Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1889-05-01
ROBBERS ROAD.


period in the history OF the world, there
was stage route of some extent crossing
nm inland county, which had gained for
itself the title of the "Dpbhers' Road
Like many another good old nnric and
landmark. its appalling title has PASSED
through degcnerativc process, and now
its origin lives only in the memory Of n
few white haired old pioneers. the rem.
nants of the brave and doughty settlers.
who cleave with the tcnacity OF despair
To tho tales of yorc.
Important business complications ne
ccssitated my undertaking Journey
through this portion OF the state. where
the depredntions OF lighwaymen rt.scin-
bled the sudden sweep q: fcsi,ial barons
on itinerant liucksiers and pilgrims. and
where heavy purse charged hands with
the celebrity with which tho handkerchief
of puzzled spectator passes from his
own pocket into that OF the performing
prestiGigitator.
Though far from coward and Injured
10 danger, rs was any one who iiad made
the perilous trip over mountain, plain
and desert FROM east II west. | confess
that ii was with anything, bat Measurable
anticipat;ons that tool; my scat III the
vehicle that carried the occasional mail.
will dii-rcss here 10 Ray thar my Ten.
eral habits are absteni0us. while as 10 TO
bacco in particular-wi the, sole excep-
ton of tho circumstance soon to be re-
lnted-it has never in my form passed
my lips; but have found it by no means
subversive of SUCCESS with men to have
always on hand small supply OF the ar
ticle which constitutes the nectar and
ff ~ ~. Il -,
sion, rs On many others before and si:ico
had with me pocket case of cizars
and n large pieces OF wha. l.. called by the
initiated, believe. navy plug" an ar
ticlc used for nasticatory iurposcs. and
recommended by its strength to the
strongest palates. The position OF the
latter in my right hand lower waistcoat
pocket is sufficiently important 10 the Sc
qusnce of the narrative to warrant NV
PARTICULARLY III asserting ita exact loca- |
ton.
My only fellow traveller n-as lady. to
whom | had the felicity of an introdac- |
ton previous to our departure. though |
the close proximity occasioncd hy the 1
rougliness Of the road would have iaade |
that an entirely unnecessary formaIitv. |
Truth corpsis me 20 state that she WAS I
A-N-N'ist sCHa5- uDt OtDtTWlSG IN |
tere3tinS (alas for the lovers OF ronaance)
and as know that the good lady is row |
where no encomiums or their rc~cIse
could possibly affect her. say thia the /
more unrestraincdly.
To beg'iile the teGium OF CTR Journey. /
and for want Of 1. better subject of con !
versation. devoted MY energies to Llood !
cur6lling tales of bandits und highway !
outrases. partly true, but largely evolved /
from u fertile imagination, and toId OF |
Three Fingered Jack" and Bottle |
Nosed Billy" of their cruelty and Gun
ming. and skilIfuliy interlartle,l ny stories
with dark innucndocs and destinations
Of our own peril.
told how rcvolvers had been used &c
effective coercive agents in variety Of
instances, and always as sufficiently
good considerations" In the transfer OF
property; how their horses outstrinDed
the wind. and permitted them TO take
part IN the stoppage OF mail coaches miles
apart; how their suspicion and greed
prompted useless outrsscs: IN q word,
succeeded in filling the wrctched woman
with the direst OF forebodings. that
worked her up 10 n pitch OF terror that
knew no bounds. and from thence on
every shcdow concealed for her some
frightful shape, whose sole aim and OBJ.
jcct. she was firmly convinced, was her
destruction, and these fears, try cs
would. was now unable to allay. Mean.
while orr conch sped onward 40 rapidly
as the nature Of the read would allow.
and VIC were soon plunged in entire
darkness.
The only really valuable :i,,:.g on nv
covoyascr's person was ring Of Lrij-
liants of remarkable lustor and purity.
which would il itself have proved no
mean prize to 50 particular n connois1o,,r
IN precious stones as Red Nike tfor this
was the ouphonious appollasion assumed
by the chief unlicensed tax collector a.
those parts) was known 70 be-faoro
particularly as it was darkly hintcd that
q well known San Francisco ic.yclcr do
pended largely on this source for his e,ir-
ply u cut bat unset jewels
This ring Mrs. r. wore beneath her
wooden gloves. but. affected by my talcs
of murder and robbery. the thing nc
sumed in her eyes the shape Of come
thing that would goad men on Ia the
commission Of atrocities nioro dreadful
even than those ! bad pictured.
Where 70 conceal the treasure she
knew not; first she tiled her boot. but che
called TO mind my story Of tire party who
had been hung by the heels. and 50 con
Entered that 100 insecure q hiding place.
her pocket was equally uneathl.ctory.
though believe that 70 tiso average
man Che mystery Of tho exact location ~
q woman's pocket Is one no asses VII re-.
veal At last, impclled thereto Nv Ono
failure q ail other means of conceal
incnt, che begged that ] would find some
method Of preserving IL, not 90 much on
account Of It's intrinsic value and the fear
81 losing IL, as lest tempted thereby Our
moinentarily expected visitants might
prosecute too diiigent oearch Tor further
plundor. aud finding nothing. revcnge
themselves on us Tor their disappofnt.
ment verify believe that the idea ~
tossing II out - the stage window pasg,od
through her mind
She had but just passed the ring 10 NV
hand. aud l bad invoiuutgrily Dat nv
fingers with it into my right lower whist.
cont pocket. when the ominous "Haltf~
and that unmistakable sfoely click
Click u weapons sounded 90 our ezra
suppose 10 must have loon tho fact
OF 'ny fingers coming in contact with the
D.