The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-02-28
"hANDS up"
Condition Tending to Make One Anxious |
and Uncomfortable.

and Uncomfortable.
don't know of anything that makes
a modest, retiring man feel more IN
comfortable than to sit in railway
train, holding up both hands, while in
front of him stands fellow that looks
like a hurriedly arranged Mephisto-
pheles in tramp Faust company, lev
cling a siX-shooter whose muzzle seems
to open like the mouth of hungry cat
fish. A man may have fought duels and
may have the reputation of being as
firm as the architecture of Themistocles;
but when an ungainly citizen, wearing
a mask. throws up a revolver and says:
what time did you say it WASP" he
will not repeat an old joke and reply:
Same time it twas this time yester-
day." but hands his watch to the dem
Onstrative stranger. This is not surmise
with me. | argue from a foundation of
truth, plastered with the cement of eX-
perience. l was a passenger on the
railway train recently robbed near
Little Rock. just before leaving Pine
Bluff, friend came to me and said:
Il wish you would take my watch up
to the city and leave it with a jeweler.
It stopped the other day and think
there must be something the matter
with it; indigestion, probably"
OF course | consented desiring to ac-
commodate my friend, as l didn't owe
him anything. Iput the dyspeptic time
killer in my valise, but after the train
started, fearing that some one might
mistake my luggage for his own, took
the watch out and wore it, not without
slight thrill of pleasure as the gold
chain caught the rays of the lamp over
head.
When within short distance of Little
Rock, the train suddenly stopped. The
rapid firing OF pistols without seemed to
assure the passengers that tax collectors
were in the neighborhood, for every one
began to show signs of uneasiness, but
before we had time to engage in those
little speculations and humorous re-
marks which frequently delight an APP
preciatiye company, a very tall fellow,
followed by several companions, en-
tered the car and made remark which
| understood TO mean "hands up"
The passengers readily accepted my
Interpretation of the remark, and fol-
lowing my example, held up their
hands. | felt sorry for one poor fellow.
He only had one arm with him at the
time, and his piteous imploratiOns that
somebody would lend him another hand
for a few moments were quite enough
to have moved a gall Of flint. The
Captain of the gang was very gentle
manly, and doubtless tore my vest by
mistake while taking off the valuable
watch which the Pine Bluff man had in
trusted to my keeping
"Look here, William the Kid, or what
ever your name may be on the present
OCCASION" said |, this watch does not
belong to me. l am only taking it up
to town for a friend. 1t won't run, so
wait until it is repaired
| looked around to see if the audience
were applauding nay presence of mind
and determination to be facetious. No
one smiled, but an old man who was 50
fat that he filled one seat and bulged
over on another, groaned and said:
wonder why some fellow don't shoot
that fool"
Not your watch, eh?'' said the leader,
Juggling at the chain.
mo, sir; belongs to Colonel Met. L.
Jones, of Pine Bluff"
That so? Why, am glad to know
it. Colonel Jones is friend of mine
and am sure he made mistake in
letting you take it. There now, it's all
right.
Look hear, boss said an old negro
who was being searched, "mebbe yer
doan know it am ergin de law ter ack
like yerse'f is er dom. Use dun had
all my property made ober in de name
o my wife, an yer amt got no right
ter take er lady's property dis er way.
| doan mine seem er man posed on,
but when er persun poses on er lady,
wy den I-yas, sab, vas, as a pistol
barrel came up under his nose; take
de lady's property, sab. Gotno bus ness
wild hit nohow."
When the robbers allowed the tram to
proceed, everybody got mad, and after
we were under way, one man drew a
pistol and swore that no rooster in
America could rob him, and then
remembering that he had lost his watch,
added again"
1t makes no difference how cool and
frosty mans temperament may be, it
is quite difficult for him to keep from
feeling anxious and uncomfortable when
burly fellow levels pistol and says:
Throw up your hands. "-Opie p Read,
in N. Y. MercurY.