The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-27
ENRIQUE.

had left their little BOY 20 ms care.
Both his wife and. ho had taken a
strong fancy to the pretty orphan, and
had finally adopted him.
The SUMMERTIME dry scason-of
California was just beginning, En-
rioue was q little TAGGED with his
vtudies. and 10 had been deemed adyis-
ablo 10 send him to the coast To rc-
cruit. Pescadcro had been selected as
nj once healthful and possessing. the
proper attractions for the little fellow,
and the time had come for Inn 10 be
made ready. But Just as everything
else had been arranged. ms board en-
gagged af the house oi q fathcrly ranch
Gro. even his little trunk brought
down from the attic-whcn, I'm short
all things were ready 20 DE got ready
Lwhat should occur but q startling
stage coach robbery
When Enrique got out upon the
platform at Redwood, there was tan;
spare man with a face heavily bearded
and much sunburncd. ready To show
the passengers % the stage TINS per
sonage proved 20 be the driver him
self. and Enrique looked with deep re-
spect at his tall. strong figure rs me
moved about directing how things
should 90. and nodding his head au-
th0ritatlvclv
At last everything seemed 10 be ar
ranged: Enrique and three OF the
other p9ssenCcrs-all wOmcn-had
been disposed of inside, q stout old
gentleman and q tall young man
had been given seats upon the box,
md the driver mounted TO hls place.
He received the rcius glaciously from
mn assistant. pulled his gloves a little
better in place and gave the signal 10
the horses. Away they went an a great
pace.
Firstthey cradlcdand bounced along
the streets of the little town. then pro-
ceeded more slowly across the black,
fat open country covered with tar
Weed that extends TO the beginning Of
the foot hills; and 90 last. more mod
erately STILL up the hills themselves.
Now il was very uncomfortable, for
IA while. The sun poured down. the
dust rose up, and no refreshing breeze
found its way into the deep cut road.
The poor horses clambcrod and swcated
and painted The stout man outside
put up his umbrella and gumbled-
The passengers with Enrique com
planned aud "Oh-dcarcd
At last they reached the little ham
let of Scaisvile. and here the driver
stopped the horses. They were glad
enough. poor brutes. for the moments
rest and gladdor still when water was
brought and they were allowed 10
plunge their heads up to the very eyes
IN its GOODNESS
Then forward again, and presently
the way became more agreeable The
road wound about more exposed places,
little putfs Of air reached them, and
now they rolled down into little dells
where the cool trees almost met over
head
Il hearn this mornin how the driver
was goin' 10 carry three or four guns
with him. after tins. said one of the
women. who sat by Enrique Il didnt
see notbin of en- she continued,
when | got in. but j spose he must
have hid 'em round somewhere.
Can't be he would tempt Providence
not TO take EN-"
LORI said another woman, Il hope
to mercy he hain't took 'em. What
could he DO lone aginst eight or
ten road agents. Tn sure, Tor my
part, / should 90 for all hans bein'
Test as submissive as they could, spOs II
The agents did come"
And i think with you, said the
third passenger, a lady like, rather
pretty young woman, somewhat bet
Ter dressed than the others. 1--WE could
do nothing 10 resist gang Of men
fully armed and determined. / am
sure, for my part ] only came today
because / thought it would be an I'M
usually safe time. Lightning rarely
strikes twice IN tho same place
That what father said, here spoke
up Enrique. He judged it a fitting
time TO say a word, and was heartily
tired of keeping still lie thought
the robbers would keep away from this
stage for a while, he went on and
hide, maybe, for a spell, like mice. ~
The bright, animated cOuntenance
of the boy, and especially his great,
dark, Spanish eyes had been observed
by his fellow passengers for some time,
but his rather shy manner had pre-
vented their making any advances to-
ward acquaintance They were glad
TO hear his voice, and tOnce replied TO
him. They had succeeded IN finding
out most Of his brief history, and had
learned that he was nearly 10 years
old, when they were interrupted by
the coach stopping.
The passengers all glanced ont in
some alarm. but were reasSured by
discoverng that 1t was merely pause
for a way passenger. lie seemed TO
have come out Of q kind of gorge, and
appeared 10 have come across from am
other road. He was a short, stoutly
built man, dressed IN q gray business
suit, was smoothly sh2vcn and wore
green speciacles. He appeared 70 be
about IS or perhaps so years old.
II think l VIII ride inside, If there
is room, be said, in a pleasant rather
low pitched voice, As he spoke he
came up TO the coach door.
plenty of room, said the driver
lie descended as he spoke and let IN
the stranger The others made room
for him promptly, and &c was soon
seated beside the pleasant yo1ng lady
He he'd no baggage, but carried SIMPLY
o stout cane.
There was something attractive
about the mans face, and all were
pleased with him Perhaps they
thought he would be a valuable aid IN
case thereshOuld be trouble from the
dreaded Agents
Now tho road begun TO ascend once
more, and soon the coach had reached
the Hottest altitude Of the trip The
whole Santa Clara valley lay spread
cut like a map al their feet, and far m
the distance doomed the blue peaks OF
the northern spur OF the Coast Range.
: The air here was thin and hard to
4 breathe and one seemed almost neigh
y Dor 20 the blue summer sky with ITS
tracery Of white low lying CLOUDS
The driver now urged Tx horses n
little and they bOwled along at Good