The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-04-04
A CLOSE SHAVE.

Another step, and You are dead
man.
"By what authority do you bar my
passage ?"
" Authority? Ha, ha II this amt
enough, holding ont a revolver in each
hand, with hideous leer in his evil
face, - reckon I'll have to explain
further. Ry the authority OF the Road
Agency OF this great overland route"
Ii was in the DAYS when Ben Halliday
and the pony express served IN heu of
locomotives and telegraph lines. When
might was right throughout a region ex
tending over nineteen hundred miles,
from ST. Joseph 20 Sacramento; when
the stage run the gauntlet of road agents
and Indians, and bones, many of them
human remains, grinned up at the trav-
eler Unexpectedly as he crossed the
plains; when 10 be quick on the trig-
ger !" was worth more 10 a man than all
the wealth, all the culture, and all the
courage in the world.
Dick Hartford looked into the mans
face calmly, looked into the muZzles OF
the pistols, smiled and uttered single
word "Well ?"
Don't you aggravate me, or l viii
fire, and serve you right"
" never hinched IN my life. | won't
finch now. What do you want 2"
Throw down your revolver. Now
turn round, and if you bulge hairs
breadth I'll blow your brains ont.
Hartford obeyed. He permitted his
hands TO be s.ed behind his back. He
saw his pockets turned inside out, his
money appropriated, his watch pocket
ed, and only demonstrated when his cap
tor felt for a money belt. Don't cut
me, there's no belt on me-"
"Oi you did feel it then. Thought l
had bank to pry open. Now then,
march. There's good ground here, and
plenty OF it. 1t will do you good 10
stretch your legs. Keep right on to the
clump 10 the left, and mind you, don't
stumble, for ike as not you'll never get
up. There was one fellow stumbled here
about six weeks ago, and he never got
higher than his knees. I'll show his
bones d'reckly."
Was ii lie, a threat? Hartford cursed
himself for refusing to listen to the ad-
vice of the conductor Of the stage who
warned him 10 beware of the road agents.
He had answered that he would take the
risk. He desired to see for himself if
the stories'told OF the robberies and mur.
ders on the route were true. And he was
learning.
"a little faster, stranger. My horse
il reether restive, and, beside, Jim Por-
ter would like to see you"
The road was unbroken, but the dust
was sitting, and il blew from the horses
feet to the captive. The captive kept
his head up, and strobe on.
"Rough, isn't il? Now, I suspect
you came ont TO capture some one. Like
as not Jim Porter? ?"
No response from the captive.
"They do say there is party looking
for us. Porter is anxious 10 see them.
This yer's god-send. Never thought
TO meet We this way. Got tired riAin', /
suppose. Thought you'd lay over, do
up little business, and take next stage.
Now, / never knew a man to lay over
that didn't rue it. There was a man
from Illinoy laid over about three months
ago. Had some instruction. He was
mighty sly, that Illinoyian. reckon
he'd furnish a regiment Of Vigilantes
with cunning. Kind o sauntered out OF
same town you left an hour ago, but he
had some company. He wasn't such a
fool as you. And his company went back
on him. Shot him through the spine,
then tickled his ribs with a knife. He
was a powerful, active Vigilante, was the
company. He was too much for the
ulinoyian."
"Just as you were too much for me"
"I like your pluck now. You do keep
a stiff upper lip. But it'll be all day
with you the moment Porter claps eyes
on you. He makes short work Of spies.
/ reckon that's your line.
The captive did not reply. At that
moment his thoughts were ON home. A
mighty throb rose in his throat-a suffo-
eating throb-wrenched from him by
that one thought of home. His wife
and child, his boy that he would never
see again. 1t was hard. He had played
a bold game and he had lost. The Vigi-
lantes were in league with the road
agents. He had been outwitted. The
stage company would bo short another
man. aad the road would be under tri-
butte as before. His plans, SO carefully
concealed in his own breast, we're known
to the murderous gang. Perhaps in less
than an hour he would be dangling at
the end of rope. Hehalf turned as he
thought OF the end.
"None O. that, unless you want your
early pill, in which case I'm bound to
accommodate We. Porter didn't say we
were to run risks. He does like a friendly
chat, and he pumps some people as dry
as hmekiln."
I'll make You an offer"
Crack your whip"
IN fight you fair, like man. Tie
one arm down, give me pistol, and let
IFS take shot about, YOU the first"