Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-04-28
IN PARTNERSHIP.

Jack Martin and Pedro Valencia stood
beneath fragrant buckeye by the road
side awaiting the arrival Of the stage,
then due at the village of Campo Seco.
IL was the twilight of warm summers
day, and the cool breeze that had sprung
up seemed to have freshened the per-
fumes of whitening wild flowers and
dropping grasses The two men stood
silent and watchful under the shadow of
the 0verhanging foliage, occasionally
glencing impatiently down the road,
which, from their position, sloped pre-
cipitously for o considerable distance,
making an abrupt turn at the foot of the
hill and then descending deep canon,
into the bottom Of which the sun never
penetrated.
.There she comeslo It was Martin
who spoke. Pedro bent forward and
listened intent.y. Up through the muir
muring canon foated the creaking Of
wheels and the jinglipg of harness. Then
the sharp crack of whip was heard,
followed by the hoarse voice of the driver
rs he urged his horses to renewed exertion.
Pedro turned and found himself face to
face with hooded form armed with a
double-barreled 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 similar to that which
covered the upper portion of his COM
panion's 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 tie buckeye.
The stage cTawled lazily out of the
canon. Only the driver and single
passenger occupied the box, and the
passenger was woman. When the We
hicle had approached within ten yards of
the buckeye, O shrill whistle sounded
and two men with leveled 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 if the driver had not skill
fully refined them in.
ssHalt!'
''Halt it is, the driver replied ebut
you might as well put down them Cat
ling they're dangerous, an might go
off; besides they skeer this young lady"
shut yer Jaw an throw down that
box commanded Martin, advancing
with his gun leveled, while Valencia
grasped the rcins of the nigh leader.
(which box do you meant" inquired
the driver.
wells Fargo's; an il you give us
Qe wrong one you'll never drive over
ais road again"
The threat produced the effect intend
ID, and heavy blue box, bound with
ron. and Dadl0cked, was flung into the
lad. Martin examined It closely, and
was apparently satisfied. for he mo-
lioned Pedro away from the horses, and
ordered the driver TO ssGo ahead, an be
quick about il, too" When the stage
Nad disappeared, the partners struck into
narrow trail leading across the canon.
s'purty heavy box, remarked Pedro.
ssYes. reckon we've called the turn
his time. If it's over ten thousand I'm
goin' to quit the business, Martin an
swered.
The two men struggled in silence
through the chaparral, crossing precipi-
tons 0ulches and climbing steep ridges,
until they reached the head OF a gloomy
canon. thickly 0verhung with young
pines and chemisal. Here they de-
posted their burden, and tearing away d
huge bowlder from the hillside, revealed
cavity that had evidently been pre-
pared for the reception Of the booty.
They hastily thrust the box into the cave
and rolled the stone back into its place,
carefully eETacing every trace Of their
work.
On their return to Campo Seco, they
found the town il fever OF excitement
over the bold robbery that had occurred
almost s. their very doors The sheriff
and posse of determined citizens were
securing the country ID search Of the
robbers. and the people were anxionslv
awaiting the result 81 the search. Not
the least suspicion attached % The part
ners. who we're regarded 81 the citizens
OF Campo Seco kimply as gamblers Of
the ordinary character They retired
that night weary with their labor. but
axnltfna n the knowledge that their
enter prise lad yielded them TIE hand
come prpaG 81 twenty thousand dollars.
pretty good nights work. matt
gf Rt1|e NeleuciA. y euFled up IL
niS kHN PARTING w'ih
~ & @stS