The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-06-02
HOW THE BANDIT ACTED
san Francisco Examiner.

woman has more curiosity than a man, or cice cersd. However that may be, the writer of this has always felt great curiosity as to just how 1t would seem to be 'stood up" by highway men in the course of her travels. Duty and inclination calling her many times over the stage lines running into Lake county from Calistoga and Cloverdale, she has heretofore felt somewhat injured and slighted that certain gentlemen uf the road have al- ways managed to arrange their little interviews with the stages either just before or just after she has passed along. Every other courtesy had been rendered most generously by the hospitable people within the borders of this romantic and charming region. Now, why did the road agents use her so slightingly? This question has troubled her very much. It doesn't bother her any more. Her curiosity has been satisfied to her hearts con- tent. Why? Because she has been there, knows just how it is done and can now die happy.
 The stage from Cloverdale to Lake, port swung around the corners of the former village and took the road over the mountains. the other day, bearing three passengers besides the driver. The seat beside the driver was occu- ped by lady with a hand -bag-in fact, between you and me-your fair correspondent. The other seat on the upper deck was kept in place by Santa Rosa gentleman, and one pass enger was inside the coach. The air was nectar to our souls as it came laden with all the odors of the noun tain woods and blossoms. The sun was as warm and ardent as one of Joaquin Miller's heroines, and, in fact, every thing was bowling along after the most approved fashion. The "only lady passenger" was reeling of mentally a lot of verses suitable to the occasion and half listening to the driver and the other outside passenger who were swapping lizard stories. The driver was in the midst of graphic account of section of Ari- zona, where the heat was 80 intense that the lizards were compelled to shed their caudal appendages to keep cool The poem protoplasm had reached the formation stage as far as the line, "The glory of an emerald earth, o'erhung by sapphire skies." The drivers lizards had every mothers son of them, dropped his tail, the outside passenger was getting green with envy that the lizard story dis counted his, when the coach swung around little turn, about three miles from Cloverdale, and passed between two great rocks called, from their position, the "Devils Gateway" The name seemed to us very appropriate on this occasion, for just in the gateway we encountered, OF either side of our wheelers, two gentlemen in black masks bearing whole arsenal in their hands and about their persons.
 "Halt '" commanded the leader.
 "We're in for it." remarked our driver.
 However, we halted. It seemed a good place to do SO. The horses were, perhaps, tired, and would be better for little rest. At any rate we halted. It would, perhaps, make one feel like doing 30 to suddenly find his gaze turned down the barrels of three loaded and cooked guns, one of them being rife, said barrels held in range of his head. It gives you a queer little feeling, to be sure, and, although 1t was my first appearance on any stage in that role, tried not to be awk- ward.
 "Dump out the box," commanded the leader.
 "All right" replied the driver, who realized that the horses might get over the road better if they did not have the express box to carry.
 In getting out the box he threw . heavy mail- bag on an upper-deck seat occupied by carefully tended pack age containing . extra hat, freshly trimmed with bunch of buttercups, belonging, of course, to the lady pas senger.
 "Oh," cried the owner, utterly ob- livious of circumstances, "whatever you do, don't mash my flower"
 You may threaten . woman's life with guns and pistols, you may bring her face to face with all sorts of trials l and suffering and danger, and she will l meet them with heroism and courage; 1 but just interfere with her millinery | if you wish to upset her self-control and wiring her soul with anguish.
 "Now hold up your hands, " ordered the captain. All hands went up, and | we assumed the attitude of the minis | ter at the closing of his sermon when he says, "Now let us pray"
 "Tom, come around on this side, commanded the leader to his com- rade.
 Tom, in endeAvoring to obey orders | and at the same time keen hia cocked l