The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-03-21


AZ, y MARCH 2I, 1884. 7'
| through his head r. said the taller Of the
two, . heavily bearded fellow. the yery
counterpart Of the rufian In border
Iplsy. 80
Ny own revolver was in the small va.
lise which held Neds, and my own
worldly goods. Even il I had car,isd
II on my person, it is more than likely
that with the muxxle of. Q rife staring
me full In the face, I should not have
attempted to use it.
Ned was unarmed. So as it then APP
peared, was the little colporteur. Aud
the valiant M'Arthur dropped on the
bottom Of the coach with q cry Of terror
which was feebly echoed by MIR Smith.
IN obedience to Q gruff command,
MArthur handed his revolvers to the
smaller Of the two road agents, who
seeming to be assured that no weapons
were worn by any others of the party,
caused Us to alight. Ned and myself
submitted to, be searched, with the
calmness Of despair. We had about
one hundred and fifty sovereigns be-
tween rs, and . bill Of exchange on Q
bank In Cape Town, which the tall rob-
ber took from us, while his
companion, with cooked hat
and presented rifle, did the in
timidating. MArthur alternately
raved and swore, as he was relieved Of
his belt. The little man wrung his
hands, and raised his voice in meek sup
plication, while his spectacled eyes were
fixed, Is though in sort of fasination.
| upon the ruffian who held the presented
rifle.
"Now, then, gig-lamps, what have
you got about you?" was the jocose
query.
And little Mr.. Smith piteously en-
treated that the muzzle of the loaded
rifle he turned aside from his affrighted
face.
''It might go of, he said, in tremu-
lous tones and it makes me SO nery-
GUS to have deadly weapon pointed at
me. Do, please take it away!"
With q hoarse laugh the road agent
tossed his rifle into the hollow of his
arm.
"All right, my little mani" he said
carelessly. "Go ahead, Bill"
This to his companion, who ap-
preached Smith for the purpose Of
searching him.
Then was transformation scene in
deed. The small man. Strengthened up
like lightning, and with q quickness
which seemed almost Incredible. showing
his hands in the side pockets Of
! !;l,ei coas he drew them ont, with a
cooked revolver in each.
Crack! and the shorter ruffian stag
gered and fell, shot through the heart.
Crack! and his astounded companion,
with yell of mingled pain and rage,
sprang for his rifle, which lay beside
him on the ground; but he was too late.
Before his fingers closed upon his
shining barrel he stumbled forward to
the earth with a ball through his brain.
The whole affair was over in ten Sec
onds. Mr.. Smith rcpocketed his pis-
tolls, and taking off his spectacles, re.
garded our astonished faces with ben
evolent smile.
deadly weapons come handy some-
times, after all, gentlemen" he re-
marked. .
And noticed curious change in his
voice and manner. So, too, did, NJ.
Arthur, who stood for moment looking
at him with seeming perplexity in the
midst of his too evident stuperfection.
Meanwhile, Ned, who was of a
practical turn, began taking from the
capacious pockets of the taller of the
two outlaws the valuubles and money of
which our little company had been
despoiled, at the eager suggestion of the
two diamond brokers, who had been lit
entifs scene e. thiroittksht hiriitts winch We hiaad
passed, both of them having been re-
Geved Of large amounts.
OF course, they insisted upon receiv-
ing their own property first. Then
came ours. And, at the same time from
bit Of wash-leather in the same pocket
rolled diamond, of such peculiar shape
size, and color-for it was one of those
rare gems, q perfect rose se-diamond-tha
both Ned and myself uttered q simulta-
neous cry of establishment and delight,
as we'll we might, for it was our stolen
diamond!
"You are in luck, gentlemen" quiet
ly remarked Mr.. Smith, who had been
watching the whole procedure, while
MArthur stood looking ON with covet-
ous eyes. II see that this is the stone
that you had stolen from Damp, some
days since. had o glimpse Of il the
morning Mr.. Girard here"-nodding at
Ned-''was showing it to Jacobs, the
brokers, on the corner of Krall street.
I should know it among thousand"
MArthur, who, with his recovered
revolvers, which he had buckled on,
had assumed his usual air braggadocio,
was heard to express considerable dis
satisfaction.
"One diamond is like another!" he
growled.
And his idea was that under the
circumstances the whole party had q
sort of common interest in this one, to
which the brokers gave ready assent.
I'd like to see any one try to take
It'll" said Ned, with q dangerous CLEAN
in his eyes.
And little Mr.. Smith, nodding ap-
provingly, removed from the dead mans
body the money belt of which Mr..
NJ Arthur had been deprived.
But instead of handing it to that
gentleman, he buckled it about his own
waist with an agreeable smile.
"What the deuce does this mean ?"
yelled M'Arthur, whose face was purple
with rage, when, no less to his own than
to our astonishment, his arms were PIN
.ioned by the little colporteur, who
seemed to have the strength of two Or
dinary men. And in another instant
his wrists were adorned with pair of
| shining steel handcntfa
"It's no use kicking, William" quiet
ly remarked his captor, removing a
faded faxen wig from his own head and
exposing to view short crop of stubby
black hair. II didn't mean to have
pulled you till we got to Wellington, but
this little affair has, SO to speak, precipi-
tated matters little"
And after we we.s all again en- route,
having left word at the next station as
to the disposition of the outlaws bodies,
the pseudo Mr.. Smith informed us that