The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-03-25
How MCCraCkUn Went Up.

IEI HE rODDlng OF Jne DeaQWOOQ
coach had been the rule in
~ stead of the exception, until
rs the only way to get the treas
ure box through was by strategy.
That Is, the impression would be
given out that it was to be sent at
certain time, and a box made to
represent the true one would be
paced inside, where the gentry OF
the road and pistols were sure to
have little trouble in finding it.
1t was growing dark, when the
stage descended a long, not very
steep, hill, at the bottom of which
the banks narrowed SO that scarcely
room remained for two vehicles to
pass.
Pete, the driver, in talking with
US, had said that this was the most
dangerous point on the route, and
sure enough it proved to be. We
were no more than fairly at the bot
tom of the hill, and the horses had
just been brought down to a walk,
when all order to halt sounded out
upon the air, backed up by some
blisteriDg oaths.
There were two passengers within
myself and a shrewd New Eng
lander, named Perkins, on his way
to the Black Hills, with view to
speculation. Looking out of the
stage, we saw we were surrounded
by number of dark forms, every
one of whom had his rifle leVeled at
us.
Strange as it may seem, my com
panion Perkins carried no weapon
of any kind. He gave as a reason
that his grandfather was killed by a |
big horse pistol, when he was going |
one eye on a squint down the bar
rel, and the grandson promised the |
mother that he would never form
the habit of sporting such gigantic
weapons, lest he, too, might meet
with some accident.
supported a revolver, and L had
my hand on it at the time the start
ling summons to surrender reached
us. | might have made a respect
able fight, and gone down perfora-
ted like a sieve with bullets, led on
by the ambition to be referred to in
my obituary notice as passenger
who had made a plucky fight
against party Of road agents.
But am old enough and have
travelled sufficiently to use a little
discretion, and to take matters phil
Osophically. preferred to surren-
der, and was much relieved, there
fore, when the driver drew up with
out any show of resistance.
There were five of the highway
men altogether, and they instantly ,
closed in about us. The leader
thrust his hand into the coach with
his pistol pointed, and ordered US
to get out.
1t wasn't necessary for him to re-
peat the command. We understood
and respected it.
The robbers were disappointed. ,,
There was no treasure box in the
stage, and the ''loot" upon the per~
son of Mr.. Perkins and myself was
of little account.
My watch was of the bulls eye
pattern, descended to me from a
ancestor, and put up ,
at auction before a lot of antigua
rians, might have excited an enthu- 7
siam that would have brought five !
dollars.
Perkins claimed that his time
piece was full half century older,
and l don't doubt it; but my New ;
neighbor, with all his sim
plicity, possessed vein of shrewd :
ness, which was sure to stand him 9
we'll.
He was worth considerable mon 9
ey, and he had put it in such a :
shape that nobody else could get
hold of it. My property has always q
been in such a shape that couldn't Q
get hold of it myself. The driver, 3
rs a matter of course, did not carry
expensive about him. 4
Up to this point, the proceedings
more of q farce, but the
was close at hand. The q
eader of the road agents announc-
ed, in a spirit of bravado, that he h
vas Mike McCracken, for whose
lead there was a reward of five .
thousand dollars offered, and who p
invited all who might banker for h
hat sum to come and take him. =;
Perkins and L would have been y
glad to earn such q comfortable ;,
title sum, but we didn't see our
way clear to perfect our arrange 7
nents just then. h
When it was evident that Nc :,
Cracken and his pals had made II
'water-haul," there were considera Il
Die threats and mutterings; and :,
Pete the driver, who had remained
IN his seat all the time, made some o.
esting remark to McCracken. The N
after was so enraged that he raised !,
lis rifle and shot the poor fellow o.
lead. =.
This horrible proceeding appalled, II
is for the time, and we scarcely II
poke until the gang were gone.
Then we picked up poor Pete's Il
,ody, placed it within the coach, h
ook the seat ourselves, and drove Ia
~ turns until we reached Dead r,
vood. "
We rode in silence for a mile or
o, Perkins holding the reins, and K
hen, as he drew the team down to Is
walk, he exclaimed: cl
"By the great horned spoon! DO a
ou know what I'm going to doY' Il
"No." 81
"Pm going to get square with W
hat McCracken. L will pay him w
or shooting poor Pete"
"How?" in
"Never mind how. It's going to "
G done! that's as sure as you're IA
'orn. I've been thinking over the "
hing, and Eve got it all fixed. Do II
ou want to jine me?" Ii
Yes, provided know of the ma
ure of the undertaking. In mat
er of this kind l don't propose to
% it blind" tc
The moon was up, so that we dI
ould see each others faces with n
he greatest distinctness. q,
Perkins turned his head, as if he
Tere about to explain, aHd then q,
hecked himself, and switched of ri
q another direction. fc
IN l..