The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-03-06

grace OF blooms.
$50, my friend, can't you recover
that hat for me? Do, in pity, and /
will thank you to my dying day.
:" No mother appealing for 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
sheer came to her rescue; they fast
ened hook to the end of coil of
rope, saying:
eel 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
ny Ou OuO uIlNOI UOA anu
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-and no man, not
even highwayman, would ever suspect
the treasure, hidden ia such cell, now
would theyP'
"We, of course, praised her ingenui-
ty.
GA good thousand, is itP' said the
merchant.
"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 DOING; but l was
wakeful 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.
w ud1 10 CubIs L odIlu.
"The driver looked, his eyes round
ing like the moon.
CO 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 QUIT in
to the road two men. They were hid
den in huge SLOUGH 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 manr'
advancing closer, and keeping us
within the range OF his muzzle, he cried
out:
"'Pitch out the treasure-box, quick!
We are in a hurry'
"The driver began to stammer re-
ply, shaking as if he had an ague stroke,
but hushed him with a whisper:
"'Stop, stop! let me talk to these
men! There is no treasure aboard to-
night l 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 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 nonsenser replied
the bandit. Hand out the treasure,
or You'll see trouble
The man at the reins evidently en-
joyed my endeavor to get out of range,
for he squeaked in high falsetto voice:
eel Do them barls look bigP'
&c Yes l said, echoing the old joke
current among the miners. Yes, can
read all the advertisements on the wad-
ding
He chuckled rough chuckle.
"'Come, come, heave out the specie
box shouted the man holding the rifle.
{" insisted there was none.
"' Here, look at the way-bill; if there
is any such thing aboard it will be
among the items and made move
to get down, holding it in my hand.
''' Stay where you are, or I'll shoot
you on the spotp
81 threw him the way-bill. He
dropped his rifle and picked it up, pc
rusing the items in the moonlight.
Profting 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:
80 Have you got one? The man at
the reins noticed the comforting and
halloed at us. The other instantly
raised his gun.
"'None of that! Hands up
1--WE threw up our hands, and he
again turned to the way-bill. | did
manage, though, to secrete my money,
it into my boot.
CO 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
"He hesitated but a moment, and
then jumped up and looked in the box;
in doing so he kicked my valise.
"'Open thisr he said. did so. tax
ing out carefully its contents and let
ting him look inside; the wrapping pa
per deceived him.
"No,' he cried, there no treasure
on this stage, but we've sworn to have