The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-01-09
ROBBlNG THE&kGE.

The four-horse mud wagon, called by
common consent II stage, which ran be-
tween Bokey's and Logtown, was crawl
ing up the long grade which corkscrewed
around to the summit of Pilot Knob. 1t
was necessary to do this in order that
good preparatory start might be had for
the succeeding rafting plunge down the
other corkscrew road which led to Log
town.
BY the side of Black Pete, the driver,
sat an eastern importation of the genus
drummer" Pete rolled his tobacco
into his cheek, snapped a fly off the ear
of his nigh leader and said:
"tNo, sir, | don't git no pay for
fighein', an don't do no tightin' for
ther company If airy galoot stops this
hyer stage and perlitely-like asks fer the
cash box, he's a gwine ter git it, 'Taint
no Use, no ways, to fight them fellers,
they always hev ther drap on ye."
But, !" said the drummer, "were you
ever robbed on this route 2"
"Wal, no, but I've seed fellers a loatin'
round heer ez ! thought moughH do it
some time er other
'And if they did stop you, you would
give thcm the express box and drive on,
ehGn
eyer bet! II ther express company
wants to perfect ther box, they must
send messenger along
The stage crawled up slowly TO the
top of the hill, and Black Pete settled
his foot firmly on the brake-strap, and
with '.scat 'em boys y the sweating
horses started to investigate the myster-
:.A - ~ ol,,,net ;nVipihIo rood bplOW
them ON keen gallop.
Round and round the rapidly-varyine
road the stage and the passengers
whirled, sometimes losing sight OF th'
horses around the sharp turns and again
slewing sharply outward toward th'
dangerous .edge Of the canon which
yawned below Them.
The sun was down and the moon wa
painting weird and restless shadows OF
@Athe powdered dust of the grade.
sIt was Just the time for the imagination
TO picture scenes of violence, robber.
and blood. Suddenly the chaparra
bushes by the roadside slightly parted
and long shining black object wa
waved over them toward the stage. !
shadowy figure rose in the moonligh
among the bushes and from behind
black veil, which smothered' the voic
somewhat, came the hoarse command o
stop, stop"
Black Pete hurriedly pushed his foo
heavily down upon the brake, reache
down into the bottom of the stage
pulling out the express box and muttel
ing, "'cuss yer, take it, threw the bo
into the road. The restless horses in
mediately plunged away into the shadow
of the forest.
"Wa-was that highwayman?" gaspe
the drummer.
SIN course it was answered Pet
didn't yer see ther shOotin' iron3 Th'
goes cool thousand dollars, as | know
on. You bet ther boys IL be out art
him tonight. | shouldn't wonder if th
war old Bart himself. He's cool on
he is. He always shoots his mouth G
in some potry. Leaves it in the be
when he gets through with it. Didn
yer notice how level he held that tn
shootin' iron right toward me2"
The lights of Logtown now glisten'
below them, and few turns OF the cor
screw brought the stage up TO the hot
porch, where it stopped with loI
''whoam from Black Pete. Not maj
minutes elapsed before the prophecy
Pete was realized, for as the story OF I
bold robbery of Wells q Fargo's box'w
related dozen or so ready miners yolu
teered TO search the woods for the 70
agents. After half an hours sweari
sud drinking oyerthe matter they saddl