Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1880-02-26


sion, as she mutely gazed at the slender
shape below, mocking her with airy
grace of blooms.
$50, my friend, can't you recover
that hat for meP Do, in pity, and
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 SO
metamorphOsed by the loss of the 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; the7 fast
ened a hook to the end of coil OF
rope, saying:
"DOn't fear, miss, nor look so anx-
ious; We'll rig something an get yer
hat
"The driver, stretched at full length,
with only his head and an arm over the
precipice, and anchored firmly by the
rest Of the party, threw his rope, har-
poon fashion, with an unerring aim
1t caught on the rim, the hat was drawn
up carefully and restored to the young
girl, who, with exhilerating color and
sparkling eyes, thanked the men pro.
fusely. They cut short her rhapsodies
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 l possess is hidden in the
lining-quilted in-aud no man, not
even highwayman, would ever suspect
the treasure, hidden in such cell, now
would theyP'
"We, of course, praised her ingenui-
ty.
"A good thousand, is itP' said the
merchant.
"'The very sum- she replied.
"It was about two o'clock in the
morning. We were well out of the
most formidable passes, driving brisk
.ly toward the Canadian fork. The full
moon lighted our way; making the
bushes and trees adjacent cast sharp,
decided shadows across the road. Ihad
exchanged places with the horse-shOer.
Inside they we're doing; but was
waketul and alert. We beguiled the
dreary hour by story telling. Sudden
ly l saw something moving in the shad-
Ow of the road on beyond us.
"'What is thatP [ said.
"The driver looked, his eyes round
ing like the moon.
"' Nothing but burro, referring to
the pack-mules that frequently strayed
down themOuntain side. 1t disappeared
quickly in the shade, and from thence,
instantly, as if by magic, jumped out in
to the road two men. They were hid
den in huge slouch sombreros and army
cloaks. The stoutest caught the bride
of the leaders, the other, covering us
with his rifle, shouted:
"'DOn't stir, or you are dead man!'
Advancing closer, and keeping US
within the range OF his muzzle, he cried |
out:
"'Pitch out the treasure-box, quick!
We are in a hurryp
The driver began to stammer re-
ply, shaking as if he had an ague stroke,
but hushed him with q whisper:
Stop, stop! let me talk to these
men! There is no treasure aboard to-
night / said this coolly, at the same
time swaying my body to and fro, back
ward and forward, to get out of the
range of the muzzle; the man was evil
IDENTIFY very nervous, as well as very
near.
" AS I intended he should, he took
me for an express messenger, and as
neither the driver nor messenger are
to possess any valuables, they
are seldom molested.
"'None of your nonsense!' replied
jhe bandit. Hand out the treasure,
Or you'll see trouble.
I" The man at the reins evidently en-
oyed my endeavor to get out of range,
,or he squeaked in a high falsetto voice:
DO them barl's look bigP
+" Yes | said, echoing the old joke
current among the miners. Yes, can
'ead all the advertisements on the wad-
ling
He chuckled a rough chuckle.
"' Come, come, heaVe out the specie
1ox.' shouted the man holding the rife.
" / insisted there was none.
"' Here, look at the way bill; if there
s any such thing aboard it will be
smong the items and | made move
% get down, holding it in my hand.
I" Stay where you are, or I'll shoot
,ou on the spOt!'
"I threw him the way-bill. He t
lropped his rifle and picked it up, pc t
using the items in the moonlight.
'rofting by this action, 1 undertook to {
lip my pOrtemonnaie into my boot, t
nd moved my hands round to get at
he pocket. The driver, misunder- s
tanding the movement, whispered: I
"' Have you got oneP' The man at {
he reins noticed the conferring and
.alloed at us. The other instantly '
aised his gun. '
"'None of that! Hands up |
"We threw up our hands, and he 8
gain turned to the way-bill. l did t
manage, though, to seorete my money, +
Tipping it into my boot.
as You see there's no mention made t
f the treasure, and if it was sent it q
yould be noted on the bill. However, d
ou can get up and look in the box and 4
atisfy yourself s
'.He hesitated but a moment, and b
oen iumned up and looked in the box: q