Louisiana capitolian., 1879-07-12

sparkling eyes thanked the men m'st
prof,,sely. They cut short her rap
sodics by jumping on the drivers box
and telling us TO pile in
Once inside, she said:
"As You are all my friends, must let
let Won into the secret of my Int. All
the money l possess il hidden in tho
lining--qniltcd in--and no man, not
even q highwayman, would ever s'ls-
pect the treasure hiddca in such a cell,
now won1d they p
We, of course, praised her ingenuity
"a good Thousand, as it'' said tho
merchant.
"Ihc very sum"
It was about two o'clock in the morn
ing. We were well ont into tho most
formidable passes, driving brisk'y to-
ward the Canadian fork. The full moon
lighted our way, making the bushes and
trees cast sharp, decided shadows across
tho road. had exchanged places with
the shoer. Inside they were doing, but
| WAS wakefml and alert. We bcgniled
the weary honr by story telling Sud-
denly l saw something moving in tho
shadow of the road beyond us.
"What is that p said 1
The driver looked, his eyes rounding
like the moon.
"Nothing but n hurro," referring to
the pack mules that frequently strayed
down the mountain side. They were
hidden in huge slonchcd sombrcroH and
and army cloaks. The stontcst caught
the bride of the leaders, the other, COW
cring us will, his rifle, shouted:
"Don't stir, or you arc dead men,"
Advancing closer, and keeping us
within the range of his mnzzlc, he cried
out.
"Pitch out the treasure box quick, We
are in hurry"
Tho driver began to stnmmcr re.
ply, shaking as If he had M ague stroke
but hushcd him with q whispered:
"Stop, stop! let me talk to these men
, There ia no treasure aboard to-night'
+ said this coolly, swaying my body tc
and fro, backways and forwards, to get
out of the range of the muzzlc. The maj
was evidently very nervous, rs well N
very near.
, As intended he should, he took M
, for an express messenger, and IN nclthcl
= driver nor messenger arc supposed II
e possess any valuables, they are seldom
, molcsted.
"N0nc of your nonsense" replied tn
| bandit. GLAND out the treasure or yO'
L. will see trouble"
|, The man at the reins evidently on
G joyed my endcavor to get out of range
/, for he squcakcd in high falsetto voice
i "Do them bar'ls look big"
: eyes, said, cshoing the old jok
J. current among the miners. !"Yes, ca
y read all the advertisements On the wad
dingw
e lie chuckled rough chucklc.
t "Comc, como, bcave out that speci
G box" shouted the man holding tn
& rifle.
d Insisted there was none.
= "Herc, look ut the waybll; if thcr
o is any such thing aboard it will l
n among the items, and | made move
- get down, holding it in my hand.
o "Stay where you are, or I'll shoot yo
% on the spotn y
d threw him tho waybill. He pickle
& it mp, perusing the items in tho moo1
70 light. Proftng by this action nnle
n took to slip my portcmounaic in Ill
is pocket. The driver misunderstanding
- the movement, whispered:
l. "Havc You got one -
The man at tho rcins noticed the COZ
J" forring aud hallowcd at MS. The 9TH
81 instantly called:
ID "None of that "
y We threw up our hands, and he aga
" turned to the waybil. u did manage
secreto my money, slipping it into II
boot.
I'd "You see there's no nscntion made
& the treasure, and if it was sent it won
't be noted on the bill. However, you CT
get mp and look in the box and salts
T. yourself"
rs He hesitatcd for moment, and tn
jumped up and looked in the box,
d, doing SO he kicked my yalise.
Vi "Open this " said he.
Ibid SO, taking out carefully it's CO
O. tents and letting him look inside. 7
tx wrapping paper deceived him.
'd "No," he cried, "thcrc's no trcasr
H. on this stage, but we've sworn to ha
~ q hundred dollars to-Night, and if
as can't find it in the treasure box we III
e. find it in the baggage. Who's inside
vi "Two men and lady. None of the
j. rich; one is horseshoe y, going to Dc
yer to shoe the compar:y's horses"
. "We'll look ont for, 'cm. Whatc,
~ happens, don't stir on.'your peril. \
's' 's' may find the money on them or in t
~ baggage"
M felt tesribly for the young girl. I
'' perspiration stood in, great beads
er agony all over my body.
~. 1t was evident they were sleepl1
The man ratified the door and rOus
them. Presenting his gun, he orde1