The Republican., 1889-02-09
ENRIQUE.
How He Holped Fight tho Road
Agents.

"Wcli, for one reason" said Mr.. Frcpch.
because lightning doesn't often strike
twice in the same place.
"rhat might do for an argument about
most other matters" returned his wife,
but rot about rObbng stages"
30, stuifl' said the husband with the air
OF putting an end to the discussion. "Women
are always scared to death. I'll risk En-
rique for trip from Redwood City to Pes
calero, and l know you're willing to.
Come, get the young gentleman ready; we
must take that half-past seven"
Mr., French was one of those go-ahead,
sanguine mon who are pretty sure to have
their own way, ard who generally come out
right by so doing. The matter that had been
discussed at this time was that of pro-
jccted trip for their adopted son, Enrique,
to the little town of Pescadero.
Enrique was the child of some Spanish,
or, more properly, Spanish American peo-
pie, who had been friends of Mr.. French,
and who, when they died had left their lit
tie son to his care. Both his wife and he
had taken strong fancy to the pretty Or
phan, and had finally adop cd him.
The summer--the dry seasOn-of Caifor-
MIA was just beginning, Enrique was lit.
tie tagged with his studies, and it had been
u6eHeu duFlSdDle 10 scnu MIN 10 Jne coast
to recruit. Pescadero had been selected as
atOnce healthful and possessing the proper
attractions for the little fellow, and the time
had come for him to be made ready. But
just as every thing else had been arranged,
his board engaged at the house of fatherly
rdnci,ero even his little trunk brought down
from the attic-whcu, in Short all things
were ready to be got ready-what should
Occur INIT "a startling staoa-poanh rnhhnry
Yes, the Redwood City mail-stage, six
passengers aboard, and Wels-Fargo's cx-
press box was stopped and plundered Even
some comparatively valueless rings had
been taken from the passengers, and then
the harnesses had been cut and the horses
driven away, so that it was some time be-
fore any ono could be summoned to the
rescue. This it was that had brought about
the discussion just given between Mr.
French aud his wi G. But the father had
thought it unlikely that the same stage
would be soon attacked again-and so had
gone on with his plans for little Enrique's
departure.
On the following morning. thon, having
carefully seen that his gun was strapped to
his other luggage, and that his jointed fish
ing rod had not been forgotten, Enrique
kissed his mother, and entered the hack to
be driven to the station. The Trenches live
in San Francisco, and Redwood City, where
Enrique was to take the stage, was about
thirty-five miles distant.
The ride to the train and afterward that
in the cars, presented nothing eventful.
When Enrique got out upon the platform at
Redwood there was a tall, spare man with
a face heavily bearded and much sunburned,
ready to show the passengers to the stage.
This parsonage proved to be the driver him
self, and Enrique looked with deep respect
at his tall. strong figure as he moved about
directing how things should go, and nOdding
his head authortatively. This head, by the
by, was surmounted by an awe-inspiring hat
with a mighty brim, slightly inclined to-
ward one ear.
At last every thing seemed to be arranged !;
Enrique and three of the other passengers
all women--had been disposed of inside,
a stout old gentleman and a tall young man
had been given seats upon the box, and the
driver mounted to his place. He received
thereins graciously from an assistant, pulled
his gloves a little better in place, aud gave
the signal to the horses. Away they went
at a great pace.
First they Graded and bounced along The
streets OF the little town, then proceeded
more slowly across the black, fiat, open
country covered with tarweed that extends
to the beginning of the foot hills; and at
last, more moderately still, up the hills,
themselves.
Now it was very uncomfortable, for
awhile. The sun poured down, the dust rose
up, and no refreshing breeze found its way
into the deop-cut road. The poor horses
clambered aud sweated and painted. The
stout man outside put up his umbrella and
grumbled. The passengers with Enrique
complained and "O-deared."
At last they reached the little iramlet of
Searsvillo, aud here the driver stopped the