Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-03-22
A CLOSE SHAVE.

"AnotEer step, and you are dead
man,"
"By what authority do you bar my
passage.?"
"Authority Ha, ha If this amt
enough" holding out revolver in each
hand, with hideous leer in his evil
face, 81 reckon I'll have to explain
further. Ry the authority of the Road
Agency of this great overland route"
1t was in the days when Ben Halliday
and the pony express served in lieu of
locomotives and telegraph lines. When
might was right throughout region ex-
tending over nineteen hundred miles,
from st. Joseph to 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 to be "quick on the trig-
gel" was worth more to 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 aud uttered a single
word "Well?"
Don't you aggravate me, or I will
fire, and serve you right"
81 never finched in my life. I won't
finch now. What do you want ?"
"Throw down your revolver. Now
turn round, and if you bulge a hairs
breadth I'll blow your brains out"
Hartford obeyed. He permitted his
hands to be ried 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 money belt. "Don't cut
me, there's no belt on me-"
"Ol you did feel it then. Thought
had bank to pry open. Now then,
march. There's good ground here, and
plenty of it. 1t will do you good to
stretch your legs. Keep right on to the
clump to the left, and mind you, don't
stumble, for like 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 it a lie, threat? Hartford cursed
himself for refusing to listen to the ad.
vice of the conductor of the stage who
warned him to beware of the road agents.
He had answered that he would take the
risk. He desired to see for himself il
the stories told of the robberies and muir.
ders on the route were true. And he was
learning.
ga little faster, stranger. My horse
is reether restive, and, beside, Jim Por
ter would like to see you"
The roo1 xuoo ,,nlrDLa,, I,,f tba d,,ai
was sitting, and it blew from the horses
feet to the captive. The captive KEEP
his head up, and strobe on.
Trough, isn't it? Now, I suspect
you came out 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 to see them
This yer's god-send. Never though
to meet ye this way. Got tired riflin',
suppose. Thought you'd lay over, dc
up little business, and take next stage
Now, never knew O man to lay ovel
that didn't rue it. There was q mar
from Illinoy laid over about three month";
ago. Had some instruction. He wal
mighty sly, that Illinoyian. I reckon
he'd furnish regiment of Vigilante
with cunning. Kind O. sauntered out O
same town you left au hour ago, but b,
had some company. He wasn't such
fool as you. And his company went bacl
on him. Shot him through the spine
then tickled his ribs with knife. Fl,
was powerful, active Vigilante, was th,
company. He was too much for tn
Illinoyian."
"Just as you were too much for me.
II like your pluck now, Tou do keel
stia upper lip, But WI be eli de-
1tS Ssa The vaeMsat PsSGsT CiaPs 0Ss