The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-11-12

you're pretty wide awake, stran
ger" said the good natured one
"don't We know ye amt got three
hours to live p"
THAT don't make any difference
said L; l must have something tt
take up my mind, and this will dc
as well as anything"
with that the old fellow nudged
the young one with his elbow, and
whispered something to him. His
companion listened, and his eyes
lsparked.
Il watched them almost breath.
lessly. They talked for a momont
or two in tones too low for me to
hear, then the young fellow turned
to me-"
| Stranger said he. will We give
US yer oath not to tell the boys ei
we takes yer bet and wins yer mon
ley? Well be square, though, and
tell We that eff We wins the pistols, ye
won't git EN- now, but we'll send em
ter anybody anvwhares you says"
THAT is fair" said /, land reason
able, and if | win, you are to send
the money and pistols to my broth
er. r. H. Macquoid, 1853 Dash street,
st. Louis"
"Well, you will hardly believe it,
but those fellows exchanged solemn
oaths with me that they would do
what they said.
"They then pulled out my pocket
boob, took out the one hundred dol
larf-all | had-laid them on the
ground, laid their pistols and telts
on top of them. and then took hold
Of the log.
They raised it somewhat. 1t
made them stagger from its great
weight, for minute, but they grip
ped it with tremendous strength, and
finally worked it up on top of their
heads. where they steadied it with
their hands, for a breath. Then
they turned their eyes up and began
to raise it, so as to hold it at arms
length. 1t took 'em a few seconds
to accomplish this, but they did it
held if there a moment, and then
dropped it and turned to claim the
wager.
But thep found themselves look
ing into the muzzles of their own
pistols, with me standing behind
them I!
IF it had not been so serious a
situation for me, / could almost
have laughed at the expression of
their faces. They turned white
their eyes bulged out and their jaws
actually dropped. There they stood
with their mouths open, not able to
speak a word. they were so surpris-
ed and terrified
Gentlemen" | said, as quietly
and steadily as my nerves would al
low, 1T isn't necessary for you to
say a word. Do as | tell you. Sit
down on the ground, side by side,
and stretch cut your legs" They
did as | told them as meekly as
lambs.
"Then / kicked the irons that I'd
just sprung off from my ankles in
front of the young fellow. He was
the one who had put them on me,
and be had the key.
''Put them ankle irons on your
mate, and lock them," said l. He
did it withuot moments hesitation.
"Now put the handouts on him,
| said in a more commanding way,
to the other, for he was different
kind of man. He reached outand
took them and did as he was told.
Il then put the pistols in my belt,
backed up the wagon and got one of
my trick ropes, and then went round
behind the older man and pulled
his hands back of him and tied them
as securely as l knew how then l
cut the rope and tied the young fel-
lows feet; and then, fearing they
might find the secret springs, | tied
each ofthem where they were ironed.
"They did not say word during
all this time, but sat there glum and
angry. / took their best horse and
united him as quickly as | could,
for l knew that time was precious,
and after picking up my money just
as 1 was jumping into the saddle
said:
Gentlemen, | shall have to take
this horse, but | shall leave my own
horse and wagon and other proper
ty that will more than pay for him,
and settle the wager besides"
"All right" growled the young
fellow. Better be gittin', though"
1t is evident that the men were in
clined to respect the pluck l bad
this respect for courage
| have seen manifested many times
among the roughs of the frontier.
"Well, l did git | kept to the
trail and the same direction had
been going, and rode like John all
night long; Tor | knew well | should
be hotly pursued.
The next morning | came down
out of the mountains and put up at
a little town in the valley, and am
HAPPY to say | did not see any OF
my mountaineer acquaintance
again.
THAT professional trip was Sc
rious loss to me pecuniarily but
was only too happy to lose the mon
ey and get back to civilization safe
". | have often thought l should
like to know how the affair turned
with the two men l left behind, and
what they said TO their comrades,
when they came back with a gang
to bang me; bnt | have never heard
a word from that locality since l
left it.