Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-10-03

on keerds?''
"Thark YOU never play" replied the
passenger.
"Ahar' cried the stranger, bringing tha
cards together with loud slap; IL reckon
ed that you We're my man. Hov are ye,
Judge?"
Quick as thought the Judge-for it was
Judge Durell in person-drew revolver
from under his cloak and lcveled it at the
head of the stranger.
"IIod on, Judge!'' cried the stranger,
"What in thunder air you arter?''
"You are one Of these rutlians who are
talking about hanging me to the first tree !"
cried the Judge, trembling with great ex
element.
''No sich thing ~ replied the stranger
"Tm q gentleman, [ am, and a sport; I'm
that sharp Smith, as the boys in Austen
call me. follow the festive poker and the
frolicsome faro fur jiyin'. Now, jest
pat up your shooting irons; why, I'm
right hyer to help you out Of this little
| difficulty"
81 don't understand" said the Judge,
obviously.
'Let me corral Tie facts and spread 'em
out for you. ! was to meet Il pard of mine
at Murphy's tonight, for to talk over a lee
tie plan to wool some Of these Sharps down
to Spur City 1t was hot this afternoon,
you know, and [ lay out under some pines
just above Murphy's rancho, amusing my
self like gentleman with handlin the 'pa
pers,' when ten or fifteen fellows rode by,
all strangers to me, but from Spur City and
tharabout, as jedged from their talk and
the long and snort Of it is that they know
that you re comm up in this hycr coach,
and they're goin' to lay in wait for you
somcwhar around Silver Creek Jest as
heer'd this air leetle game, kinder reckon
ed I'd take hand in myself; 50 I've bin
waitin' for You to arriye.'
"Why should you take any interest in
this matter?" asked tue Judge, just Il
little suspicious.
"Jcdse, do you remember Tuskegce, Al
ALBANIA, in '59?''
"Certainly practiccd law there at that
time
Correct; and do you remember young
slip of a boy, Charley Winchell, who had
narrer squeeze Of it for sticking a knife in
to a man in IL quarrel over Il game of
cards?'
"Of course; | defended him.
"And got him acquitted, too, and nary
cent would you take from his poor Old
mother and just here Smiths voice be-
came Il little choked and inaudible "W ell,
Jedge, heer'd one Of 'em gospel sharps say
onc't somethln' bout casting your bread
upon the waters; | disremenber exactly
how the chap he spoke of played his hand,
but know that he beat the bank at last.
Now, Jedge, Smith, the sharp will jest
squar' up Charley Winchell's debt
| 81 should not have recognized you."
"Well, reckon | don't look much as
used to, but the hearts the same. You've
kinder changed your looks someway since |
saw you about a month ago in Austen"
''l'ye shaved of my mu>tachc and goatee
~ liiat couiu escape from tlie valley.
! These men are hot after my blood they say
| that | have made Il fraudulent use of the
bonds issued by the new railroad. | am
president of the company"
snow, Jedge, You want to slip quietly
out of this hyer coach, and hide in the bush,
make for Silver Creek, and strike off to the
left so as to reach the hills After you pass
the crick you can come back to the road
again, and go for Austen. When they over
haul this coach, I'll jest sw ar that you got
out jest this side Of Murphy's, and in
course they'll 90 piling back thereafter you.
Now, Jedge; now's your time!h
Smith leaned over and opened the coach
door, and as he did so the coach came to a
sudden stop, and Smith caught sight of
group of masked horsemen blockading the
road beyond.
"Pard," he cried, as he drew his head
into the coach, ''they've trumped our
trick -
"rll sell my life dearly :" the Judge ex-
claimed, grasping his weapons.
HUI oil hIlp" ii lrlth worth TWO OF
that !" and Smith, as he spoke, grabbed the
semi-mlitary cloak which the Judge wore
and wrapped it around his own shoulders
then, before Darrell could say word, Smith
jumped out into the road
"What is the meaning of this outrage?
Do you know that am Judge Durell, of
Austen?' he cried, apparently in great in
dignation.
"Get on, driver!' yelled the masked man
at the head Of the coach horses, giving them
violent lash with his whip.
Away went the coach down into the defile
at headIong speed, the driver perfectly sat
isfied that the single passenger inside was
that "sharp'' Smith, and that the Judge
was in the hands of the masked men.
"Two minutes to say your prayers in -
cried one of the mob, brandishing a rope.
There We're twenty at least in the party,
all masked and brandishing weapons in
their hands.
"Two minutes to send you to blazes ~
yelled Smith, suddenly producing pair of
self-cocking revolvers from under his cloak,
and opening fire upon the crowd.
Crack, crack, crack
The sharp, quick reports sounded upon
L. 1.nI oh