The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1883-11-03

There was an army officer, a sutler,
surveyor and two men who might have
been mine inspectors in the stage when
1t drew up at Burt Hill to take on an
other passenger.
"Howdy," said the new passenger as
he crowded in.
As he stood for moment in the light
of the station lamp, all saw that his left
eye was gone, He wore no shade or
patch to conceal the loss, and those who
gave him second look felt that the fire
in the remaining eye was bright enough
to answer for two. Dark as it was in
the stage he seemed to have "sized-up"
every man inside OF a minute, and,
seeming to be satisfied regarding the
crowd, he settled himself back in his
seat, and had no remarks to make.
BY and by the army officer mentioned
something about road agents, and di-
rectly the conversation became interest
ing. Coaches had been stopped various
points on the line within week, and it
was pretty generally believed that n bad
gang had descended on the route and
were still ripe for business. The man
with one eye had nothing to say, Once
or twice he raised his head and that
single eye blazed in the darkness like a
lone star, but not a word escaped his
mouth. The captain had said what he
would do in case the coach was halted,
and this brought out the sthers, 1t was
firmly decided to fight. The passengers
had money to fight for and weapons to
fight with.
The man with one eye said nothing.
At such time, and under such circum-
stances there could be bnt one interpre-
tation OF such conduct,
"a coward has no business travelling
this route" said the captain ia voice
which every man could hear.
The stranger started up, and that eye
of his seemed to shower sparks OF fire,
but after moment he fell back again
without having replied,
If he wasn't chicken. hearted, why
didn't he show his colors? Ii he inten-
ded to fight where were the weapons2
He had no Winchester, and SO far as
any one had seen rs ne entered the
coach he was without revolvers. Every
body felt contempt for a man who
calculated to hold up his hands at the
order, permit himself to be quietly de-
spoiled.
"Popi popl haiti"
The passengers were dozing as the
snlute of the road agents reached theii
ears. The coach was halted In q way tC
tumble everybody together, and legs
and bodies were still tangled up wher
a voice at the door of the coach called
out:
"No nonsense, nowl You gentlemen
climb right out here and up with YOU
handsl The first man who kicks OF
me will get a bullet through his
headi"
We had agreed to fight. The captain
had agreed to lead us. We were listen
ing for his yell of defiance and the clict
of his revolver when he stepped down
and out as humbly as you please. Tht
sutler had been aching to chew up |
dozen road agents, and now he was thu
second man out. The surveyor had in
timated that he never passed over the
route without killing at least three high
way men, but this occasion was to be al
exception. In three minutes the five o
us were down and in line and hands up
and the road agent had said:
, "Straight matter of businessl Firs
one who drops his hands won't eve
know what hurt himl"
Where was the man with one eye
The robber appeared to believe that W.
were all out, and he was just approach
ing the head of the line to begin hi
work when dark form dropped out o
the coach there was yell as if from
| I,ua,,Alna o,,I n ,-auAl1ax .,
crack. The robber went down at tn
first pop. His partner was Just cominl
: around the rear of the coach, He wa
a game man, he knew what had hap
pened, but he was coming to the rescue
: Popi popI popi went the revolvers, thei
: flashes lighting up the night until W
: could see the driver in his seat.
1t didn't take twenty seconds. On
OF the robbers lay dead in front of us
the other under the coach, while tn
, man with one eye had lock cut fror
his head and the Craze of a bullet scros
his cheek. Not one OF us had moved
finger, We were five fools in row
There was painful lull after the las
shot, and it lasted full minute befor
! ! the stranger turned to us and remarke
in quiet, cutting manner:
"Gentlemen, ye kin drop yer handsl
We dropped. We undertook to than
4 him, and we wanted to shake hands, an
somebody suggested shake-purse fo
his benefit, but he motioned us into th
! coach, banged the door otter us, an
= climbed up to seat beside the drivel
His contempt for such a crowd coul
not be measured