The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-03-04

box. He gave little tug. Lord, bow
heavy it was! Could it be tossed over,
there, after all? 1t might have to be
carried. He lifted it on the seat. ''Via
Thimble Spring Stage line" What was
the sense in putting on such a direction
as that? 1t was the only way it could
CO. The only way. And that way was
now closed, for he was about To-
God, KANT they trust yOu-you,
Zach Springer. KANT they trust Old
ZcohH" 10 hrrst ont hoarsolv eyes hut
why don't they do as any other decent
mimi comply does-turn their stuff
into the bank at Frisco, arter it's
minted! What do they want on it up
thar?
Well, after all, that was their business.
But he couldn't be trusted. What
would Bill say? Bill was an honest
man. He would blush with shame every
time his brothers name was mentioned
after that-for, of course, he would
know. She would never suspect Any
kind of story would bamboozle her.
Bill was smart He could put two to-
! gether as quickly as any other man in
| the country. And yet Bill himself was
little reckless sometimes. He had
| been acting very queer of late, and had
been over to Johnson's a good deal,
drinking and playing cards with the
boys. That would not do. Bill must be
| looked after. He was only young fell
Iowa mere boy, even if he had been
trying to raise mustache lately. Yes,
Bill was a good deal younger than he.
Why, he remembered well the day he
was born, when they took HIM in to
show him his new baby brother. He
used to carry Bill all around, and he was
the first one to stand him on his legs
and try to make him walk. He remem-
bered how it used to hurt his own head
when Bill got knock by falling out of
his high chair. Bill was just as much TO
him now as ever, and those knocks
which fate and the weakness of his ma
ture were giving him now hurt him just
as badly-wOrse, perhaps. then they did
Brother Bill.
What would Bill say?
He laid his hands upon the box again.
1t would be safe enough behind the
rocks there under the safebrush-as
safe as if
Cit up, thar, ye! Git, Buckskin
Git, old Gabe! Ye lazy critters. Glang!"
And down came the long lash upon the
backs of the mustangs, and off down the
long grade they ran, making the dust
fly in the canon as it never flew before.
For Zach had grapSed the reins in grip
of iron, and both his cOwhide boots were
planted firmly on the box.
This ere is what | call gOin' licketty-
split" he said, ten minutes later, as they
we're still flying down the grade. But
| lost some time with a blamed-foOl no.
ton that orter a ben licked for ever
thinkin on mint. Wal, them mus
-, NJ - g.,
now, though. They'll soon be in a
lather. I'll git to the halfway no use in
quarter of an hour, and then I'll take
good horn. feel kinper narvous yit.
That ERE box is a burned heavy load on
a mans mind. s'pOse the sup'ritend-
ent up to Gold Butte is worryin' about
it, too. Never mind, OIL Teller. you'll see
that stuff slowed away in yer safe afore
shutdown.
whats this9 A hold-up, sure as
shootin'!" Out from behind a tall rock,
a man, with piece of dark calico over
his face and large Winchester in his
hand, had suddenly sprung. and the
rifle looked right into Zach's big, round
eyes. The brake scraped the wheels and
made the sparks fly. The mustangs
came to sudden stand. There was no
getting by that Winchester.
81 reckon you've got Their drop on me,
stranger" the driver coolly made re-
mark. "Stick, up my hands? In course
| will, eff you insist upon it; but tell
yer these ere mustangs is mighty sBit-
fish, an IFS on ther daown-grade. SO
we needn't shoot eff they start up, fur
it'll be yer own fault. I'spose yer arter
this ere box. Throw it out? It's too
blamed heavy fer that Yell hcv ter
give us lift"
The man with the gun had said moth
ing: but the subtleties of the holding-up
process were not SO fine but that Zach
understood every wave of the strangers
hand and every shrug of his shoulders,
when the waves and shrugs meant any
thing Zach had been held up before.
He of the calico mask did not step for
ward at once. In this suggestion that
he should assist Ill taking off the box he
seemed to suspect some trick. But one
of Zach's hands was held alOft and the
othert with the four reins in it, was on
the level of his shoulder. The man
edged up to tn blackboard, exchanging
the weapon which he presented Zach's
head for siX-shot revolver.
Thanks, stanger," said Zach, with
forced morriment. 81 never like to hev
on o. them air long -barrelled things
p'inted at me. They shoot too durn
straight. Now, here We are"
With his foot he showed the box along
till it was near the edge of the wagon.
Thar it is, help yourself; but yen
find it blamed heavy load ter pack, eff
yer goin' far-over forty pound"
The robbers fingers grasped the box
nervously.
"a green I'm at the biz" thought
Zach; ''mebbe tharll be an opening here
yit."
The robber pulled and hauled at the
box, but it would not bulge, for it
caught on a nail-head in the bottom of
the wagon. In his fevorish anxiety to
secure the gold, he lowered the revolver
a little and grasped the box with both
hands. Swiftly Zah's right hand fell to
his hip and out he whipped his bright
barrelled pistol.
Got the dead drop, stranger! It's no
gol" he shouted. ''Put that weepin
down, you fool!"-for the man was rails
ing his pistol. "You won't? Then take
that"
A flash, report, and back fell the
rObber without moan. His fingers
clawed the dust for a moment, as if he !
were grasping for hold on life. But |
the hold was not to be had, and he gave
it up, and lay there quietly in the dust.
The driver showed his pistol into its |
holster, and wiped the sweat from his
brow. 1t had been a close shave for the |
how nnH olnoa ch Go b;r,