Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-11-08
ATTACKED BY BRIGANDS.
Saved Ey a Quick-Witted Wo-
mans Prompt Action.

Robert Matlocl1 had been mining for
four years, and. though not invariably
successful. he gathered through en-
ergy and industry, what he considered
I would be ample TO keep him COM
Portable in his home, near Portsmouth,
I Ohio.
He had been in Carson City three
weeks making preparations Tor his de-
parture, and waiting for the coming OF
an agent that had been promised at that
point by the express company.
Weary OF waiting, he decided to start.
and carry through with him, in bulk, all
4 the money he could not change into con-
4 vertiblc paper.
! The day before his departure Mr.
! Waddell, % miner on largo scale, and
gentleman who bad shown Robert
Matlock many attentions during his
/ stay in Carson. came TO him and asked
If he could place his daughter under
his charge rs far rs Sacramento,
whittier she was going to pay visit to
/ her aunt
! lie had met Ida Waddell once before,
and, as she was decidedly pretty, with
good conversational powers, and that
distinctive mark of the well-bred lady,
great self-posession, the duty assigned
him was not nearly so disagreeable as
it might be in oscorting less favored
person.
The stage couch. wish lis six horses
ana piles Of trunks aad packago., was
standing bc'orc the Ollie door, waiting
for the pas n yee3 to 81 in. whom Mr.
Wa'ldell drew Robert Matlock to one
side. and, calling hi attention to
dark featured. over dressed man If
thirty, who vas about to enter the
stage, asked:
do you know that lran?'
Robert glanced ut the rerson referred
to, and replied very frankly:
Il do not; ana unless he is friend OF
yours | have no desire to form his ac-
quaintanc'."
81 see you can read faces, Mr.. Mat
lock. But let me say that man is known
as Pete Norman. He is frequent Wis
itor to Carson, and is looked upon as a
gambler without principle and des-
perado without courage. You must
watch him.
II am glad you have confirmed my
suspicions. propose to let Mr.. Pete
Norman alone, and am equally dc.
termined that he shall III no way inter-
fere with me"
The stage-driver, a perfect autocrat
in his way. shouted IAN aboard!'
| Gocd-byes were said and the stage
rolled away. not to halt again. night or
day, save to change horses, till naviga-
ton was reached at Sacramento.
Besides Robert Matlock and Ida Wad
dell, there were four other passengers
Pete Norman; Chinaman with
skull cap. blue froc'; and worry large
queue, and tro stuldy-looking. brown
faced men, who looked Ii e r.iners Of
the better class.
The stage continued its journey with
out interruption until sunset the con
versation between the passengers had
ceased aud all dozcd the dozc peculiar
to stage-coaches in a mountain coun.
try.
Get up, thar!n Whom stop
or wen shoot!
Bang! bang! bang!
These cries and voices. coupled with
the sudden stopping OF the coach, woke
the passengers. who set rubbing their
eyes, under the firm conviction that
something unusual had happened.
Robert Matlock, who sat on the mid.
die scat, near the window. having re
signed the back seat to Miss Waddell
that she might the better rest. looked
out, and at glance saw three things
first, that it was near sunrise; second,
that they had stopped in a narrow
mountain valley; and third. that num-
Der of armed men were standing in front
OF the horses.
1--WE must fight for it, my friends"
said Robert Matlock. opening the door,
ds if to spring out.
Don't leave that stage, or you are
dead man. shouted one of the rob-
| bers.
Robert would not have needed .his,
but Ida Waddcll laid hor hand on his
arm and begged him to remain.
In the meantime the robbers held
consultation outside, and one of them
said aloud:
IF you fellows come out one at
time and surrender your weapons we
won't do yl,u nc hurt. We We three to
ore, and if you resist Te'u kill the last
one of you"
.hJe no wanteo fight, all samee's
Mclean man. said the trembling
Chinee.
What do you say, friends shall we
resist or not?n asked Robert Matlock.
The miners thought resistance would
De useless under the circumstances.
And so they went out, one at time.
and gave up their pistols.
The gang was rs large as they said.
and as soon rs the passengers were dis
armed they were all bound except Miss
Wad isil, and thrown inside the coach.
While outside they saw that the
driver lad been shot and that Pete
Norman was kept away from them.
The stage with new driver, and
surrounded by Il mounted escort, again
moved off. and after an hour during
which it Travelled off of the road, it
stopped before a high rock, beneath
which there was a dark opening.
Tho passengers were taken out and
carried into the cave, Ida Waddell be-
ing kept away from her friends.
Among the freight was keg Of
brandy, and knocking out the bung, the
road agents filed lin cups and drank TO
their own success, after which they
went outside to hold consultation re-
gardng the disposal of the prisoners.
While they were thus engaged, Ida saw
package bearing the word "lauda-
mum, which belonged TO the medical
stores of a military post lately dis
banded.
The robbers We're outside and she
was free. In moment. With a wo-
mans quick instinct. She Jaw her chance.
Springing forward she opened the quart
bottle of laudanum ard poured it into
the open bungholc.
She had no more than recaincd her
pace when the outlaws came in. Pete
Norman smiled like n friend and brother