The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-03-04

rest of the party, threw his rope, har
poon fashion, with an unerring aim
1t caught on the rim, the hat was draw
,tuV eseefully and restored to the youn.
| girl, who, with exhilerating color AM
sparkling eyes, thanked the men pro
fusely. They cut short her rhapsodie
by jumping on the drivers box ant
telling US to pile in
"Once inside, she said:
"As you are all my friends, mus
let you into the secret of my hat. Al
the money possess is hidden in tn,
lining-quilted in-and no man, no
even highwayman, would ever suspec
the treasure, hidden in such a cell, nov
would theyp'
"We, of course, praised her ingenui
sssA good thousand. is itr said tn,
merch ant. g. - ~
"The very sum- she replied.
cit 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. had
exchanged places with the horse-shoer.
Inside they were dozing; but l was
wakeful and alert. We beguiled the
dreary hour by story telling. Sudden.
ly 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. ''
g. Nothing but burro,' referring to
hn nh los hof fronnonflxy OF -o6
down the mountain 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: --tt
"sDon't stir, or you are dead manr'
advancing closer, and keeping us
within the range Of his muzzle, he cried
out:
"'Pitch out the treasure-box, quick!
We are in q hurryr
The driver began to stammer a re-
ply, shaking as If he had an ague stroke,
but l hushed him with 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. ..- ......r.
LAS I intended he should, he took
me for an express messenger, and as
neither the driver nor messenger are
supposed to possess any valuables, they
are seldom molested.
"'None of your nonsensen replied
the bandit. Hand out the treasure,
or you'll see trouble y
"The man at the reins evidently en-
joyed my endeavor to get out of range,
for he squeaked in high falsetto voice:
&c. DO them barrs look big?'
Yes said, echoing the old joke
current among the miners. Yes, can
read all the advertisements on the wad-
ding
"He chuckled rough chuckle.
a.. Come, come, heave out the specie
box shouted the man holding the rifle.
81 insisted there was none.
&c Here, look at the way-bill; if there
is any such thing aboard it will be
among the items and made a move
to get down, holding it in my hand.
"s Stay where you are, or I'll shoot
you on the spetr lSt. g. s -su F.'.
81 threw him the way-bill. He
dropped his rifle and picked it up, pc
rusing the items in the moonlight.
Profiting by this action, undertook to
slip my portemonnaie into my boot,
and moved my hands round to get at
the pocket. The driver, misunder-
standing the movement, whispered:
"' Have you got onep' The man at
the reins noticed the comforting and
halloed at US. The other instantly
raised his gun I'D 80
"sNone of that! Hands up
"We threw up. our hands, and he
again turned to the way-bill. did
manage, though, to secrete my money,
slipping it into my boot.
"' You see there's no mention made
of the treasure, and if it was sent it
would be noted ON the bill. However,
you can get up and look in the box and
satisfy YOURSELF -,~-.,.rr Efst~
HE hesitated but a moment, and
then jumped mp and looked in the box;
in doing so he kicked my valise.
60. Open this' be said. did so. TAX
ing out carefully its contents and let
ting him look inside; the wrapping pa
per deceived him. = ii'1
".No,' he cried, there's no treasure
on this stage, but we've sworn to have
q hundred dollars tonight, and if we
can't find 1t in! the baggage-who's in
sideP'
U".Two men and a lady. None of
them rich; one is the horse-shoer, 60
ing to Denver to shoe the company's
horses
".We'n look out for'em Whatever
happens don't stir, on your peril. We
may fndthe money on them, or in the
baggage
The perspiration stood in great beads
Of agony all over my body. ~s'
cit was evident they were sleeping.
The man ratified the door and reused
them. Presenting his gun he ordered
them out to be searched. They obeyed
half asleep. He placed them in row.
9 Hands up he said. Now for your
pocketsr The horse-shoer had but
two dollars in silver, the merchants s
portemonnaie showed but q Eve, and
the young lady nothing but her pa
pers and little change. The girl, /
was sure, looked as if she would swoon.
ou,re q mean crowd, to have so
little with you.' said he. and I've q
mind to send you to heaven this very
night. A hundred dollars we must
have, so we'll 60 for your baggage.
This was uttered with infinite disgust.
"The merchant then spoke. You'll
find nothing of account in our baggage,
but If you will ask this young lady for
her hat, and carefully rip out the lin
ing. you will find something worth your
pains
.The girl turned toward him with
blazing eyes, and uttered but the one
word: - -
"tTraitor.' " m
I"There was no escape; tire hat was
secured. After the lining was very
carefully ripped out il was returned
with thanks. E5
"' In luck, in luck!' said the high.
wayman. Jump. in all. Pm sorry
for loco hx,t hD,,