The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-05-27
cts all right, its all right h

couracemert there is for me to keep the
COMPANY O a man v 10 doesn't carry a
pistol"
est stir said he, catching my arm
and drawing he back. 1--WE got PTS
toll somewhere about tie coach, Lut ii
isn't loaded
"Why hive these men left p l de
manded.
cause We DON'T need them.''
"What c.n we do in case of an at
tax 2"
You'll sic; rest easy; remember | am
with you"
began tt doubt which was the great
er fool Perkins or mvself-in placing
such implicit trust in him. | conclud-
ed that an impartial jury would award
me the pain Of stupidity, but l now
made up my mind that | would see the
thing through.
During tie succeeding afternoon, l
discovered tat one of the iron bands
which held TIE treasure box to the bot
tom of the stage was loosened, and l
immediately called the attention OF Per-
kins to the sane.
AT first b. expressed surprise and
concern. but soon saw it was all IA pre-
tense. He lnew of the loosening of
the band befoe it caught my eve, most
likely he himself had caused it to be
done-but ht resoutely refused to admit
any thing of ;he kind to me
That evening was expected to he an
eventful one and the driver, a burly
freshman, mined Dennis Callahan
turned the borses so as to reach the
same guch after dark, when the moon
had risen.
Everything indicated that Perkins
had striven to invite the attack from
the first. The open secret of the treas
ure box, the withdrawal of the guard,
the timing of the arrival at the gulch-
all these showed that Michael McCrack
en- was specially invited to come forward
and take the booty.
"If you have put something else in
there" said /, tapping the box with my
foot, 'instead of money, | fail to see
smar about it. We will SIM
ply disappoint them, that's all; and poor
Pete learned the danger of that
CAL you've got to do is to wait"
"Halt -
1t was the same sharp, peremptory
to VIII ell the stage drivers and
passengers to and from tie Black Hills
nave for long time been accustomed
to-
The team stopped on the instant, and,
as before, the dark figures, with the
rifles leve!ed, summoned us to come
forth and surrender.
A minute later, the driver and we two
stood at the roadside.
"McCracken," said Perkins, in a
Whispering voice, 81 want to ask a
favor"
"What is that ?" demanded the outlaw
with an oath,
81 guaranteed to put this thing
through all right and you've catched US.
l can't bear to see all that gold COB
bled right up before my eyes. Let me
and my friends retire where we can't
look upon the touching scene. 'Twould
break my heart"
This ridiculous request provoked a
laugh all round, and couldn't avoid a
smile myself
McCracken said that we mi ght go up
the bank for all he cared. for he GER
tainly incurred no risk in allowing US
liberty.
So we scrambled up the steep bank,
and plunged Iii between the sparse UNI
beyond
BE quick, boys said Perkins, in a
painting undertone ITS life or death. !"
The next moment | understood the
meaning Of tins excited warning.
We were not fifty yards away from
the road, which, it will be borne in mind,
was deep gully and hidden from sight,
when there came laundering explosion
which made the earth tremble beneath
our feet.
Turning our afirighted gaze backward
we saw sheet of fame and fire shoot
ing upward from the road, as il from
tn. throat Of volcano
The treasure box, Instead of gold, con-
tanned Ditro-g yceIine
,lcCrackcn and his gang, and the
stage and where are theyl
1t vas a clever scheme of Perkins,
bu, had | known the dangerous contents