Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-09-05

He blushed and stammered an apollo.
~, and sat for moment on a project
ing rock on the side of the road over
the mountain edge. She had gathered
stray flowers on her walk, diving under
bushes and behind rocks, and was
fastening them on her hat and mantle.
A scarlet creeper ran around the base
of the rock down the side OF the noun
tain.
"'Oh, that suits me; must have it., ,
she said, rising to her feet, and drop
ping hat and flowers in the excitement.
just then sudden eddy Of wind came
twisting round the corner of fissure,
and whirled hat and flowers round and
round, lodging them beyond her power
of recovery, on a narrow ledge of per-
pendicular rock, jutting out and mac
cessible from the road.
"How now? what will you do?' I
said, half in sport at the possibility of
bareheaded companion for the rest Of
the trip.
ITO my surprise, she looked the
image of despair and grief; the color
had faded out of her rosy cheeks, even
her lips were ashy and pale. Her hands
were clasped in the most agonizing ex-
preston as she mutely gazed at the
slender shape below, mocking her with
its airy grace of blooms.
80 Oh, my friends can't you recover
that hat for me? Do, in pity, and I
will thank you to my dying day!
"No mother appealing for a lost
child, could have been more piteous,
while tears stood in her eyes. was
half angry that any woman could be 80
metamorphosed by the loss of hat.
The merchant whistled look bewildered,
but evidently didn't choose to risk his
life. The driver and horseshoer came
to her rescue; they fastened hook on
to the end of a coil of rope, saying:
"Dont fear, miss, nor look so
anxious; we'll rig something an get yer
hat !
"The driver, stretched at full length,
with only his head and arm over the
precipice, and anchored very firmly by
the rest of the party, threw his rope,
harpoon fashion, with an unerring aim.
1t caught in the rim, the hat was drawn
up carefully and restored to the young
girl, who, with exhilarating color and
sparkling eyes, thanked the men most
profusely. They cut short her rhap-
sodies by jumping on the drivers box
and telling us to pile in
"Once inside, she said:
" As you are all my friends, must
let you into the secret of my hat. All
the money possess is hidden in the
lining-quilted inland no man, not
even the highwayman, would ever sus-
pect the treasure hidden in such cell,
now would they?'"
I" We of course praised her ingenuity.
"a good thousand, is it?' said the
merchant.
"The very sum, she replied.
cit was about two o'clock in the
morning. We were we'll out of the
most formidable passes, driving briskly
toward the Canadian fork. The full
moon lightened our way, making the
bushes and trees adjacent cast sharp,
decided shadows across the road.
had exchanged places with the horse.
sheer. Inside they we're doing, but
was wakeful and alert. We beguiled
the weary hour by storytelling. Sud-
denly 1 saw something moving in the
shadow of the road on beyond us.
What is that?' l said.
"The driver looked, his eyes round
ing like the moon.
:" Nothing but burre! referring to
the pack mules that frequently straved
down the mountain side. 1t disappeared
quickly in the shade, and from thence,
instantly, as if by magic, jumped out
into the road two men. They were
hidden in huge slouched sombreros and
army cloa3s. The stoutest caught the
bride OF the leaders; the other, cover.
ing us with his rife, shouted:
"' Don't stir, or you are dead menr
Advancing closer, and keeping us
within the range of his muzzle, he cried
out:
" Pitch out the treasure box, quickl
We are in a hurry
"The driver began to stammer re.
ply, shaking as if he had an sgue stroke.
but hushed him with whisper:
Stop. stop! let me talk to these
men! There is no treasure aboard to-
night! I said this coolly. at the same
time swaying my body to and fro, back.
wards and forwards, to get out of the
range OF the muzzle; the man was evil
IDENTITY very nervous, as we'll as very
near.
AS intended he should, he took me
Tor ap express messenger, and, as
neither driver nor messenger are sup.
posed to possess any valuables, they are
seldom molested.
None of your nonsense!' replied the
bandit. Hand out the treasure, or
you'll see trouble
The man at the reins evidently en-
loyed my endeavor to get out of range,
for he squeaked in high, falsetto voice:
:" Do them bar'ls look big?'
Yes I said, eehoing the old joke
current among the miners: yes. l can
read all the advertisements on the wad-
ding!
He chuckled rough ehuckle.
Come, come, heave out that specie
box, shouted the man holding the rifle.
Il insisted there was none.
"' Here, look at the way bill; If there
is any such thing aboard it will be
among the items, and made move to
get down, holding it in my hand."