Griggs courier., 1889-02-15
mi, u do believe there's going to be busi-

ness"
Z The young lady turned deadly pale. The
other women uttered dismal groans. Even
the man in the glasses looked disturbed. AS
Tor little Enrique he did not quite under.
stand it all, but felt strangely excited.
.Hellol'' said the driver. "Why, them
fellers are comm down, and mean to show
themselves. Bold, amt theya"
Zone, two, three, four" answered the
young man, rather irrelevantly. "Four of
them"
Eyes, they've got down into the road, and
are waiting. Drive on"
Here Mrs. Dillyhock thrust her head out
Of the window. She drew it in abruptly.
'Great Joshual There's four men armed
to the teeth, a-standin' down there in the
road. What will become of usl o dear,
why did ever leave my home, and poor
Mr.. Dillyhock2 Odearl @ dearl"
"Be quiet, madam" This in stern
voice from the young man on the box.
There may be no danger at all, and il there
is we must have absolute quiet. You must
be ready to act as we direct"
''Who is that feller3" family inquired
Mrs. Dillyhock.
II think he is Wells-Fargo's express mes
senger," said the gentlemen with spectacles.
II noticed that he looked carefully after q
box he took up with him."
The poor woman groaned, but made no
other reioinder.
Now the stage jolted on again slowly, and
presently came to halt once more. They
were now just beneath huge, towering
Cliff, while on the other side was fearful
ravine. A little to one side Of the cliff the
mountain receded less abruptly, and here
grew few stunted trees and bushes. A
kind OF sheep-path here appeared, and it
seemed to be by this that the new -comers
had descended.
Enrique thrust out his head once more
Far away to the south and east he could
see where the road repeated itself in q
white, indistinct line. Just below this it
appeared more plainly again. He had heard
his father say that near Pescadero there
was place wh re the roads wound about
In such a manner that three distinct Sec
tions of it 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 enabled
to see the two sections, because the road
there curved.
All this took but glance and he noted it
scarcely realizing that he did so. Then he
for the four men.
There they came, guns in their hands, and
dressed In rough, coarse clothes. But what
interested him most was the fact that they
we're not masked, as road agents were said
to be, and that they carried their weapons
in peaceful manner.
stOnly party of hunters" he thought,
with glad jump Of the heart. Then his
eye happened to rest on the uppermost dis
tant curve In the road. Something was
flashingin the afternoon sun and creatures,
like horses, were seen to be in motion.
"A party of men with guns" he said to
himself. ''and they are riding dreadfully
fast. What can they be after.
He sank back In his seat too much excited
to speak, or scarcely to think. Just then
'Well, Buckskin Tom, how's the old bodyi
I used to know you, but guess you've for
gotten me. My names Chandler, from Deer
Licks"
'Don't know you, Mr.. Chandler" they
heard the driver say.
''No; thought you didn't. Well, me and
the kit of US here have been huntin,' and
we're pretty tired. Reckon you can give us
lift to Pescaderny."
They heard a low murmur from the box at
this, and it was apparent thatthe driver and
the express messenger were talking. Once
or twice they also thought they heard the
tones of the stout passenger.
"Can't accommodate you," spoke up the
driver at last. ''It's only mile to Kennett's
ranch. Keep the road we're going mile,
and take the first turn to the left. Only
half mile from there, and Kennett will
keep you until you are rested"
Once more Enrique ventured to peep from
the window. He witnessed sight that
gave him thrill Of establishment and ter
ror. Ono of the four men was standing
near the window, and Enrique saw that one
of his long whiskers was hanging loose
from his face. 1t was evident that the man
wore false beard.
A glance at the other three strangers
showed that they wore an unusual amount
of hair about their faces. 1t was evident
that they, too were disguised.
Scarcely had Enrique made this startling
discovery when their fellow passenger with
the spectacles 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 produced q
small revolver. His mouth had fierce. set
look now, and his eyes seemed to shine
through his spectacles in away that terrified
thelad. While Enrique yet stared at him he
deliberately cooked the revolver, deftly
opened the coach door, and swung himself
out upon the step.
The next moment he pointed his revolvcr up at
tie messenger. Before word could be said,
motion made, pistol shot rang out from
the box. and the man with the detached
beard dropped instantly from sight.
.'Tie on your whiskers better, next time,
Tiger Rod I" thundered the voice of the ex-
press messenger. 'Tm on to your game.
Give 'em the lash, driverl"
AS he spoke the crack of the heavy stage
whip sounded, and the coach made great
bound forward.
Meantime, how had it 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, 1t
was at this precise moment that the mes
senger himself had fired, and in doing so
had changed his position. On firing he had
leaned far over toward the driver, 80 as to
avoid q return shot, and by so doing had
taken himself out of the would be assassin's
range. And now the stage was flying for.
ward at terrible pace, and the man had
much ado to keep his footing. He managed
it after few seconds. and then flattened
himself as much as pos ;ible against the
coach. This was to avoid the return shots