Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-11-30
he groanod dismally and shook his

commit the aWiul crime oil murder, even
to prevent the loss OF the filthy lucre
VIII ch you--hem!-c claim TO have ac-
CURED through your own honest ef-
forts"
"Claim to have acquircdP What the
deuce do YOU mean by thatph clustered
Macarthur. as Ned and myself glanced
at the little man in some surprise, for it
seemed to strike us simultaneously that
there was q sort of unconscious signifi-
cance In Mr. Smiths tones
Yet it was, perhaps, mistake, as
well as the fancy that McArthur's
bronzed face changed color never so
little, even as the other spoke.
Mr.. Smith shrank back into his cor
ner as though terrified at tho others
threatening manner.
"lndeed, | meant nothing at all, my
dear friend" he answered, in apparent
alarm. d
But his protcstation was cut short by
the sudden and abrupt stoppage of the
stage, and n terrified yell from the
Krow-boy who drove.
Almost at the same moment a man
sprang from either side of the road with
levcled rile.
"Thc first one that stirs gets ball
through his head!'' said the taller of
the two, heavily bearded fellow, the
very counterpart of the ruilian in a
border play.
My own revolver was in the small va
lisc, which held Ned's and my own
worldly goods. Even If l had carried
it on my person, it is more than likely
that with the muzzle of rifle staring
me full in the face, should not have
attempted TO use it.
Ned was unarmcd. So as il then APP
peared, was the little colportehr. And
the valiant Macarthur dropped on the
bottom of the coach with cry of ter
ror, which was fcebly echoed by Mr..
Smith.
In obedience to n gruff command,
Macarthur handed his revolvers to the
smaller of the two road-agents, who,
| seeming to be assured that no weapons
were worn by any others of the party,
caused us to alight. .e
Ned and myself submitted to be
searched with the calmness of despair.
We had about hundred and fifty
| sovercigns between us, and bill of cx-
change on bank in Cape Town, which
the tall robber took from us, while his
companion, with cooked hat and pre-
sented rifle did the intimidating. Nc
Arthur alternately raved and swore, as
he was relieved of his belt. The little
man wrlng his hands and raised his
voice in meek supplication, while his
specialized eyes were fixed, as though in
q sort of fascination, upon the rulfian
who held the presented rifle.
"Now, then, gig-lamps, what have
you got about you?" was the jocose
query.
And little Mr.. Smith piteously en-
treated that the muzze' of the loaded
rifle be turned aside from his affrighted
face.
at might 90 off, he said in tremu-
lous tones, land it makes me so nerv-
ous to have deadly weapon pointed at
me. DO, please, take it awayn
With hoarse laugh the road agent
tossed his rifle into the hollow of his
arm.
"All right, my little mani" he said,
carclessly. Go ahead, Bill"
This to his companion who ap-
preached Smith for the purpose OF
searching him.
Then there was Transformation
scene, indeed The small man straight
ened up like lightning, and with quick
ness that seemed almost Incredible,
showing his hands in the side pockets OF
his linen coat, he drew them out with n
cooked rcvolverin each.
Crack! and the shorter ruffian stag
gcred and fell, shot through the heart.
Crack and his astonished companion,
with yell of mingled pain and rage,
sprang for his rifle, which lay beside
him on the ground; but he was too late.
Before his fingers closed upon its
shining barrel he tumbled forward to
the earth with a ball through his brain.
The whole affair was over in ten sec
onds. Mr.. Smith repocketed his pis-
tolls, and taking off his spectacles re,
garded our astonished faces with a
benevolent smile.
Deadly weapons come handy some
times, after all, gentlemen" he re-
marked.
And / noticed a curious change in
his voice and manner. So, too, did
Macarthur, who stood for n moment
looking at him with seeming perplex-
ity in the midst of his evident stupe-
faction.
Meanwhile, Ned, who was of Il
practical turn, began taking from the
capacious pockets of the taller of the
two outlaws the valuables and money
of which our little company had been
despoled, at the eager suggestion OF
the two diamond-brokers, who had been
literally paralyzed with terror during
the entire scene through which we had
passed, both of them having been re-
lieved of large amounts.
OF course they insisted upon receiv-
ing their own property first. Then
came ours. And, Mt the same time,
from bit of wash-leather in the same
pocket rolled diamond, of such PEE
culiar shape. size and color-fpr it was
diamond-that both Ned and myself
ment and delight, rs well we might, for
1t was our stolen diamond!
"You are in luck, gentlemen"
quietly remarked Mr.. Smith, who had
been watching the whole procedure,
while Macarthur stood looking on with
coyetous eyes. ~ see that this is the
stone that you had stolen from you in
camp some days since. had a glimpse
OF 1t the morning Mr.. Girard here"
nodding at Ned-"was showing it 10
Jacobs, the broker, on the corner oi
Krall street. shonld know it among u
thousand"
Macarthur, who, with his recovered
revolvers, which he had buckled on,
had assumed his usual air of braggado-
clio, was heard to express considerable
dissatisfaction.
"One diamond is like another!'' he
growled.
And his idea was that under the cir
cumstahces the whole had a sort OF
common interest in this one, to which
the brokers gave ready assent.
I'd like to see any one try to take
III" said Ned. with n dangerous CLEAN
in his eyes.