The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-09-17


muring in his cardigan remark about
the mining prospects Of Lucky Dog. o
"Some rich discoveries made in the |
neighborhood, ehp Did you ever try your
luck at mining 9'' .., .tr., ,,e
"Waal, no, l own little stock, though"
answered Sam, carelessly. .....,,.,I.
"In what mineP"
" In the Np-and- Tuck"
"Good mine from all hear about it.
Never did any prospecting9" asked the
stranger, in that tNpe which denotes only
a desire to make talk with view to kill
time. r
"No," in the same tone.
"Thats odd" stuffing handful of cut
tobacco in his mouth. "I'd have sworn
twas you saw swinging pick in the can
non east of camp last night"
"I'm not much on picks" Sam returned,
with slowness that well counterfeited in
difference. :" l was visiting a lady last
evening, which is kind of prospecting
more in my line"
eyes, understand: that lady inside the
coach. She is a game one,"
"It strikes me you're devlish free in
your remarks" said Sam, becoming ir-
ritated again. /
"No offense meant, Pm sure. Take a
cigar? We may as we'll talk matters over
calmly, Mr.. Rice. You know it's ten to
one that you are implicated in this business
being very attentive to Mrs. Page. Made
several trips together. Let her handle your
horses, so she could take them out of the
stable for them thieves. Buried her thiev-
ing gambling husband for her. You see
the case looks bad, anyway though Pm
inclined to think you've just been made
often you find one smarter" 5r9 .H,.
| Sans eyes scintillated. He was strong
| ly minded to pitch the outside passenger
off the coach. The struggle in his breast
between conviction and resistance to con-
viction amounted to agony. He could not
at that supreme moment, discriminate be-
tween the anger he felt at being falsely
accused and the grief and rage at being 80
horribly disillusioned. The combined an
guish paled his cheek, and set his teeth on
edge; of all of which the outside passenger
was coolly cognizant. AS they were at
that moment in sight of the first station he
resumed:
"Let her get up here If she wants to l
can ride inside. don't want to be hard
on her but mind if you breathe a word
about my being an officer, I'll arrest you
on suspicion. Let every tub stand on its
own bottom. If she's guilty, you can't
help her, and don't want to, neither: if she's
innocent, she'll come out all right, never
fear. Are you on the square now9"
"Have you got warrant ?" asked Sam
in low tone, as he wound the lines around
the break, previous to getting down.
You bet but I'm in no hurry to serve
it. Pineywood Station, II do just as we'll
Telegraph Office there"
Mr.. Rice was not in any haste this morn
ing being as he said, ahead Of time. He
invited Mrs. Page to take her usual place
on the box, telling her the gentleman had
concluded to go inside and brought her a
glass of water from the bar. While he
was returning the glass, the passengers, in
Guiding him on the outside, being busted
assuaging their thirst with something
stronger than water, rattle of wheels and
clatter Of hoofs was heard, and 10 ! Mrs.
Dolly Page was discovered practicing her
favorite accomplishment of driving skin
hand.
When the "outside' recovered from his
momentary surprise he clapped his hand
on the shoulder of Mr.. Rice, an said in
voice savage with spite and disappointment:
81 arrest you SIR"
"Arrest and be ID p returned Sam
"If You had done your duty, you'd have
arrested her while you had chance"
''That's so-your head is level and if
you'll assist me in getting on to Piney-
woods Stationin time to catch the runaway
for she can't very well drive beyond that
station-I'll let you Oft"
."You'll wait till I'm on, reckon. My
horses can't go on that errand, and you
darsn't take the up-dri1er's team. Put
that in your pipe and smoke it, old .srnar-
ty l"-and Sarn's eyes emitted steel blue
lightnings, though his face wore a fixed ex-
preston Of smiling.
/ Upon inquiry twas ascertained that
horses might be procured mile back from
the station, and while the bafiied officer
and such Of the passengers as could not
wait until the next day went in pursuit of