The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1879-06-24
A CLOSE SHAVE.

"Another step, and you are dead
"By. !, a.thsSty do you bar my
"Asihorityi. HI. ha! If this AHA
enseghg holding oat q revolver ID
each hand. with a hideous leer in his
evil face, al reckon Ill have to ex-
plain further. BY the authority of
the Road Agency Of this great over
land route"
1t was in the days when Ben HALL
day and the pony express served IN
lieu of locomotives and telegraph
lines When might was right thrOugh-
out . region extending over ninteen
hundred miles, from st. Joseph to
Sacramento whom the stage run the
gauntlet of road agents and Indians.
and homes MANY Of them human re.
mains, grinned up at the traveller
unexpectedly as he crossed the plains.
when to be ''quick on trigger" was
worth more to q 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 n
single word: "Welly"
Don't YOU aggravate me, or will
FIRE. and serve you right.
Il never finched in my life, l
won't finch now. What do you
want 2"
Throw down your revolver. Now
turn round, and if you bulge a hairs
breadth I'll blow your brains out.
Hartford obeyed. He permitted
his hands to be tied behind his back.
He saw his pocket turned inside out.
bis money appropriated, his watch
pocketed. and only demonstrated
when his captor felt for q money belt.
"Don't cut me, there's no belt on me. !"
"O you did feel it then. Thought
| had a back to pry open. Now then,
march. There's good ground here
and plenty of it. 1t will do you good
to stretch you 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 be never got higher than his
knees. I'll show you his bones
dreckly."
Was it a lie, q threats 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 robberies and murders on
the route Vas true. Aud he was learn
ing. ...,
"a little faster, stranger. My
horse is rather FESTIVE, and, besides.
Jim Porter would like to see you"
The road was .uabroken, but the
dust was sitting. and it blew from the
horses feet to the captive. The cap
tive kept his head up and strobe ON.
"Rough. isn't il? Now, suspect
you came out to capture some one.
Like as not Jim Porter?"
No response from the captive.
They do say there is a party look
ing for us. Porter is anxious to see
them. This yer's God-sen Never
thought &c meet We this way. Got
tired rifin,' l suppose. Thought you'd
lay over, do up little business, and
take next stage. Now never knew
a man lay over that didn't rue it.
There was a man from nlinoy laid
over about three months ago. Had
some instruction. He was mighty sly,
that nlinoyan. / reckon he'd furnish
a regiment Of VigiIantes with cum
ming. Kind o'sauntered out of some
town you left an hour ago. but he had
some company. He wasn't such u
fool as you. And his company went
back on him. Shot him through the
spine, then tickled his ribs with a
knife. He was & powerful, active
Vigilantes, was the company. He was
too much for the Illinoyan."
"Just as you were too much for
me-"
81 like your pluck now. You do
keep stiff upper lip. But it'll be all
day with you the moment Porter
clasps eyes ON you. He makes short
work Of spies. l reckon that's your
line"
The captive did not reply. At that
moment bis thoughts were on home.
A mighty throb 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 Vigilantes we're in
league with the road agents. He bad
been outwitted. The stage company
would be short another man, and the
road would be under tribute As before.
His plans, so carefully concealed in
his own breast, were known to the
murderous gang. Perhaps in less
than an hour be would be dangling at
the end of q rope. He halt turned as
he thought of the end.
"None o that, unless you want
your early pill, in which case I'm
bound to accommodate ye. Porter
didn't say We were to run risks. He
does like a friendly chat, and he
pumps some people as dry as a
limekiln."
I'll make you an offer"
Crack your whip"
"I'll fight you fair, like man. Tie
one arm down. give me pistol. and
let US take shot about, you the first"
"Sho', now"
''Or Ill allow you two to one"