, 1880-05-27

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there were considerable threats and
mutterngs; and Pete, ,he driver who
remained on nls seat all the time, mad"
some testing remark to McCacl"n
The latter was so cnragcd that he rri ed
his rifle AMI shot the poor fellow dead,
This horrible proceeding appalled, us
for a time, and We scarcely spoke until
the gang were gone. Then we picked
up poor Petes body, placed it within
the coach, took the seat ourselves, and
drove b. turns until we reached Dead
wood.
We rode in silence for mile or so,
Perkins holding the rcins, and then as
he drew the team down to a walk, he
exclaimed:
"By the great horned spoon do you
know what I'm going to doP
"No."
"Pm going to get square with that
McCracken. III pay him for shooting
poor Pete
"How." .,..fn
"Never mind how. It's going to be
done that's as sure as you're born.
I've been thinking over the thing, and
I've got it fixed. Do you want to jine
me| ,..r
ayes, provided / know the nature of
the undertaking. In matter of this
kind, l don't propose to go it blind"
The moon was up so that we could
see each others faces with the greatest
distinctness.
Perkins turned his head as if he were
about to explain, and then checked
himself and switched of in another di-
rection.
"Ihere amt bit Of danger in my
scheme"
"Not even to McCracken p
"What are you talking aboutl You
ought to be ashamed of yourself to
speak with such disrespectful remarks
] mean there won't be any danger to
you or me, but the biggest kind of fun.
VIII you go alongP
every likely" answered, hoping to
draw the scheme from him by course
of cross examination, but in, that respect |
I was disappointed. 4
. I couldn't gain the least inkling Of
the nature of his plan, and ! began to
suspect / had committed a piece of
stupidity in consenting to so iii his !
company, I
- Aman who ventured into the Black
Hills country without carrying fire arms
of any description could not be looked |
upon as q very, formidable sort of per
sonageaa tf ass
During the succeeding few days it
became generally known that the stage |
which was to leave for the East on
Thursday would carry a large amount
of gold dust, consigned to Perrin &
Brothers, ST. Louis. ~ a u
In accordance with the custom, this |
was placed in an iron box, which was
fastened to the bottom Of the stage in |
such secure fashion that it would be
the work Of hours to loosen it. M !
On the day before starting, Perkins
gave me to understand that ii | wanted |
to see the fun / was to register and start
on an Eastern trip in that stage. He
said he and l would be the only pgssen.
gers, and repeated that he had q dead
sure thing of it. |
l had noticed during the previous few |
days that Perkins seemed to be in the |
confidence of the Stage Company. He
held frequent conferences with them,
and was evidently party to some ar
rangement that he had limited about to
ne.
The fact that two Other men applied
for and were refused passes in the same
vehicle indicated that some unusual
scheme was under way, but Perkins
took good care that its precise nature
should remain unknown to all, including
myself. '''''
When finally the stage rolled out Of
Deadwood, il carried the treasure box
and nine persons. One was the driver,
Perkins and myself were two others,
while six men, armed to the teeth,
formed the guard of the treasure box.
'"No wonder Perkins says there is nc
danger" thought, as these terrible fel-
lows clambered in and took their seats
81 should say they were able to take
care of q regiment of McCrakens. 1
suspect there will be considerable shoot
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