Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-05-22
A Close Shave.

"Another step, and you are a dead
mani
BY what authority do you bar my
passage:"
Authority? Ia, ha, If this amt
enough, ," holding out a revolver in each
hand. with a hideOus leer in his evil
face, Il reckon I'll have TO explain
further. By the authority Of the Road
Agency of this great overland route. -
1t was in the days when Ben Halli-
dav and the pony express served in lieu
of locomotives and telegraph lines.
When might was right throughout a
region extending over nineteen hun
dred miles, from St. Joseph to Sacra-
mento; when the stage run the gaunt-
let OF road agents and Indians, and
bones, many of them human remains,
grinned up at the traveller unexpectedly
as he crossed the plains; when to be
quick on the trigger was worth
more to 4 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 q single
word " Well:"
Don't you agsravate me, or | Will
fire and serve you right"
Il never flinched in my life. / won't
finch now. What do you WANT"
Throw down your revolver. Now
turn round, and if you bulge hairs
breadth. I'll blow your brains out"
Hartford obeyed. He permitted his
hands to be tied behind his back. He
saw his pockets turned inside out, his
money appropriated, his watch pock-
eted, and only demonstrated when his
captor felt for a mOney-belt. Don't
cut me. there's no belt on me-"
30, 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 ycu 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'reckiv."
Was it a lie, threat: Hartford
cursed himself for refusing TO listen TO
the advice 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 if the stories told of the robbie
ries and murders on the route were
true. And he was learning.
The road was unbroken, but the dust
was stifing, and it blew from the hor-
ses' feet to the captive. The captive
kept his head up and strobe on.
Rough, isn't it? Now, suspect
you came out to capture some one. Like
as not Jim Porter?
No response from the captive.
"They do say there is party look
ing for u.s. Porter is anxios to see them.
This yer's a god-send- Never thought
TO meet We this way. Got tired riflin',
| suppose. Thought you'd lay over, do
up little business, and take next stage.
Now, never knew a man to lay ovor
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 lllinoyian- L
reckon he'd furnish regiment OF vigil
lantes with cunning. Kind o. saun-
tered out of same town you left an hour
ago. but he had some company. lie
wasn't such a fool as you. And his
company went back on him. Shot him
through the spine, then tickled his ribs
with knife. He was a powerful, ac-
tive vigilante, was the company lie
was too much for the Illinoyian."
Just as you were 100 much for me. "
q 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. lie 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 thros rose in his throat-a
suffocating 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 be short another
man, and the road would be under tri-
butte as before. His plans, so carefully
concealed in his own breast, were
known to the murderous gang. Per-
haps in less than an hour he would be
dangling at the end of rope. He half
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 peo-
pie as dry as limekiln."
I'm make you an Offer"
Crack your whip"
"I'll fight you fair, like man. Tie
one arm down, give me a pistol, and
let us take shot about, you the first"
Sho'. now"
"Or Pll allow you two to one."
"Yes, 1 see you can allow almost