Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-03-01

quired Mrs, Dillyhock.
al think he is Wells-F argo's express
messenger" said the gentleman with
s~pectacles. II noticed that he looked
carefully after a box he took up with
him."
The poor woman groaned, but made
no other rejoinder.
Now the stage jolted on again
slowly, and presently came to q halt
once more. They were now just be
meath a huge, towering cliff, while on
the other side was O fearful ravine. A
little 10 one side of the cliff the noun
tain receded less abruptly, and here
grew a few stunted trees and bushes.
A kind Of sheep path here appeared,
and il seemed TO have been by this
that the new corners had descended.
Enrique thrust out his head once
more. Far away 70 the south and
east he could see where the road re-
peated itself, In q white, indistinct
line. just below this il appeared
more plainly again. He had heard
his father say that near Pescadero
there was a place where the road
wound about In such O manner that
three distinct sections OF il could be
seen at once, one above the other.
He knew that this must be the place.
They were then upon the upper Of
these shelves or terraces. He was en-
abled to see the two sections, because
the road there curved.
All this took but a glance, and he
noted il scarcely realizing that he did
30. Then he leaned out still further,
and looked eagerly for the four lei
There they came, guns in their
hands, and dressed in rough, coarse
clothes. But what interested him
most was the fact that they were not
masked, as road agents were said to be,
and that they carried their weapons in
q peaceful manner.
''Only q party OF hunters" he
thought, with q glad jump Of the
heart. Then his eye happened to rest
on the uppermost distant curve of
the road. Something was flashing in
| the afternoon sun and creatures like
horses were seen 10 be in motion.
"a party Of men with guns" he
said to himself, land they are riding
dreadfully fast. What a they be
afterT"
He sank back in his seat too much
excited to speak, or scarcely to think.
Just hen" well, Buckskin Tom,
how's the old bodyi ! used to know
you, but guess you've forgotten me.
Ny names Chandler, from Deer
Licka"
Don't know you, Mr.. Chandler"
they heard the driver say.
mo; thought you didn't. Well, me
and the kit OF US here have been hunt
in, and we're pretty tired. Reckon
you a give US q lift to Pescaderny."
They heard q low murmur from the
box at this, and il was apparent that
the driver and tho express messenger
were talking. Once or twice they also
thought they heard the tones Of the
stout passenger.
"Can'taccommodate you" spoke up
the driver, at last. IT'S only a mile
to Kennett's ranch. Keep the road
we're going q mile, and take the first
turn to the left. Only half q mile
from there, and Kenneth will keep you
I'LL you are rested"
Once more Enrique ventured to peep
from the window. He witnessed q
sight that gave him a thrill of astonish-
ment and terror. One Of the four
men was standing near the window,
and Enrique saw that one Of his long
whiskers was hanging loose from his
face. II was evident that the man
wore a false beard.
A glance at the other three strangers
showed that they also wore an unusual
amount OF hair shout their faces. II
was evident that they, too, were dis
guised.
Scarcely had Enrique made this
startling discovery, when their fel.
low passenger with the spectacles drew
of his gloves, and made as though 70
leave the coach. The boy, CHANGING
at him in surprise, saw that he was
fumbling with some object In an inner
pocket, and the next moment he pro
duoed o small revolver. His mouth
had q fierce, set look now, and his eyes
seemed TO shine through his spectacles
in O way that terrified the lad. While
Enrique yet stared at him be deliber-
ately cooked the revolver, deity
opened the coach door, and swung
himself out upon the step.
The next moment he pointed his re-
volver up at the messenger. Before a
word could be said, a motion made, a
pistol shot rang out from the box, and
the man with the detached beard
dropped instantly from sight.
"ie on your whiskers better, next
time, Tiger Rodi" thundred the voice
OF the express messenger. "Tm on
to your game. Give 'em the lash,
driveri"
As he spoke the crack Of the heavy
stage whip sounded, and the coach
made a great bound forward.
Meantime, how had II Jared with the
man with the ~spectaclesi
We have seen that he had raised his
pistol, and seemed in the very act OF
FIRING it. II was at this precise mo-
ment that the messenger himself had
fired, and in doing 80 had changed his
position. On firing he had leaned far
over toward the driver, 30 as TO avoid
q return shot and by 30 doing had
taken himself out Of the would-be as
sassin's range. And now the stage
was flying forward at q terrible pace,
and the man had much ado to keep
his footing. He managed il after a
few seconds, and then flattened himself
Is much as possible against the coach.