The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-28
RIDING NlTHE ROCKIES.
TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS IN HER
POCKET.
Passed With a Wild Rush-Ranch
Thieves Foiled by Silence and
Prayer--Notes OF a Lady's Adventur-
Gus Journey.

travelling in the West, and stopped at
bright little town in Wyoming Territory,
undecided in what direction to go next.
! wanted very much to explore the
northern part Of Wyoming, including the
Black Hills, and close the trip with visit
TO National Park at the end OF August.
But my father had lent his ear to Won
derful stories concerning a new mining
camp in Colorado, where discoveries oil
fabulous richness were affirmed to have
been made.
My fathers arguments prevailed. lie
went on first with his friend Henderson
and the teamsters, who were taking down
the summers merchandise for the stores,
and after few weeks he sent Tor me. 1t
was not deemed quite safe for woman to
travel alone through that region, SO my
father engaged to put me under the escort
Of his friend Henderson when he should
make his next trip.
1t was about the middle Of May, when
the gentleman came to the hotel and told
me to be ready for the O'Clock stage the
next morning. Promptly at the time ap-
pointed was on the piazza waiting.
Presently the stage, with rearing, pranc.
ing horses, dashed rounl the corner and
drew up at the steps. There were three
men going to Camp III Dorado-my desti-
nation-and man and woman TO Cum
mings Station, our first stop.
The stage took the road directly across
the plain, heading for the mountain range
l.ail ,rt.al Ia a.t.tlnrf, hnNnHaru M a hu1
ridden aboutau hour over the hard gravelly
roadbed, when the stage suddenly halted
in front OF ranch house. The male
passengers got out, and the driver down
from his stagcoox 10 listen TO what the
ranch man was saying Their voices were
too low for us TO catch the drift oil their
talk, but when the passengers came back
there was a look OF anxiety upon their
faces that startled inc. Perhaps this mode
OF travel over lonely mountain roads was
not safe after all, and visions OF stage rob.
beers and Indians and grizzly bears began
10 brighten me little.
"llaye you got rs good grit as your
father, Miss" asked Henderson, rs he
leaned across TO me.
81 think So" replied. "What is the
natter"
"Well. there's been couple OF stage
robbers laying In jail over at Newton for
the last two months, but SHELTON back there
says they broke iail yesterday and are up
in the Black Forest lie says that one OF
Schermerhorns cowboys was over here al
o'clock this morning and said he'd seen
a smoke from the foot Of lloor's Hill, and
caught sight OF them just below the thick.
est part OF the forest, which Is their favor
ito place for holding up drivers. II that's
so it looks rs II we are in for fight this
afternoon ..II
"Can'l the stage go some other way?"
asked.
There's neyor been but one road cul
through Black Forest Tho trees are 10
thick YOU can't see the sun. Wo'd have
to 20 forty miles straight north 10 "
round the mountain, aud there's no stage
road there" Id.
"why don't YOU lay up at Cumming.
and catch the men,
"Neyor catch those fellows In Black
Forest. They know every inch OF ground,
aud could shoot whole regiment beior,
you could get at them"
LADEN WIN RESPONSIBILITY.
"What will they do kill us?'' | asked
"Well, | guesl not that bad. What they
want Is the money. You see, we've got /
good deal with us today. Between US her,
we're taking down about 5000 into th,
camp. and Il will 60 hard II We lose II
Would you mind Keeping Il for rs? 1hcl
are lcss likely TO touch you than us
1hompson's got Il here In bag Ia gold.
| thought moment MY father la,
written me TO bring him 500, aud | ha,
500 OF my own. This WIS In bills and
had carefully aecrcted II In my clothing
liut this bag Of god was much moro difli
cult 20 conceal.
GLOW largo Is the hag2" I asked
Thompson drew IL ont Of his pocket
could hold IL easily Ia my palm, but
was 10 heavy nearly dropped Il.
"Wcll, | will try 10 hide Il for YOU"
said. put II In my travelling bag. an
when wo stopped for dinner ! went 10
room In the hotel aud transferred the pre-
cious BAG 10 pocket In the lining OF IN
dress. which / rccollccicd my iar-sightc
grandmother had put there.
II was about o'clock In the aiiornoo
when, after q steady climb OF some mile
up the steep ridge of the mountains thg
divided the park horizontally, We cntcrc
BLACK FOREST. II was stretch OF twcnt,
I've miles through this wilderness, for "
ran due west along the ridge OF the mount
ain range iill we came opposite the cent,
OF the southern portion OF the park, whc
/ the road descended aud wound about q
fifty miles through the undulnting plat
itself broken by mountains aud bills
lesser sizes In every direction.
confess II WIS not without some Tea
that saw the STACY plunge into this wi
dcfucss. To add 10 our discontinue
heavy rain began 10 fall, and we had n,
proceeded hali.hours journey before
became 10 dark that We could not see nc
fec, ahead OF us
nEyoLvEns COOKED.
The driver leaned back In his scat, wit
ewes aud cans alert. aud let the rcins n
loose, for the horses knew their way bcli,
than lac could guide them In that darl
ness
We vent on In almost unbrokcn silcn,
for over an hour, aud then noticed thl
the men had Their rcvolyoa out. Her
Jcrson sat nj one window aud Thompso
Al the other. As We came to the foot ,
uurr's hin they raised tie weapons 10 III
window ALL anl rested them upon ID. wit
their barrels pointing into the heavy darl
ness without.
Anolhel hour passed YEARLY by. W
had reached the summit Of the hill an
wurc well along H. ridge. Indeed, III
men had begun 10 breathe morn frccl,
, ior We were scarcely a mile from the On
clearing. when there WIS a sudden noiH
! something that sounded like a shout aud
, loud cracking In the bushes
The coach gave tremendous lnnr
and the horses tofc like mad through All
wooiA On, on they iicw as u possessed