Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-03-11
THE VERMONT PNIX, BRATTLEBORO, MARCH H. 1892

where the high, scaggy rocks. with the
patches of sage-brush atop, came SO near
to the blackboard. 1t could be thrown
over there anywhere into the sage brush.
1t would be as wcll-conccaed as though
buried in six feet of earth The buck
board had reached the top of long down
grade. Zach put on the brake and twisted
the reins about the brake-handle As if
about to take plunge into ice-cold water,
he reached down for the box. But wait a
bit He took off his big sombrero and
hung it on projecting rock Then flash
ing out his siX-shooter he sent a bullet
through the hrim of the hat. which he
then replaced ON his head. Though it had
been hot enough when he started ont from
ihimblc Spring, there seemed to be a chill
in the air Just now. Would they believe
the story that he would have to concoct.
even though he showed them the hole in
the hat hrim? What would he care whcth-
err they did or not? They already suspect
ed him. If he had the name he might as
well have the game. He looked at a spot
where the sagc-brush clustered thickest,
and made mental throw or two in a ten.
tative way, in order to "gct the distance"
Then he laid two nervous hands on the
box. He gave little tug. Lord how
heavy it was! Could it be tossed over
there, after all? 1t might have to be car
red. He lifted it upon the seat. "Va
Ihimble Spring Stage Line What was
the sense in putting on such a direction as
that? 1t was the only way it could 60
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 Zach?"
he burst out hoarsely. Eyes, but why
don't they do as any other decent mimi
compny 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. Sue
would never suspect. Any kind of story
would bambOoZlc her. Bill was smart
He could put two and two together as
quickly as any man in the country And
yet Bill himself was little reckless some
times lie 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 try
ing TO raise a mustache lately. Yes. Bill
was 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 remembered 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 weaknesses of
his nature were giving him now hurt him
just as badly-worse, perhaps, than 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 sage bruSh-aS safe as if
''Git up thar, ye, Git, Buckskin. Git.
old Gabe! We lazy critters. G'langn'
And down came the long lash upon the
dust-covered 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 grasped the reins in
grip of iron, and both his big cowhide
boots were planted firmly on the box.
"This ere is what ! call gOin' helly-ty
split he said ten minutes later. as they
were still flying down the grade But |
lost some time with blamed-fOol notion
that | orter a ben licked for ever thinkin'
on a mint. Wal, the mustangs got good
rest Maxim up fer it now, though.
They'll soon be in lather. I'll git to the
halfway house in a quarter of an hour,
and then I'll take good horn. ! feel
kinder naryous yt. That ere box is a
burned heavy load on mans mind. |
s'pose the uprintendent up to Gold Butte
is wOrryin' about it, too. Never mind. Of
Teller, you'll see that stuff slowed away in
yer safe afore shutdown.
whats this? \ hold-up, sure as shoot
in'.'
Out from behind a tall rock, a man.
with piece of dark calico over his face
and very large Winchester in his hand
had suddenly sprung and the muzzle Of
the rifle looked right into Xachs big,
round eyes. There was no getting by that
Winchester.
81 reckon you've got Their drop on me,
stranger the driver coolly made remark.
"Stick up my hands? In course | will. eff
you insist upon it: but | tell yer these ere
mustangs is mighty skittish, an it's on
Their daown-grade. Soyer needn't shoot eff
they start up, fur it'll be yer own fault. l
'spose yer arter this ere box Throw it
out? It's too blamed heavy fer that.
Yen hev ter give us lift
The man with the gun had said nothing;
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 anything. Zach had
been held up before. He of the cali