Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1879-10-11
in the shadow of the road on be-

Nothing but burro p referring to
the pack mules that frequently strayed
down the mountain side. 1t disappeared
quickly in the shade, and from thence,
instantly as if by. magic, jumped out
into the road two. They were hidden In
huge slOuched sOmbrerOs and army
clOaks.. The stOutest caught the bride
of the leaders; the other, covering us
with his rifle shouted:
Don't stir, or you are dead menP'
Advancing closer, and keeping us
within the range of his muzzle, he cried
out:
pitch out the treasurer box, quick!
we are in a hurryp'
The driver began to stammer reply,
shaking as if he had an ague stroke, but
l hushed him with a whisper:
"StOp, stOpl let me talk to these men
There is no treasure aboard tO-nlghtH L
said this cOOlly, at the same time sway
ing nv body to and fro backwards and
forwards te get out of the range OF the
muZZle; the man was evidently very
nervous, as well as near. =
As / intended he should he took me
for an express messenger, and, as neither
driver nor express messenger are sup
posed to possess any valuables, they are
seldOmmolested.
'NOne of your nOnsensep replied the
bandit. ''Hand out the treasure or you'll
see trouble"
The man at the reins evidently enjoy
ed my endeayOr to get out of range, for
he squaked in high falsettO voice:
"DO them bar'ls look big?"
"Yes," said, echOing the old joke cur
rent among the miners; Yes, l can read
all the advertisements on the waddingp'
He chuckled a rough chuckle.
Come, come, heave out that specie
box" shouted the man holding the rifle.
insisted there was none.
"Here, look at the waybill; if there is
any such thing aboard it will be among
the items" and made move to get
down, holding it in my hand.
"Stay where you are, or I'll shoot you
ON the spOtT"
81 threw him the way bill. He dropped
his rifle and picked it up, perusing the
items in the moonlight; prOfiting by this
action l undertook to slip my pOrtmOn-
ale into my pocket. The drive, misunder-
standing the movement whispered:
'Haye you got One?" The man at the
reins noticed the confering, and hallOOed
at us. The other instantly called:
"NOne of thatw
We threw up our hands, and he again
| turned to the way bill. did manage to
secrete my money, by slipping 1t into
my boot.
You see there's no mention made of
the treasure, and if it was sent it would
| be noted ON the bill. However you
can get up and look in the box, and sat
| isfy yourself"
He hesitated but moment and then
jumped up and looked in the box; in do
ing SC. kicked my valise.
"Open thisp' said he. did so, taking
out carefully its contents and letting
them look inside; the wrapping paper
deceived him.
NO." he cried, there's no treasure on
this stage, but we've sworn to have a
hundred dollars tonight, and five can't
| find it in the treasure box, we may find
| it in the baggage. Who's insidew
1.-TWO men and lady. None of them
are rich; one is the hOrSeshOer, going to
Denver to shoe the cOmpany's horses"
| well look out for 'em. Whatever
happens, don't stir on your peril. We
may find the money on them, or in the
baggage"
| Il felt terribly for the young girl. The
perspiratiOn stood in great beads OF
agony all over my body.
| 1t was evident that they were sleeping
The men ratified the door and reused
them. Presenting his gun he ordered
them out to be searched. They Obeyed
half asleep. He placed them in a row
Hands upp' he said, ''NOw for your
pOcketsp The hOrseshOer had but two
dollars in silver, the merchants port
mOnnaie showed but a five, and the
young lady's nothing but some stamps
and little change. The girl, am SURF
| looked as if she would SWOOn.
you're a mean crowd to have so little
with YOU" said he, "and Eve mind tt
send you to Heaven this very night. A
hundred dollars we must have, so wei
go for your baggage" This was uttered
with infinite disgust.
The merchant then spoke. You'll find
nothing of account in our baggage, bu
if you will ask this young lady for hel
hat, and carefully rip out the lining
you will find something worth YOU
palms."
Traitor
= There was no escape; the hat was Sc
cured. After the lining was CAREFUL!
ripped out, it was returned with thanks
"In luck, in luckp' said the highway
man. "Jump i'm, all. Pm sorry for you
loss, Miss, but we are bound to tax,
whatever is sent us. We have no treas
ure, but this will do. Drive Onp
81 want the way BILL" said excited
ly, for the scene we had just witnessed
had increased my agitation to a fevel
heat.
He handed it to me, but it futtere(
under the horses feet, and again l de
manded it. Mechanically he picked i
I'D, mounted the wheel and handed it t.
me-. Then touching his hat to the lady
said:
"But for this lining you might hay
been lying in yOnder ditch. No treas
time without it, and We'll finish you
accounts. Drive OnP'
1--WE gladly followed this advice, blu
could not find languagevigOrous enougl
to express our contempt for the lkean
, ness of the merchant. The driver swOr
at him in Spanish, and the young lad
answered all attempts at consolation
with hysterical sObs. The merchan
, alone preserved his equanimity of ten
T per.
| ARRIVING at Denver, he begged yer
: earnestly of the young lady, with me a
her friend, to grant him few moment
, for explanation in a private parlOr. II
was so in earnest that the young gin
J., yielded reluctant consent.
"He closed the door and bOlted i
which looked strangely.
! Don't fear," he said, as / fumbled fC
: my revolver. Sitting in chair he pull
ed off his boot, and from the toe pulle
!, out roll of greenbacks. Said he, :"
: few days before leaving, l was luck
: enough to find an opportunity to el
! change my doublOOns for these. M
poor child, let me make restitution
Here are two thousand in bills for the on
| Thousand spcured nv the rObberS hanf