Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-06-17

reins noticed the comforting, and halloed
at us. The other instantly raised his
gun.
None of that, hands up"
We threw up our hands, and he again
turned to the way-bill l did manage,
though, to secrete my money, slipping it
into my boot.
"You see there's no mention made of
the treasure, and if il was sent it would
be noticed on the bill. However, you
can get up and look in the box and salts
fly yourself"
He hesitated but moment, and then
jumped up and looked in the box; in do
ing so he kicked my valise.
"Open this !" said he | did so, tax
ing out carefully its contents and letting
him look inside; the wrapping paper de-
ccived him.
"No," he cried, "there's no treasure on
this stage, but we've sworn to have a
hundred dollars tonight, and if we can't
find it in the treasure box, we may find
it in the baggage Who's inside"
Two men and lady. None of them
rich; one is the horseshoer, going TO
Denver to shoe the company's hoises.'
"Whatcyer happens don't stir, on your
peril. We may find the money on them,
or in the baggage"
felt terribly for the young girl. The
perspiration stood in great beads Of agony
all over my body.
It was evident they were sleeping.
The man 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 up" he said. Now for your
pockets - The horseshoer had but two
dollars in silver, the merchants porte
monnaie showed but FIVE, and the young
lady's nothing but her papers and little
change. The girl was sure, looked as
if she would swoon.
You're a mean crowd, to have so little
money with YOU" said he, "and I've a
mind to send you to heaven this very
night. A hundred dollars we must have,
so we'll go for your baggage" This was
uttered with infinite disgust.
The merchant then spoke. "You' Il
find nothing of account in our baggage,
but if YOU will ask this young lady for
her hat, and carefully rip out the lining,
YOU will find something worth your
pains
The girl turned toward him with blaz-
ing eyes, and uttered but the one word ::
"Traitor"
There was no escape; the hat was Sc
cured After the lining was very care
fully ripped out it was returned with
thanks.
In luck, in luck" said the highway
man. Jump in all. I'm sorry for your
loss, miss, but we are bound to take what
ever is sent us. We have no treasure,
but this will do. Drive on
Il want the way bill, ," said, excited
". for the scene we had just witnessed
had increased my indignation to a fever
heat
He handed il to me, but it futtercd
under the horses feet and again de-
manded it. Mechanically he picked it
up, mounted the wheel, and handed it to
me. Then, touching his hat to the lady,
said:
but for this lining you might have
been lying in yonder ditch. No treasure
on board! Come this way next time
,cithom it, and well finish your accounts.
Drive on :.
We gladly followed his advice, but
could not find language vigorous enough
to express our contempt for the meanness
of the merchant The driver swore at
him in Spanish, and the young lady an
swered all attempts at consolation with
hysterical sobs. The merchant alone
preserved his cool equanimity of temper.
Arriving at Denver, he begged very
earnestly of the young lady, with me as
her friend, to grant him few moments
Of explanation, in a private parlor. He
was so in earnest that the young girl
yielded reluctant consent.
He closed the door and bolted it, which
looked strangely.
Don't fear he said, as fumbled for
my revolver. Sitting in chair, he pulled
of his boot, and from the toe, pulled out
a roll of greenbacks. Said he, "A few
days before leaving l was lucky enough
to find an opportunity to exchange my
doubloons for these My poor child, let
me make restitution. Here are two
thousand in bills for the one thousand Sc
cured by the robbers handing her that
amount-"your lining was a Godsend to
me; if they had searched me further they
would have secured twenty instead of one
thousand. Concealed in my baggage are
diamonds and precious stones, which, If
they had secured, would have beggared
me-" Taking a solitaire from his vest
lining, he presented that also for her ac-
ceptance. Il should have explained in
the stage, but walls have ears, and why
should l trust the others with my secrets: =
OF course, as it turned out, l was
highly pleased at the sagacity of the gen.
tleman; the more so as | recollected the
responsibility of specie |, too, had as
sumed.
need not tell you that the lady's
tears were transmitted into rare smiles,
and she was sent to her home rejoicing