The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-06-12

of admiration were heard. The major audbly
compared her to "a butterfly and a whip-poor-
will, by gad!" The colonel swore that "she
took him, blamed if She didn't" while the
judge repeated his former opinion, and declared
that she was a regular Cle-op .e-try from the
word CO." The professor was silent, but l
have reason for believing that he Endorsed all
the others.
"What I admire in lovely wimmin," said
the colonel as we sat there quietly smoking,
lis the er-the ability she possesses to adapt
herself to circumstances, as illustrated in the
above. We are all friends herein course-so
we can be comfortable, but I'm safe in sayin'
shall be glad to git to Leadville. That little
matter OF $f 1000 got sewed into my-judge,
sure the lady can't understand English-my-
in fact, gentlemen, my Shirt" said the colonel
frankly, again indicating the exact location of
the treasure, " is tax on my mind, an want
to git it off,"
Outside, the snow had ceased falling, and
the dusk OF winters evening was slowly deep
enng into darkness. High up on the slope that
rose on our right stood solitary pnetree, that
had pushed its way through the rocks, and
now stood lonesome and sad, by night and day
keeping melancholy watch on the valley
The sun, long since hidden to us below, shot a
ray as goodnight message, and for an instant
the tree was ablaze; then the light died
| quickly out and we were in semi-darkness
again. The road wound its way around the
face of high cliff; en- one side lowered a wall
OF rocks sheer 800 feet; on the other sunk an
unsoundabe chasm. Tommy sat on the box,
his two lamps lit, and his tongue playing g
rapid accompaniment to his whip. Inside, the
small reflector at the end of the coach only
served to make the night without seem
darker than it was. Silently we sat there
smoking, the ends of our cigars alternately
glowing and dimming in the dingy air. An
unusual voley OF oaths from the box, q crack
ing of whips, shouting, and then the stop
ping of the coach with lurch startled us out
OF our quiet. Then shout from Tom as he
spoke TO his cattle, and voice ringing like
bugle was heard from the rocks above:
"Comel none o that! Make straight
haul for it, d-n you'll Throw off that box
Lively now Put up your hands an git DOWN.
Every one of you, git DOWN.
Sorrowfully we obeyed. The description the
professor had given, few hours before, of our
| probable sensations was exactly true. A pair
of six shooters, held in the hands of stalwart
man, whose face was partly concealed by o
| black mask, hastened our descent, and in O
moment we found ourselves ranged in line,
with our hands above our heads, a meek,
unhappy, cowed group. At one end of the line
stood Tommy, swearing savagely at his
luck; at the other stood the colonel
cool, impassive, dignified, confident in the
security of his treasure. The last to descend
was the widow, but widow no longer, for out
of the coach there sprang an active young fell
low, of slender but sinewy build, smooth
shaven, dressed in the conventional garb of q
western rider, and carrying in his hand a
nickle-plated six-shooter. And this was Mrs.
Smith--who did not speak English Any one
standing near tho judge at that time might
have heard an exclamation, both forcible and
profane. The widow" heard it, for with a
little laugh he (or she) touched his finger to
| his lips. and said:
flush, judge that's cussin', an you draw
| the line there, you know"
And then he proceeded to search the pock-
| cts OF his fellow-traveers, as if it were very
| commonplace affair, which it certainly was
not, and relieve them of their valuabes, his
associate Keeping guard meantime. Down
| the line he went, doing his work quickly but
carefully, but before he was done the other be-
| gan to grow impatient.
Hurry up, jim" he said, "ain't you most
through? We're late"
CAN done but this one,' said JIM the quon-
dam widow, as he halted before the colonel.
Hes got four thousand dollars sewed plum
to his shirt. | reckon III have to rip the old
coon open to get it," Saying which, he drew
his knife and, with quick movement as if to
disembowel tho colonel, slipped tho point
through his clothing, and with wrench pull
ed out the package
"Sorry to trouble you, gents,' said tho larger
man, bowling politely. "but won't detain you
| Leadville. L hope this old gen'leman," point
] ing to the rent in the colonelis dress, "won't
I take cold. He must be careful-good men are
| scarce" The colonel snorted. You will
| kindly stand just where you are till give the
word. There is few friends of mine a-lookin'
at us from them rocks, and 1 really wouldn't
move very much il 1 was you'll really
wouldn't, fur their guns is all hair-triggers an
dreadful liable to 60 off You won't move,
now, will your"
We would notl Wild horses could not have
| dragged us from that spot, for up in tho rocks
| we fanced we could see two shining barrels,
| aimed truly at US, and we were really ANXIOUS
| to remain quiet. Before we know it we were
alone; our new acquaintance had vanished in
| the DUSK and an instant later We heard the
| same voice, ringing ont above us:
| "Git into the coach now and gitl'
| And we got
But we were no longer tho cheerful party we
| had been. Outside we could hear Tommy
swearing ali sorts Of new and exuberant oaths,
| at himself, the company, tho mules, the coach,
| and the road agents. Inside not q word was
| spoken until the judge, STOPPING down, lifted
| into view the bInck skirt that the former
widow had worn. A sad smile stole over his
face and he whispered, mounfully;
| "Boys, it's just sheoll"