Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-09-23
IN PARTNERSHIP.
The Story Of a Stage Robbery In
California.

Jack Martin and Pedro Valenci'
stood beneath fragrant buckeye by
the roadside awaiting the arrival of tn,
stage, then due at the village of Campo
Seco. 1t was the twilight of warn
summers day, and the cool breeze
that had sprung up seemed to have
freshened the perfumes of whitening
wild flowers and dropping grasses
The air was scented with tho frag
rance of the balsamic pine and the
odor of the buckeye blossom. TIL;
two men stood silent and watchfu
under the shadow of the overhanging
foliage, occasionally glancing impa'
tiently down the road, which, from
their position, sloped precipitously fol
considerable distance, making an
abrupt turn at the foot of the hill and
then descending a deep canyon, into
the bottom of which the sun never
penetrated. 1t was out of this canyon
that the stage must emerge before be-
ginning the last ascent, at the summit
of which stood the two men who
awaited its coming. 1t was long,
weary climb for the horses, and n slow,
tedious interval for the passengers
The soft winds of evening rustled the
somber pines, and far away in the gray
chaparral the mountain quail called to
his mate. Out of the canyon arose the
murmurs of turbulent waters, and a
great yellow jack-rabbit hoped lazily
down the dusty road. The brown hills
arose on either side, their bases grown
thick with greascwood and tar-grass,
while to the eastward, through tho
twilight haze, the loftier peaks of the
Sierra reared their dark, bastion-likc
slopes against darker sky.
1t was scene that would have i'm
pressed any observer, whether artist or
layman, but for Jack Martin and Pedro
Valencia it had no such charm. They
were simply and solely waiting for the
coming stage. IL was matter of
business with them, and they were not
prepared to sacrifice business for senti-
ment. Theirs was merccnary part
ncrship, partnership that admitted of
no other consideration than mutual
loyalty in the transaction of their affairs,
courage in the execution of their
profits of their enterprise.
There she comesm 1t was Martin
who spoke. Pedro bent forward and
listened intcntly. Up through the
murmuring canyon foated the crcak-
ing of wheels and the jingle of harness.
Then the sharp crack of a whip was
heard, followed by the hoarse voice of
the driver rs he urged his horses to re-
ncwcd eXertion. Pedro turned and
found himself face to face with a
hooded form armed with double
barrelcd shotgun. He expressed no
surprise, but advancing to where the
roots of the buckeye sank into the red
earth of the bank by the roadside, and
lifting gunny-sack similar to that
which covered the upper portion of his
companions body, drew it over his
head Drawing shotgun from the
underbrush, he crossed the road and
disappeared in the chaparral. Martin
stood close in the shadow of tho buck
eye.
The stage crawlcd lazily out of the
canyon. Only the driver and single
passenger occupied the box, and the
passenger was woman. When the
vehicle had approached within ten
yards of the buckeye, shrill whistle
sounded and two men with lcveled
shot-guns stood in the roadway. The
leaders of the stage team sprang away
to the right, and would have dashed
down the bank in their fright il the
driver had not skillfully refined them in.
HALT"
"Halt it is" the driver replied; "but
you might as well put down them Cat
ling-they're dangerous, an might go
off; besides, they skcer this young
lady"
''Shut yer jaw an throw down that
box" commanded Martin, advancing
with his gun lcvclcd, while Valencia
grasped the reins of the nigh leader.
(Which box do you meanP" inquired
the driver.
"Wells Fargo's; an if you give us
the wrong one you'll never drive over
this road again"
The threat produced the effect in
tended, and heavy blue box, bound
with iron, and padlockcd, was flung
into the road. Martin examined Il
closely, and was apparently satisfied.
for he motioned Pedro away from the
horses and ordered the driver to "Go
ahead, and be quick about 1t, too. "
When the stage had disappeared, the
partners picked up the box and struck
into a narrow trail leading across the
canyon.
Purity heavy box" remarked Pc
dro.
Eyes. / reckon we've called the
turn this time. II it's over ten thou
sand I'm goin' to quit the business "
Martin answered.
The two men struggled in silence
through the chaparral, crossing pre-
cipitous gulches and climbing steep
ridges, until they reached the head of q
gloomy canyon, thickly ovcrhung with
young pines and chemisal. Here they
deposited their burden, and tearing
away huge bowlder from the hillside,
revealed a cavity that had evidently
been prepared for the reception oil
booty. They hastily thrust the box into
the cave, and rolled the stone back into
its place, carefully effacipg every trace
of their work.
On their return to Campo Scco, they
found the town in - fever of excite
mcnt over the bold robbery that had
occurred almost at their very doors,
The sheriff and a posse of determined
citizens were securing the country In
scr.,h of the robbers, and the people
r"r aax'ously awaiting the result Of
rch. Not the least suspicion at
s,r 20 III" partners, who were re-
80 j., iie citizens of Campo Sccc
lam lrrs of the ordinary
They retired that night