to be summarily executed. Hal Whitcomb is allowed to tell a story. He tells of a twin brother named Steve, and that it was Steve who really took the money. He says that he, when captured, was on his way back home in another country, in response to a letter from his sweetheart, who is dying. The sheriff's heart is touched; he believes the man's story and releases him. When the sheriff arrives at his office he finds a letter from officers in an adjoining county, telling the sheriff to beware of one Hal Whitcomb, a notorious cattle rustler and outlaw, who tells a plausible story of a dying sweetheart and a twin brother. Then it is that the sheriff realizes that he has been deceived.