The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-12-23

remaining passengers we're all young men
of the middle class, who were evidently on
the lookout ''for something that would
pay" and did not much care where they
settled. so long as there was prospect of
their making money in the near future.
We had Just turned an abruptcurvein the
road, at q point where the bushes grew so
thick, that we could not see fence on
either side, when the driver pulled up, so
suddenly that the young lady was violently
precipitated into my arms, the old getlemans
glasses knocked off, and Mrs. McFaddens
venerable poke bonnet received thump
on the crown, such as it had never before
been subjected to.
She raised her hands to straighten it,
and then noticed that the skirt of her dress
| was very wide, and gathered on at the waist
as full as it could possibly be, with capa-
cious pocket at the side nearest the startled
neighbor, the mouth of which stood con-
| veniently agape, and from which pair of
bright knitting-needlesa and ball Of gray
yarn protruded.
We speedily knew what the drivers sharp
| pull up meant, for no sooner had the stage
| stopped than half a dozen villainous faces
appeared at the door, and we we're roughly
ordered to get out, and mighty quick too,
or there'd be Job for the undertaken, and
| no mistake'-a threat which we knew to be
no idle one, if we failed to comply with
| their request.
| All were heavily armed, whiskered to the
eyes, wore SLOUGH hats and cardigan jackets
| over their blue cloth shirts, and looked, as
! they really were, as brutal set Of rascals as
it had ever been my i'll fortune to encounter.
| Mrs. McFadden's pinched and wlinkled
| face kept it's color admirably, but the old
gentlemans mild countenance grew as white
| as sheet, though his presence OF mind did
not entirely desert him; for, as he stopped
to recover his glasses, he drew from some
and quietly slipped it in the old ladys yawn-
ing pocket. It was quickly and neatly done;
and when his turn came to alight and sub
NIT to thorough searching, all the robbers
found on him of any value was silver watch,
few dollars in small change, and gold
pencil-case.
/ Mrs. McFadden courageously Kept her
seat, though her less fortunate companion,
| now q mere frightened bundle of sunbonnet,
parasol, and faded yellow calico, was ungal-
lantly hustled to the ground, and savagely
told to keep quiet, or she'd get her neck
broken then and there. Mrs. McFadden,
| hearing this, and fearful for her own safety,
| touchingly appealed to the robber whose
bronzed features still bore some slight,
lingering trace of human pity, or, at least,
did not look SO wholly bad as those of his
more hardened comrades.
"You wouldn't harm an old woman, I'm
sure, sir, that's old enough to be your
| mother" she faltered, in a tremulous tone,
entreatingly clasping together her black cot
ton gloves, and the tears beginning to fill
her dim, old eyes. "You are welcome to
the little have-heartily welcome-f you
will but spare my life"
"Life! Who thinks of takin' your life?"
said the man, scornfully rejecting the old
lady's tremblngly offered reticule. Stay
| where you are, and keep the little you've
got, for neither me nor my mates have any
wish to trouble you"
| The civil road agent" slammed to the
stage door, and Mrs. McFadden, to her I'M
speakable joy, was left alone. But the rest
of US did not fare so well, for, in less than
ten minutes time, the robbers had appro-
priated everything of value we had about us,
even to the old gentleman's spectacles and
| my Russia leather cigar case.
They left us with the ironical assurance
that they had gone through many a richer
and better looking crowd in their day, but
| never one that had parted with their cash
more readily, or behave better when COM
manded to halt and fork over-a compliment
which we were in no mood at the moment
to appreciate.
When the robbers were really gone, and
! the driver had his horses again in motion,
Mrs. McFaddens withered little face re-
laxed into self satisfied smile; and the
! old gentleman, notwithstanding the loss
of his spectacles. seemed to be, for some
reason best known to himself, wonderfully
pleased.
Age has it's advantages, after all,
remarked the dame, thoughtfully nodding
her poke bonnet at space.
| AYE, that it has!" replied the old gentle
man; "and III take my money now, if you
please, dear, good, kind lady,"
! And up from among the yarn and knit
ting needles, and sundry miscellaneous ar
ticles "too numerous to mention, - he fshed
intact his roll of bank bills.
] Ten thousand dollars-the proceeds OF
plantation sold on the Red River few
days ago." he briefly explained, as he
crammed the money into his pocket.
The old lady, not to be out done in clev-
er forethought, calmly reached around, and,
from amid the plethoric gathers at the back
of her gown, produced another roll of bills
Of still greater value.
Fifteen thousand dollars" she quietly
observed. in tone not meant to be heard
by everybody-''tifteen thousand dollars
I am going to buy farm for my son,
who is Just married, and inclined to settle
down at Hammi:ville. I'm little on in
years, it's true, but I'm as good judge of
of cotton land as anybody living, and aren't
80 timid about stage robbers as them as is
! Younger and apparently have more to lose "
self, Mrs. McFadden ' retired within her
bonnet, and spoke not again till the end OF