Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1882-06-01
UNREDEEMED;
Or, A Wild Life's Hapless End.


5ar.1 i
Throw up your hands! Up with
'em, all of you'll" i.
Words to the same effect, and ae-
companied in both instances by bru-
tai profanity, came from both ends
of our just halted car almost stimuli
taneously-the rough-and-ready fel-
onious command of frontier ruffians,
bearded, belted, booted and spurred,
who had just boarded the train and
burst in upon us, revolver in hand.
1t was no dream at all, but the So
Der, unadulterated truth. I, with
others, was about to be victimized by
one of the infamous train robbelies,.
Of which / had heard and read so
much.
Our car was nearly full Of passen-
gers, and there was doubtless many a
bold, brave man among US, but it was
the old story of organization against
panic, with no lightning-like determi-
nation to take the lead in snch COM
bined resistance as might have brok-
en- the SPELL s#s =
The robbers were crowding, one af-
ter another, into the car, the muzzles
of their revolvers covering us with
deadly certainty, and up went all our
hands above our heads in obedience
to. their mandate, while the work of
systematic fleeing was well under
| way before we had recovered from our
first shock of surprise.
/ As IS so often the ease, the ladies
were cooler and more resigned than
the gentlemen in the. hour or danger
and humiliation. Even Miss Win
stowe, the pretty little creature under
my charge as far as Fort v, whom
I never would have credited with the
pluck of rabbit, was painfully con-
trasting my own excitement by clasp
ing her dainty left wrist with her
dainty right hand above her stylish
hat, and looking rather interestedly,
perhaps amusedly, on the work of
spoilation that was being hurried for
ward.
/ A rapid succession of shots from
the forward part of the train apprised
US that the express messenger was
defending the treasure under his care,
perhaps at the cost of his life, but
even this supposition did not seem to
throw her off her balance so much as
it did the balance of us. ~ f:
81 pity the rest of these poor peo-
pie from the bottom Of my heart, -
she whispered to me. ''But other.
wise l rather enjoy this sensation,
since l have nothing but a poor
watch and twenty dollars to lose."
/ was likewise fortunate in having
but small amount of money about
me, and was going to respond with 6
l whispered compliment upon her cool
ness, when my turn came the leader
of the road-agents himself, or the one
1 judged to be the leader, approaching
me at that moment with stern, sig
nifeant gesture. 4 p F-F
k None of the robbers were masked
t and this was fellow in the prime O.
5 life, of magnificent physique, will
e close-cut, reddish beard and regula
v features, but cruel, wolfish eyes
E whose steely, menacing look was sug
n gestive of all sorts of criminal posi-
s bilities in his past; and he was di
rectly followed by a much younger
=. less hardened-looking fellow, wit
e dark eyes and mustache, who scenes
J: prepared to reach over me, and des
=, poll my fair companion, as soon as
should be disposed Of. 'a s7f'.s,S
"Wil you swear this is all you'v
: :; got!" growled the leader, with a
: oath, after nimbly possessing himsel
! of my wallet, together with my waite
h and chain.
J. ':Not quite ALL" I replied, with
NJ wholesome regard to exactness i
y view of the cooked seven-shoote
30 with which I was covered by his di'
?. engaged hand. ''In my other yes
IN pocket you'll find a tortoise-she
80 80 toothpick and fifty Or sixty cents
e. small change"
he With an angry gesture and anoth'
" oath, he was passing On to the unto
rs rs tunate passengers behind me, when
m. was startled by two abrupt -exclam
T. tions close at hand. FL
al ''Heavens and earth! George Ire
'r: or-you here, and in company WI
, ,r. these ruffians?''
stClare-Clare Winstowe! Is it po
at sible? Oh, God !! would that 4 we
n: dead!"
s. / turned in astonishment, as d
mt the robber-leader and his compa
lons' - 81 - =
n- 9,- The first exclamation had fprocee
E ed from Miss Winstowe, who b
j. suddenly started to her feet, and W
b he fixing an agonized gaze upon t
younger, less hardened-looking trsi
at It robber just alluded to, with starti1
.rx eye-balls and quivering lip.
is Its response had come from the !:
,ry ter, in a terrified, apalled tone; an
H. with lowered weapon, he was shrin
er, ing back, abashed and crestfalle
" from before that pitsous and aceusi
glance.
The scene was intensely dramat
er. + tbut IL lasted for onlv an instant. s=