The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-05-27


age of despair aud grief; the color had
faded out of her rosy cheeks; even her
lips were ashy and pale. Her hands
were clasped In the most agoniziDg ex-
preston, as she mutely gazed at the
slender shape below, mocking her with
Its airy grace of blooms.
"'Oh, my friends, can't you recover
that hat for me Do, in pity, and I'll
thank you to my dying dayl'
No mother, appealing for her lost
child, could have been more piteous,
while tears stood in her eyes. I was
half angry that any woman could be
SO metamorphosed by the loss of hat.
The merchant whistled, looked bewil-
dered, but evidently didn't choose to
risk his life. The driver and horse
shoer came to her rescue they fastened
hook on to the end of coil of rope,
saying
"' Don't fear, miss, nor look so anx-
ious, we'll rig something and get yer
haiti
"The driver, stretched at full length,
pice, and anchored firmly by the rest of
the party, threw the rope, harpoon fash
ion, with an unerring aim. 1t caught
| in the rim, the hat was drawn up care
fully and restored to the young girl who,
with exhilarating color and sparkling
eyes, thanked the men most profusely.
They cut short her rhapsodies by jump
ing 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 L possess is hidden in the
lining-quilted in-and no man, not
even a bighwayman, would ever sus-
pect the treasure hidden in such cell,
now, would theyY'
"We, of course, praised her ingenu-
ity.
{" A good thousand, is it Y'' said the
merchant.
"' The very sum- she replied.
|
eft was about two o'clock in the
|
formidable passes, driving briskly to-
ward 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-shoer. Inside they were dozing,
but L was wakeful and alert. We beguiled
the dreary hours by telling stories. Sud-
denly, 1 saw something moving in
the shadow of the road on beyond
us.
"' What is that p 1 said.
"The driver looked, his eyes roun ding
like the moon.
"' Nothing but burro = 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 men. They were hid
den in huge slouched sombreros and
army cloaks. The stoughtest caught the
bride of the leaders, the other, covering
us with his rife, shouted
"' Don't stir, or you are both dead
men =
Advancing closer, and keeping us
within the range of his muzzle, he cried
out:
"' Pitch out the treasure box quick
We are in hurry
"The driver began to stammer re-
ply, shaking as If he had an ague
stroke, but L hushed him with whis-
pered:
Cos Stop! stopl let me talk to these
men There is no treasure aboard to-
nightl' said this coolly, at the same
time, swaying my body to and fro, back
ward and forward, to get out Of range Of
the muzzle; the man was evidently very
nervous as well as very near.
"As intended he should, he took me
for the express messenger, and, as neith-
er driver nor messenger are imposed to
possess any valuables, they are seldom
molested.
&c None of your nonsense replied the
bandit, hand out the treasure or you'll
see trouble
" The man at the reins evidently en-.
joyed my endeavor to get out of range
for he squeaked in high falsettc
voice:
So Do them bar'ls look bigY'
"' Yes 1 said, echoing the old joke
onrrant AMONG the ninara VOC I co NJ