New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-10
WESTERN STORIES.
ROBBERS ROAD.


corresponds closely with the Middle Age period in
the history Of the world, there was a stage route
of some extent crossing ga inland county, Mnlc5
had gained for itself the title or the Robbers
Road Like many another good old name ana
landmark its appalling title has passed through
degeneratve presses, and now 1ts Origin hV VSS
only in the memory Of a few white-halred old
pioneers. the remnants of the brave and doughty
settlers, who cleave with the tenacly Oh despair
20 the tales Of yore
Important business complications necessitated
INV undertaking. q journey through this portion OF
the State where the depredatlons OF mghwaymen
rebed the sudden swo0R 9t ieud and ScTe on
heas v nurse changed hands with the CELEBRITY with
which the handkerchief OF puzzled spectator
passes from his own pocket INTO that Oh uhe per-
forming prestdigitator.
Though far from a coward, and Injured to dam
gar as was any one who had MADE the perlIous
trim over mountain. plain and desert from EasI
70 West. / confess that it was with anything but
pieaslrable antioipations that took my seat IN
The vehicle that carried the occasional mali
I win digress here to say that my generai
hahits are abstemious while as to tobacco in par
ficnlar-with the sole exception OF the eircum-
srauoe soon to be relatedit has never IN any Iorn
passed my lips; but have found 1t by no means
subyersiye Of success with nan to have Always
on hand a small supply of the article which con-
etitutes the nectar aud ambrosia OF so many ana
on this occasion, on many others before anu
since had with me poGke5ease. ., , Tlgss
believe, navy plug an article useu
for unsatisfactory purposes, and recommended Dy lIS
strength to the strongest 2a 1as, ane Soce
Is sufficiently important to the sequence OF the
narrative to warrant my PARTICULARLY IN asserting
its exact location.
L had the felicity Of an introduction previous TO
our departure though the close proximity oeca-
stoned by the roughness OF the road woulo nave
made that an entirely unnecessary Iorma many
Truth compels me TO state that she was neither
young, pretty, otherwise interesting talas los
tho lovers Of romance) and as know that the goou
lady is now where no enc9mums OF tneIr reverse ,l
could possibly affect her, say this the more I'M
restrainedly.
To beguile the tedium Of our journey, and for
want Of better subject of conversation, l u ne
voted my energies TO blood-curditng tales OF
bandits and highway outrages, partly true. nns
largely evolved from fertile Inauguration, ana
told of Three-fngered Jack and Bottle-nosed
Biilys of their cruelty and cunning, and sl1fully
tnteriarded my stories with dark lnnuendoes ana
insinuations Of our own peril toid now . re,
volvers had been used as effective ooerclye agents
In variety of instances and always as sufficiently
good considerations in the transfer OF properly
how their horses outstripped the wind, and per
United them to take part In the stoppage of mail;
coaches miles apart; how their suspicion ana greeq
prompted useless outrages in word s9G S ei
forebodings that worked her up TO pltcn Oh
terror that knew no bounds, and from tnenee on
pyery shadow concealed for her some frlghtlul
shape whose sole aim and object. she was firmly
convinced, was her destruction, and THESE ieats'
try as would, vas now unable 10 ANY "a an
nature of the road would allow, and we were soon
plunged in entire darkness.
The only really valuable thing on nv, CO.
yovaoer's person was q ring OF brjluants OF re.
msrkable Iustre and purity, which would in itself
. have proved mean prize TO SO parIISular q
connoisseur in precious stones as Rea Mike "a uo ,
fhis was the enphonious appellaton assumed by
the chief unlicensed tax-colector OF those parts
was known to be-more particularly as u was
ievTejier depended largely on this source for his
supply of cut but unset jewels.
This ring Mrs. R wore beneath her
s0oen g %%TSs, s SnS ro SsSa the thing
assumed in her eyes the shape Of something that
would goad men on 10 the commission OF atrocl-
ties more dreadful even than those had pictured;
Where In conceal the treasure she knew not first
she tried her boot, but she called TO mnd my
story Of the party who mac Dee1 insecure up
niace'. her pocket was equally unsatisfactory,
fhoneh I firmly believe that to the average man
the mystery Of the exact aGG1t rsve 81 A. last
imnelled thereto by the failure OF all other means
~ concealment. she begged that l would ma
method Of preserving IT, a aOS the fear Of
losing it as lest tempted thereby our mome d;
expected yisitants might prosecute 700 dtlgen'
revsnee Themselves on us for their disappointment:
I verify believe that the idea oil tossng nd ou'
Of the stage window passed through hcr minu
She had but Just passed the ring TO my ha ma !.
and 4 had inyoluntarily put my fingers with u
into nv right lower waiStcoat pocket, Whea wy
luminous Haltls and that unmistaRable steeiy
7 x,nnosa Il must have been the fact OF my
Anaers coming in contact with the TOBACCO In
nv pocket that begat within me tne pn,er
TO convey to my mouth tne tug an rge enough 10
satisfy the most quid-loving OF sailors lms
Instantly began to masticate after the sppIoveS1
fashion of backwoods lnsuce n aSuta sttacr 81
the humps od
Roth doors of our conveyance were opened
simultaneously and the lazy da ana WE were
required to descend. But very lew WORDS pHieseu
S,ur assailants were four in number
not bad-looking fellows on one 90. "n cSos
and while one Kept so ms Is, css naf another ran
sacked nv pockets and relieved me OF the Icy
yaluables I carried. The same process WouI !
have been gone through Sag bs w' rockets been find
able As il was, she yielded up her pockes
earrings and PERSONAL baggage, With the oociil.
petrnshio. Ali the while was expeetoratin
with the vehemence of an engine vomiting IorI
smoke, but such habit was 700 common O;lr,r
and tobacco had with the rest Of my Delonging
sireaiv found their way into the possession 0
our wartantless searchers
p.-.e;v;ng that such documents as / carries
vsre wholly yalpeless to them, and satisfying
fhemseiyes that carried no negotiable paper
ti,ey handed me back o cigar with an earnes
irony ~ fateD. and with tho most courteous o
anolooiex 10 the lady Tor the INCONVENIENCE the
had been obliged 70 iniict mounted ana gallope
Of. leaving Us not much poorer than they foun'
US
ON regsining the stage, the feelings that ha
hogsru 10 creep over me during the search mail
rrevailsd and oyerpowered me, and carefully con
veying from nay mouth TO my pockeo me hith
mas That concealed q jewel more precious tina
sLaS supposed to be encased In the head OF IA
ssbie6 Toad. leaned my head far out OF tn
window 81 the vehicle, NOW again on lie journey
and regardless Of everything. gave Tree vent 7
" ksad seemed to be the crater Of volcano
and nv stomach wss the horrid interior whie
see4hcd and ragged with fury indescrlDaDle.
The rest Of our way was pursued I