The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-02-01

MS .ralner say tnAs near fesondsro
there was q place whore the poad
wound about In such q manner that
three distinct sections Of It could b |
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 tesracea BE Was en- j
abled to zee thetwo sections because
| tho road there curved.
ALI this took but a'giance, and he
noted Il scarcely realizing that he did 1
So. Then he leaned out still further,
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
a peaceful manner.
only q party Of hunters" he
thought, Nth q glad jump Of the
heart. Then his eye happened to rest
on the uppermost distant curve Of
the road. Something was flashing in
| tho afternoon sun and creatures like
horses were seen to be in motion.
"A party Of mon with guns" he
said to himself, land they are riding
dreadfully fast What can they be
after3"
BE sank back in his seat too much
excited to speak, or scarcely to think.
Just them "Well, Buckskin. Tom,
how's the old .bodyi I used to know
| you, but guess you've forgotten me-
My, names Chandler, from Beer
Don't know you, Mr.. Chandler
they heard the driver say.
No; thought you didn't Well, me
and the kit OF us hero have been hunt
in, and we're pretty tired. Reckon
you can give us a lift to Pescaderny."
They heard low murmur from the
box at this, and it was apparent that
the driver and the express messenger
were talking. Once or twice they also
thought they heard the tones Of the
stout passenger.
Cant accommodate you," spoke up
the driver, at last. "It's only O mile
to Kennett's ranch. Keep the road
were going a mile, and take the first
turn to the left Only half mile
from there, and Kennett will keep you
till you are rested"
| Once moro Enrique ventured to peep
from the window. He witnessed O
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. It was evident that the man
wore false beard.
A glance at the other three strangers
showed that they also wore an unusual
amount of hair about their faces. It
was evident that they, too, were dis
guised.
Scarcely had Enrique made this
startling discovery, when their fell
low passenger with the spectaclea drew
off his gloves, and made as though to
leave the coach. The boy, glancing
at him in surprise, saw that he was
fumbling with some object in an inner
pocket, and the next moment he pro-
duced small revolver. His mouth
had fierce, set look now, and his eyes
seemed to shine through his spectacles
in q way that terrified the lad. While
Enrique yet stared at him he dehber-
ately cooked the revolver, deity
opened the coach door, and swung
himself out upon tho step.
The mex. moment he pointed his re-
| word could be said, motion made, q
Il
the man with the detached beard
dropped instantly from sight.
''fe On your whiskers better, next
time, Tiger Rodp thundred the voice
Of the express messenger. I'm on
to your game. Give om the lash,
driveri''
AS he spoke the crack of the heavy
stage whip sounded, and the coach
made q great bound forward.
Meantime, how had i Jared with the
man with the spectaclesf
We have seen that he had raised his
pistol, and seemed in the very act Of
| firing it. It was at this precise mo-
ment that the messenger himself had
fired, and in doing SO had changed his
position. On firing he had leaned far
over toward the driver, SO as to avoid
q return shot, and by so 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 dIt9Ra,hS: tbs, Rs:n be BED mIssnseed It after
few seconds, and then aaaIsnsadJ ss ed himsst aaSh
This was to avoid the return shots Of
his friends, which now came singing
past them.
Taken completely by surprise by the
act OF the messenger, and not pre-
pared for the headlong plunge Of the
horses, they had been unable to make
an effort to prevent the escape.
The young girl sat dumb with
fright, the other women were crouch
ing in the bottom of the coach, also
tongue tied with terror, and poor little
Enrique half stood in his place, his
great eyes fixed wildly on the man
with the pistol.
And now the ruffian seemed to think
g second opportunity had come.
Doubtless the messenger was in his
old place, and could be reached by a
bold outward swing. 1t was evident
the effort must be made soon, too, as
the man might look down and dis
cover his enemy.
Swiftly the wretch swung out from
| the stem His rexoluer xuas onco r,nono