, 1889-02-02

" ~ ~ 40 AtAANA AAAAAAAAN III
quircd Mrs. Dillyhock.
II think he is Wells argo's express
messenger said the gentleman with
spectacles. Il noticed that he looked
carefully after a box he took up with
him"
Tho poor woman groaned, but made
no other rejoinder.
Now the stage jolted on again
slowly, and presently came TO a halt
ono more. They were now just be-
meath a huge, towering cliff, while on
the other side was a fearful ravine. A
little TO one side of tho cliff the noun
tain receded less abruptly, and here
grew n few stunted trees and bushes.
A kind of sheep path here appeared,
and 1t seemed to have been by this
that the new corners had descended.
Enrique thrust out his head once
more. Ear away 10 the south and
east he could see where the road re-
peated itself, in n white, indistinct
line. Just below this it appeared
more plainly again. He had heard
his father say that near Pescadero
there was a place where the road
wound about in such u manner that
three distinct sections 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 OF terraces. He was en-
abled TO see tho two sections, because
tho road there curved.
All this took but n glance, and he
noted it scarcely realizing that he did
so. Then he leaned out still further,
and looked eagerly 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 were not
masked, as road agents were said to be,
and that they carried their weapons in
a peaceful manner.
"Only a party of hunters" he
thought, with a 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 to be in motion.
"a party of men with guns" he
said to himself, land they are riding
dreadfully fast. What can they DO
after1"
He sank back in his seat too much
excited TO speak, or scarcely to think.
Just then "Well, Buckskin Tom,
how's the old body2 1 used to know
you, but guess you've forgotten me.
My, names Chandler, from Deer
Lioks."
Don't know you, Mr.. Chandler"
they heard the driver say.
No; thought you didn't. Well, me
and tho kit of us here have been hunt
in, and we're pretty tired. Reckon
you a give us n lift to Pescaderny."
They heard n low murmur from the.
box at this, ed 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. Its only a mile
to Kennett's ranch. Keep the road
were going a mile, and take the first
turn to the left. Only half q mile
from there, and Kenneth will keep you
till you are rested"
Oncem more Enrique ventured to peep
from the window. He witnessed a
sight that gave him n thrill of astonish-
ment and terror. One of the four
men was standing near the window,
and Enrique saw that one of his long
whiskors was hanging loose from his
face. 1t was evident that the man
wore n false beard.
A glance Mt the other three strangers
showed that they also wore an unusual
amount of hair about their faces. 1t
was evident that they, too, were dis
guised.
Scarcely had Enrique made this
startling discovery, when their fell
low passenger with thespectacles drew
off his gloves, and made as though to
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
duced n small revolver. His mouth
had n fierce, set look now, and his eyes
seemed TO shine through his spectacles
in a way that terrified the lad. While
Enrique yet stared at him he deliber-
ately cooked the revolver, deftly
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, q motion made, a
pistol shot rang out from the box, and
the man with the detached beard
dropped instantly from sight.
"Tie on your whiskers better, next
lllc, IlBtF INOu! JnunufeQ the voice
of the express messenger. I'm on
to your game. Give 'em the lash,
driverl'
AS he spoke tho crack of the heavy
stage whip sounded, and the coach
made a great bound forward.
Meantime, how had it Jared with the
man with the spectacles2
We have seen that he had raised his
pistol, and seemed in tho very act of
firing it. 1t 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
a 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 n terrible pace,
and the man had much ado to keep
his footing. He managed it after q
few seconds, and then hattened himself
as much as possible against the coach.
This was to avoid the return shots of
his friends, which now came singing
past them.
Taken completely by surprise nv tho