The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-14
TRUCKING ROAD AGENTS.
A Story Of a Hold-Up on the Stage
Between Denver and
Santa Fe.
Thirty Five Thousand Dollars
Saved by the Sacrifice OF
One Thousand.
A Merchants Peculiar # Experience In tlss
Days of Road Ageats, Before
tho Railway.

Fcur of us--a young lady, governess in m
officers family; a wealthy merchant, mid
dls-agsd, the company's horseshoer, bount
for the stables at Denver, aud myself. gov
eminent assayer aud mineral expert-hat
left Santa Fe. n. NJ. on the Sa nta Fs ans
Ak Denver coach one SC orching summer after
noon. II was now about . o'clock in tint
morning. We had just congratulated our
selves on being safely ont of the most dan
gsrous passes, and were driving briskly
toward the Caaadinu Fork.
The full moon lighted our way, making
the bushes and trees adjacent cast sharp,
decided shadows across the road. l had
changed places with the little horssshoer on
the roof fer the sake of 3 little more air.
The "insiaes'' were doing, but | felt wake
full and alert. We begniled tbs sultry hours
by story telling, says a correspondent of
the Cincinnati Commsrcial-Gazette. Sud
denly / saw something moving in the shsd-
ows ahead of vs..
what is thas?' said.
The driver looked, his eyes rounding like
the moon. Nothing but a burre." he re-
piled, referring Ia the pack mules that fire.
qusntly ktrayed down the mountain side.
II disappeared quickly in the shade, and
from thence, as if by magic, two men, the
polished barrels of their rifles cleaning in
the moonlight. sprang into the road.
They wore huge slouchea sombreros and
army cloaks. Tue stoutest Of the pair caught
the brides OF the leaders; the other, cover
ing us with his Winchester, roarod:
'sstir q finger an yer dead msn!' Advanc-
ing closer and keeping IA within range of
his muzzle, he shouted:
f'.pitch out the treasure box, quick! We're
in q hurry"
The driver began to stammer q rsply, but
1 stopped him with g muttersd shut up.
Let me salk to these chaps. There's no
treasure aboard tonight"
/ said this ceolly, at the same time sway
ing my body to and fro to get out of range
of the muzzle; the man was evidently very
determined. as we'll as very near. As | in
tended he should, he took ma for an ex-
press messenger, and as neither driver nor
messenger is supposed to possess any valua-
bles, they are seldom molestea.
None o. yer nonsense.' yelled the ban
dit. Hand out the treasure, or yell see
trouble, blast yerl'
The scoundrel at the reins. who held his
rifle pointed nj me from between the horses
uedQS, eVlueHbly euJoJou nf eaucdFoIs W
get out of range, for he sgusaked In q high
fnlsetto voice: Does them bar'ls look big?"
YES | said. echoing the old joke current
among the miners, 81 cEn read all the ad-
Refreshments ON the wadaing!'
He gave n hoarse chuckle. "Hy'ar,
hy'ar, heuvc out thor specie box!' roared
the rutiian with tho Winchester. insisted
there was none. Here look at the way
bill; if there's any such thing aboard it will
be among the items" and made a motion
to get down. holding it IN my hand.
Stay where yer are. sr I'll shoot yer d-n
head off,"
threw him the way bill, He dropped
his rifle, and picking it up, looked it over
in the moonlight. Proftine by the action.
I undertook to slip my pocketbook into my
boot, and moved my hand round to get at
tho pocket!
The driver, installing the movement,
whispered: "Have you got one?" The
man at the horses heads noticed our little
conference and yelled at US. This other in
stsntly levelled his gun straight at my head:
"None o that! Hands npr'
We threw up our hands, and he again
turned to the way Dill. / did manage
though, to slip my money into my boot.
"You sse there's no mention mada of the
treasure, and If 1t was zent 1t would GER
tainly be noticed in the bill. However, you
can get mp and look in the box and SATISFY
Yourself"
He hesitated a moment. then climbed up,
rife in hand, and looked in the box; in do
ing SO he kicked my valise.
AS a government expert | was well known
to the bankers Of Santa Fe. They never
hesitated to intrugt me with large amounts
of money, and this trip WAS no exception,
! having with me nearly $4,000 in gold,
secured partly III an inner belt around my
waist. partly by a false bottom lmprovised
in lay rallss by cumming strong wrapping
paper over the precious parcels. Open
fHfH nv Al rri IA" rrJGS the road ayeDt I
did 80 carefully taking out it's contents and
letting big lock inside; the wrApping'pap per
deceived b.pl.
Nav" he growled, there's no treasure
tonight, an Of We don't fin it in your
:feakure-boI We npnpht In 1t in yer bag
gage. Who's inside?H
1--WE men and q lady. None of than,
rich; one Of them is a hoEseshoer going to
Denver to shoe the compsny horses"
"Ns'll look at 'em. Whatever happens
don't yer move on yer life. We may find
the cash on them ur in the h~aggage.H
The "lnsldes" appeared to be sleeping.
The man ratified the door and reused them.
Lsvelirp his rifle, hs ordered thsm out to be
searched. They obeyed, apparently half
asleep. He placed them in a row. Hands
up he sold. Now fer your pocketsn
The horaeshoer had but s. IN silver: the
merchants purse showed only e ten and q
few small bills, and the young iady's moth
ing Dut AcT paFSlb hIl q llktie CnHlLe. lDe !
poor gill looked as il about to faint.
Your a primary crowd ter have 30 little
with yer" ne snarIsd, IAN I've a good mind
ter send yer all ter blazes this cussed night.
Two undred we've sworn to have, SC wen
have to rip up ye. baggage" This was ut
tered with infinite disgust.
The merchant then apcko; "You'll And
nothing OF ANY account IN our baggage, but
3f you will ask this Young lady for her nat.
and can find the S 1000 in bills she concealed
in it just before leaving Santa Ie, ! think
you will certainly consider yourself repaid
for your trouble"
The girl turned toward him with blazing
eyes and uttered the word, "iraitor"
There was no escape; the hat was taken
possession of. After the lining had been
carefully ripped out it was returned with Il
few gruff words of apology.
SIN luck, by heavensp' cried the highway
man, exultinaly. "Piie in, all, an be id
ter yer. Sorry fur yer loss, Miss, bnt we're
boun' ter take all we kin git. We amt got
no treasure, bnt this here'll do bout as we'll.
Drive on!''
II want the way bill!' / said, e1citedly,
for the scene we had just witnessed had
raised my indignation to fever heat. He
handed it to me, but ii h~utterod under the
horses feet, aud ] again demanded it. He
picked it mp, climbed the wheel and handed
it to me. Then, turning TO the young lady,
he said, grutly:
But for this lining, young woman, ye
might all hn' been lynn in Yander ditch.
No treasures aboard. Come this way
'thout it an we'll settle yer accounts, blast
vari Nnw ntAf5