Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-07-21
How Frances Bobbei the Stage,


The tour-horse mud-wHgon, called by
common consent stage, which ran be-
tween Bokcy's and Iogtown, was crawl
Ing up the long grade which cork-screw-
el around TO the summit Of Pilot Knob,
Il was necessary to do this In order that
good preparatory start might be had for
the succeeding rattling plunge down the
other cork-screw road which led TO log
town.
BY the side of Black Pete, tho driver,
snt an eastern importation OF the genus
"drummer." Pcto rolled his tobacco into
his check, snapped fly OF the car OF his
nigh leader and said "No, sir, l don't
git no pay Tor lightin' an don't do no
flghtin' fer ther company. Ii ary galoot
stops this hyer stage and pcrlitc!y like
asks fer the cash box, hG'a gwino ter git
it. 'Tain't no use, noways, to fight them
fellers, they always hcv thor drap on yo."
"But," said the drummer, "were you
ever robbed on this route?"
"Wall, no, but pvo seed fcllcrs loafn'
round heoy cz L though, moUsht 10 it
some time or ether"
"And il they did stop you, you would
give them the express box and drive on,
eli ?"
oyer bet Ii thcr express company
wants to perfect thcr box, they must send
u messenger along"
Tho stage crawled up slowly to tho top
OF the hill, and Black Pete settled his foot
firmly IN the brake strap, and with
"scat 'em, boys" tho sweating horses
started to investigate the mysteries of tho
almost invisible road below them on
keen gallop,
Round and round the rapldly-varying
road the atagc and its passengers whirlcd,
sometimes losing sight OF the horses
around the sharp turns and again Slowing
sharply outward toward the dangerous
edge Of the deeep canon which yawned
below them.
The sun was down, and the moon Was
painting weird and restless shadows on
tho powdered dust of the grade.
1t was just tho time for tho imagination
to picture scenes Of violence, robbery and
blood. Suddenly the chaparral bushes by
the roadside slightly parted, aud a long
shining black object WAS waved over
them toward the stage. A shadowy figure
rose in the moonlight among the bushes
and from behind black veil, which
smothcred the voice somewhat. came the
hoarsc command OF "StoF stop!"
Black Pete hurriedly pushed his foot
heavily down upon the brake, reached
down into the boot OF the stage, pulled
out the expires box, and muttcring, "Cus5
yer, take it threw tho box into the road.
The restless horses Immediately plunged
away into the shades Of the forest
"Wa-was that Il highwayman ?" gasped
the drummer.
"In course IL was" answered Pete,
didn't yer see ther shootin' irOnf Thar
goes a cool thousand dollars, as knows
on. Yer bet ther boys'll be out ar.er him
tonight. shouldn't wonder If that war
old Bart himself. He's cool ono, he is.
He always shoots his moath off in some
potry. Leaves it in the box when he gets
through with it, Didn't yer notice how
level ne held that thar shootin' iron right
forwards meP
The lights OF Logtown now giistened
below them, and few turns OF the cork
screw brought the stage up 10 the hotel
porch, where it stopped with loud
"xhoa!" from Black Pete. Not many
minutes elapsed before the prophecy Of
Pete was realized, for as soon as the story
of the bold robbery of Wells Fargo's box
was related dozen or so ready miners
volunteered 10 search the woods for
the road agent After half an hours
swearing and drinking over the matter
they saddled their horses and started for
the scene Of the robbery.
II Was a little, cramped-up helter-skel-
tered mining town among the Sierrs5.
One need not rise early in Scars Hole 10
see the sun rise, for hc will not gee it if
he does. Old sol Is never visible there
until 10 in the morning. The rough, pic
turesque cabins, looking for all the world
like dilapidated dice thrown at random
from the box, are built deep down III a
hole between the surrounding peaks. And
yet they actually had a telephone connect
ing them with the outside Worla. The
denizens OF Scars Hole were not given to
al indulgence In business COMMUNICATIONS
with the great commercial centers, but
their telephone was the means of prevent
ing many OF the inhabitants frem spend-
ing the remainder Of their earthly days az
the insane asylum. Every evening, when