The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-06-25

"sToP RIGHT WHERE YOU AREw
she unexpectedly found herself stand.
ing in tho road, around the bond Of
which one of the men suddenly came on
foot.
"Ahar' he said, exultingly "I've
ketched we, hev I? Thought ye'd fool
us, Ell? But we found yer boss in that
old cabin, and put our own up along
side of him while we looked ye up.
Now, I'll take that air mailbag an any
vally bles ye happen ter have bout ye,
an"
"Stop!'
He had started toward her, when
Madge, dropping the mailbag behind
her, stood in front Of it with a pistol
held out in either hand
'Stop right where you are she said.
''These pistols are loaded, and amt a
bit afraid to use them. Don't you try
to Shoot or I'll get ahead of you'll You
can't have this mail-bag!'
The ruffian burst into loud laugh at
this "Ha, ha, hap he roared Eye
air plucky. amt We, little gal? I RELY
b'leeve ye'd pepper me if TUX a step to-
ward ye. Good fer We, anyhow! | adj
mire yer grit, but I admire that mail
bag more right after a pay day in Gran
iteville. 1 reckon, though, I'll have to
have help fore git it. Here, Bill-oh,
Bill"
They stood in a sharp curve in the
road. A sound of hOOfS was heard, and
the man called out, jeeringly: "Como
on Bill, fore git riddled through an
through!"
sob! I'm comm, an my names Bill,
too, but l reckon 1 amt the Bill yer
yellin' fer. I've an idee this little gal
III be jist as glad ter see me as she would
ter see t'other Bill, amt ye, sis?'
Madge turned to see the old white
mule she had met on the other side Of
tho mountain, and sitting astride its
bony back was the man who had spoken
so kindly to her.
"Good for you, sissy'' he said, as he
saw her, pistol in hand Pop away if
you want to, an I'll cl'ar we for it fore
any ioory in America. I'll help ye hold
him level till Bill comes. You jist keep
yer bankers p'inted fair at him while I
git him into proper shape"
Dismounting, he took some thick
cords from his baggage, and while
Madge still covered the scoundrel with
her pistols, the old man disarmed and
bound him until he was utterly help
less.
"Now," he said, ''we're ready to ex-
tend the right hand of fellowship to
Brother Bill, an'-here he is"
The evil-looking fellow who had
questioned Madge on the mountain now
came hurrying around the curve.
Cup with yer hands!" cried the old
man-''up with 'em instanter, or we'll
both riddle you with bullets!"
Dazed with amazement, the second
man was easily made prisoner, when
the old man said:
''Gosh! amt glad did come back?
1 tell ye how it was, sissy: l seen
these fellers behind them powders up
on the mounting when rid over, an I
got to thinkin bout 'em after you
passed me, an. thinks to me, they
want the honestest lookin' men ever
see nohow, an they might do that little
gal with the mailbag harm. An seein'
you, made me think bout my own little
gal back in Missoury, an how I'd feel
if she was in your shoes, an KEEP on
thinkin' that way, till jist felt it my
plain jooty to go back an see we safe
within sight O. the Cliff. When I got
up on the mounting an seen they'd
gone, an hadn't met 'em comm down
t'other side, l knowed thar was mis-
chief brewin', an put out as fast as
old Sol here would fetch me, an glad
am to git here as did"
A party of miners with burro train
on the way to Graniteville for ore came
along few minutes later, and two Of
them volunteered to assist Madge's
rescuer in taking the hold-ups on to
Eagle Cliff, where they were properly
cared for in way that kept them from
doing any further harm.
The mail reached Eagle Cliff only a
little behind time, and Madge was the
heroine of the day.
The doctor offered to 60 in person to
attend her father, and with him and the
little old man as an escort she rode
home in safety and triumph, to hear her
father say:
81 knowed could trust ye to git the
mail there, Madge. "-Zenas Dane, in
Golden Days.
Mirrors are for the indolent; they
encourage idle reflections, :. Texas