Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-02-24


promised to behave themselves after
ward neither to cut off more noses ol
ears, and sending these pleasant remind
ers to the victims friends, thereby stat
ing that ransom would be very accept
able. Icoolly speculated about whether
the normal size of the organs themselves
were fixed rs indications of the amount
of hush money demanded. In answer as
to whether I was provided with weapons
I said l was not, unless it was so con
sidered in regard to small pocket-cast
of medicines with me ; my chief reliance
would be on two or three plumbum pills
in capsules of o,eine. Q knew they
would not understand the terms), hut
presumed if they would only staql still
till l could bleed them, or give M Tctivt
emetic, favorable prognosis might b,
made Of their cases. My little audience
laughed loud and longat this sally, which
was just what wanted, for we We're just
ascending long, steep hill. The sun was
almost down in the west. The dense
forest all around us made the spot very
dark, gloomy and forbidding.
Our beautiful creole had been passing
around package of bon-bons. had
the last one of the confections. Just
after l had taken it, she raised her lovely
hand to the open window and let the
empty white paper slip from her taper
fingers. She then took her flmy lace
handkerchief, which have no doubt was
worth ten times its weight in gold, and
passed it over her sweet mouth, whose
red lips were always smiling and reveal
ing her pretty white teeth. She then
wiped her fingers after that she en-.
twined it around her left hand, with
which she carelessly tapped upon the
dusty window sill. Unluckily, while
thus thoughtlessly twirling her handker-
chief, it fell outside, rude gust Of wind
caught it, and away it fluttered to the
wayside.
Mons. Julius, who, of course, could
not have taken his eyes away from her,
frantically sprang to his feet, thereby
humping his head on the low roof, which
made all laugh heartily. The devoted
painter bawled loudly to the coachman
to stop.
But his command and entreaty was
needless. The driver, having thrown
down his mules guiding lines, held up
his hands, but did not seem to be scared,
being used to it. The mules were al
ready unhitched.
A fierce looking bandit was ut eitlA -
window of the coach. They opened te
door, and the palaver, politely requested
us to getout, to yield up all our valuables
and make no fuss, enforcing their civil de-
mands by the gentle persuasion of cooked
revolvers.
Our merchant and his family had
"been there" before, and. "knowing
the ropes" they were good naturedly
complying. Monsieur Julius was terri
bly, frightened, and seemed to be awak-
ing from some horrible dream. He sat
there, staring at his adored one, and she
was laughing as hard as she could at his
plight, and coolly drew jeweled pistol,
and smiling the old sweet smile, she
softly ordered him to give up his purse,
and not to use his weapons.
In two short hours he had made her an
idol, and now this revelation was sarcastic.
Some pagans worship the crocodile :;
their god delights to devour them, which
is literally solf-immolation for them.
The beautiful serpent turned for mo-
ment to me and said, in her most win
ming tones: "Why, doctor, how dila-
tory you are when called to see your pa
tients!"
l replied "Be patient, please Well,
here's prescription. full dose, too"
And now, by a sleight of hand which I
had often practised, l jerked little mo-
rocco case from an inside coat pocket.
sprung it open, grabbed the two loaded
reyolvers, one i'll each hand, and dis
charged them again and again. 1t was
all done so quickly that our assailants
were stretched out upon the EARTH
Marguerite turned on me like tiger
ess bereft of her cubs. would not
harm woman, but deftly struck her
weapon from her hand. In her grief
she forgot everything; she sprung from
the coach, bounded to the body of the
best dressed of the brigands. and threw
herself upon the loved clay, tenderly
crying in passionate Spanish "Caro
Caro- -
Doubtless he was her paramour.
was sorry for her, but could not help
her grief. SO jumped ont, seeing some
well caparisoned horses in the adjacent
chapparal. Our party of five were
soon provided with steetls, and as we
started I bowed very profoundly to her
queenship, and merrily cried: "He
laughs best who laughs last ~
We made our escape to the next sta
tion, where we got another carriage, aud
continued on our way rejoicing, all,
finally, arriving at our respective desti-
nations.