The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-02-09
The poor woman groaned, but made no

y
other reionder.
D Now the stage jolted on again slowly, all
9 presently came to halt once more. The
: were now just beneath huge, towerin
1 cliff, while on the other side was fearfu
/, ravine. A little to one side of the cliff th
mountain receded less abruptly, aud herr
l grew few stunted trees and bushes. 1
: kind of sheep-path here appeared, and /
Q seemed to be by this that the newcemer
4 had descended.
Enrique thrust out his head once nc, c
, Far away to the south and east he coul
Z see where the road repeated itself in
. white, indistinct line. Just below this i
appeared more plainly again. He had hearC
, his father say that near Pescadero ther,
7 was place where the roads wound abou
: in such manner that three distinct sec
, tions of it could be seen at once, one abov'
the other. He knew that this must be thu
place. They were then upon the upper o
, these shelves or terraces He was enabled
/ to see the two sections, because the roat
there curved.
All this took but a glance, and he noted \
scarcely realizing that he did so. Then ht
leaned out still further, and looked eagerly
for the four men.
There they came, guns in thoir 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 peaceful manner
"Only a party of hunters" he thought
with glad jump of the heart. Then his
eye happened to rest on the uppcrmost dis
tant curve in the road. Something was
flashing in the afternoon sun and creatures,
like horses, were seen to be in motion,
A ,f ,,;tb la N
himself, sand 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
swell, BuckslSin Tom, how's the old body!
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, pie and
the kit of us here have been huntin,' and
we're pretty tired. Reckon you can give us
a lift to Pescaderny."
They heard low murmur from tho box at
this, and it was apparent thatt 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. 'It's only mile to Kennetts
ranch. Keep the road we're going mile,
and take the first turn TO the left. Only
half a mile from there, and Kennett will
keep you until you are rested"
Once more Enrique ventured to peep from
the window. He witnessed a sight that
gave him thrill of astonishment and ter.
ror. One 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 d 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
small revolver. His mouth had fierce, set
look now, and his eyes seemed to shine
his spectacles in way that terrified
the lad. While Enrique yet stared at him he
cooked the revolver, deftly
out upon the step.
The next moment he pointed hiSreyoiyer up at
NE messenger Before word could be said
Il 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 ~ Numbered the voice of the ex-
press messenger. "Pm on to your game
Give 'em the lash driver!"
As he spoke the crack of the heavy stage
whip sounded, and the coach made great
bound forward.
Meantime, how had it Jared with tho man
with the spectacles.
We have seen that he had raised his pistol,
and seemed in the very act of firing it. II
was at this precise moment that the mes
,enger himself had fired, and in doing so
mad changed his position. On firing he had
eaned far over toward the driver, so as TO
lvoid a return shot, and by so doing had
AIKEN himself out of the would-be assassin's
'ange. And now the stage was flying for.
ward at a terrible pace, and the man had
much ado to keep his footing. He managed
I after few seconds, and then fattened
himself as much as possible against the
,oach. This was to avoid the return shots
If his friends, which now came singing past
hem.
Taken completely by surprise by the act OF
he messenger, and not prepared for the
leadlong plunge of the horses, they had
'een unable to make an effort to prevent
he escape.
The young girl sat dumb with fright thu [
ther women were crouching in the bottom
t the coach, also tongue-tied with terror,
nd poor little Enrique half stood in his
lace, his great eyes fixed wildly on the man {
nth the pistol. {
And now the rufiian seemed to think .. 8
itNy had | 4