Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-09-28
A TRAP FOR SEVEN.

Catch rat in trap and lie will
fight. Trap Il man and well. you
can't rely on him. 1t is according to
the trap. In the heavy Stage coach.
as We roll ont Of Leadylllr. were
seven men. One is an army officer
who has half dozen sears to prove
his bravery. Cut off from hi, com
manI on the plains last summer 10y a
score Of Indians. he iEtrenched him
self and fought the band Oft until
help arrived Tive Of the others are
dc,peradoe~. who have killed their
men. Three of the others are stat
wart miners, each armed with twoie-
volvers. and they look as if they
would prove ugly customer, in Il row.
The seventh man might do some
shooting on a pinch, but he hopes
there will be no pinch. In the crowd
are ten revolyers. two derringcr-.
three repeating rifles. ard four OF fly"
bowie knives: and there i, perfect
good feeling a. the stage rolls along,
1t i, tacitIy understood that the army
officer i to assume command Ill case
the coach j. attacked. and they are
all 10 keep cool and fire to kill.
1t is ten o'clock in the morning.
The windows are down and the pas
sengcrs are smoking and talking. and
seeking for comfortable positions.
The coach has just reached the
top of a hill. when every horse Is
suddenly pulled up.
IF it's a bar we'll have some fun,
yrowled one of the miners. as he put
his head out o the window.
If it's a robber. gin me the fust
wap at him." whispered one of the
desperadoes.
No one could say what the trouble
was. when wiry little chap about
five feet six inches tall, with black
eyes and hair, clean face and thin
lips. appeared at the left hand door
with cooked revolver in either hand
and said:
Gents, | am sorry to disturb you.
but I've got to make raise this morn
ing. Please leave your shooters and
climb down here, one at a time
1t was sudden. 1t was so sudden
that it took ten seconds to under
stand the drift of his remarks. Then
every eye turned to the right hand
door. and the two revolvers held by
a second robber was seen at the open
window. 1t was Il trap. The rats
We're caught, and would they fight 2"
Gents, I'm growing a lectle i'm
patient" continued the first robber.
land l want to see the procession
begin to move"
Let's see. The captain was to lead
us. aid we were to be cool, and fire
to kill. But the captain was growing
white around the mouth, and nobody
hai Il weapon in hand. The rats
were not going to fight One of the
miners opened the door and descend
ed. and the other six humbly followed.
The seven We're drawn up in line
across the road, and while the robbcr
held Lis shooter on the line. he cool
ly observed to his partner:
Now William, yon rcmuvc the
weapons from the coach. and then
search these gentlemen.
AS William obeyed. every victim
was ordered to hold his hands above
his head. and whatever plumber was
taken from his pockets was dropped
into Williams hat Four gold watch
es, two diamond pins, a telescope. a
diamond ring, a gold badge and
$1,000 in cash changed hands in ten
minutes. Not mar had word to
say. The driver of the coach did not
leave his seat, and was not interfered
with When the last man had been
plundered, the genteel Dick Turpin
kindly observed:
You are the most decent set of
men l ever robbed, and if times
weren't SO darned hard, I'D make
each of you a present of ten dollars.
Now, then, climb back to your places,
and the coach will go on"
The crowd "clumb," and the vehicle
resumed its journey. Not weapon
or timepiece, or dollar had been
saved. Seven well armed mon
cleaned out by two, and not shot
fired or wound given. Mile after
mile was passed in silence, and final
ly the seventh man, the one who
might fight on pinch, but didn't,
plaintively suggested:
Cant some of you gentlemen
think of few remarks which would
be aprOpOs to the Occasion?'
No one could, and the silence was
renewed Tit Bits.