Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-12-20


selves tonight" said u young man
in an opal scarf-pin, and fierce
black moustache, as he replaced his
pistol with confident air. "They'd
catch it-rather."
"We're going down the slope, now"
presently announced the driver. "It's
rough way, and msbbe some Of you
would prefer to walk to the bottom.
I've got to water the horses down
here. ...,.. ...s ..........
But nobody chose to leave the
stage-coach. Only Martin Sherwood
fell behind, walking rather lamely
now, for his feet were becoming ten
der with his thirty mile tramp. He
sat down by the side of the road aud
bathed them in little rill, which
was trickling down to the stream be.
low. He was in hurry for he knew
it wouldn't take long to water the
horses and rest then little, before
their toilsome ascent on tho op-
posite side. He heard the slow
and noisy progress of the vehicle
down the noisy way, and the drivers
encouraging shouts and calls to the
horses, and there was a dead silence
on which suddenly rang out one
word.
"Stand ~
There was something in the sound
which made Martin spring to his feet.
Then quick and sharp came another
command:
Glands up! The first who moves
is dead man!'' .I...-,
''Robbers ~ thought Martin, with
a thrill. He was not afraid, for, be-
sides being brave boy, he knew he
had nothing to be robbed of, even if
the highwaymen discovered him.
"How many passengers ?" demand
ed the same voice.
eight, and the driver"
They had entirely forgotten Martin,
even if he could as yet be counted as
a passenger.
Cautiously creeping through a
thicket, the boy looked to the bottom
of the slope. The horses were stand
ing quietly, and the driver and the
eight passengers were also standing
in row, with their arms raised
straight above their heads, as they
had been ordered. This was to pre-
vent their get ting hold of the vssp-
ons in their pockets. The most
scared looking face among them was
that of the young man who had so
earnestly desired to be attacked by
the robbers. He stood with his
hands thrown up and trembling, his
eyes wide, and his face pale with ter
ror. The old lady alone was in the
coach, where she had tainted dead
away.
Up and down the line of scared
and indignant passengers went two
men with their faces colored, and
handkerchiefs tied close around
their heads, the more effectuslly to
disguise them. From each victim
they took watch, jewelry, money,
whatever they could find, and even
deyrlved the fat old gentleman of his
nice travelling overcoat and cap, and
the scared young man of his new boot,
one Of the robbers remarked that
he was about to travel, and needed a
fashionable fitting out. Then, when
the whole party had been searched,
their pistols were unloaded and hand.
ed back to them empty, so that they
could not be used until the robbers
were out of reach-and the driver
was told that he might now proceed
on his journey.
AS the coach started up the other
declivity the robbers gathered up
their booty and ascended the hill
Here they paused, and after listening
for moment, as if to assure them
selves that no one was on the road,
they crept into the very thicket Of
mountain laurel behind which Mar
tin Sherwood stood. Here they de.
posted their booty and began sorting
it, having first deposited their pistols
on fiat rock at his elbow. They
appeared in high spirits, and laughed
and talked as they busted themselves.
"This is better than psgging shoes
in State prison." said one, an i'll
looking fellow of five and thirty.
"Pretty good days work for begin
ners," laughingly added the other,
who was quite young man. "Put the
IL. l. ~