Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-10-01
ROBBERS ROAD.

way OtAIAs rltlfG thirty JEtAkC ttSQLGa
when our Golden state was in a condi-
ton Of lawlessness that has made it the
scene Of many q romance: in fact. In
that epoch OF CALIFORNIA; history which
corresponds closely with the Middle Age
period in the history Of the world, there
was stage route of some extent crossing
an inland county. which had gained for
itself the title Of the Robbers Road"
Like many another good old name and
landmark. its appalling title has passed
through degenerative process, and now
its origin lives only in the memory Of
few white haired old pioneers, tho REM
nants of the brave and doughty settlers,
who cleave with the tenacity of despair
to the tales Of yore.
Important business complications me-
-cessitated my undertaking a journey
through this portion of the state. where
the depredations of highwaymen resem-
bled the sudden swoop Of feudal barons
on itinerant hucksters and pilgrims. and
where heavy purse changed hands with
the celebrity with which the handkerchief
of a puzzled spectator passes from his
own pocket into that of the performing
prestidigitator.
Though far from coward, and Injured
TO danger, as was any one who had made
the perilous trip over mountain, plain
and desert from east to west, confess
that it was with anything but pleasurable
anticipations that took my seat in the
vehicle that carried the occasional mail.
will digress here TO say that my gen
eral habits are abstemious, while as to to-
bacco in particular-with the sole excep-
ton Of the circumstance soon to be re-
lated--it has never in any form passed
my lips; but have found 1t by no means
subversive Of success with men to have
always on hand a small supply of the mr.
.ticle which constitutes the nectar and
ambrosia of so many, and on this occa-
sion, as on many others before and since,
had with me a pocket case of cigars
and large piece of what is called by the
initiated, | believe, navy plug" an ar
ticle used for masticatory purposes. and
recommended by its strength to the
strongest palates. The position of the
latter in my right hand lower waistcoat
pocket is sufficiently important to the se-
qucnce of the narrative to warrant my
particularly in asserting its exact loca-
tion.
My only fellow traveller was lady, to
whom had the felicity of an introduc-
tion previous to our departure, though
the close proximity occasioned by the
roughness of the road would have made
that an entirely unnecessary formality
Truth compels me to state that she was
neither young, pretty nor otherwise in
teresting (alas for the lovers of romance)
and as know that the good lady is now
where no encomiums or their reverse
could possibly affect her. say this the
more unrestrainedly.
To beguile the tedium Of our journey,
and for want of better subject of con-
versation. l devoted my energies to blood
curdling tales of bandits and highway
outrages, partly true, but largely evolved
from fertile Imagination. and told Of
Three Fingered Jack and Bottle
Nosed Billy" of their cruelty and cum
ming. and skillfully interlarded my stories
with dark innuendoes and insinuations
of our own peril.
told how revolvers had been used as
effective coercive agents in q variety Of
instances. and always as sufficiently
good consideration" in the transfer Of
property; how their horses outstripped
the wind, and permitted them to take
part IN the stoppage Of mail coaches miles
apart; how their suspicion and greed
prompted useless outrages; in word,
succeeded in filing the wretched woman
with the direst Of forebodings, that
worked her up to a pitch Of terror that
knew no bounds, and from thence on
every shadow concealed for her some
frightful shape, whose sole aim and OBJ
jech she was firmly convinced. was her
destruction. and these fears, try as /
would. was now unable to aIlay. Mean
while our coach sped onward as rapidly
as the nature Of the road would allow,
and we were soon plunged In entire
darkness. 4"
The only really valuable thing on my
covoyager's person was . ring pf bril-
lianta Of remarkable luster and purity.
which would in itself have proved no
mean prize to 90 particular D connpiaseur
n precious stones IS Red Nike (f0r this
was the elphoni0ua nppellatipn assumed
By the chief unlicensed tax collector Of
those partsl was known TO be-more
particularly as It was darkly hinfed that
well known San Francisco ieweler de-
pended largely On this source for lis sup
ply og cut but unset jewels.
This ring airs. R. wore beneAfh her
wo0len gloves. but. affected By ny tales
of murder and robbery. the thing as-
sumed In her eyes the shape ol some
thine flsaf rrns.lf eraT ,.,n,, -. y. 49,