Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-07-07
CHAPTER v.

The stagecoach was rocking leisurely
along. A starlight night. crisp and still,
hung over the prairie. The isolated res
ervation road. winding in and out
through bottom and over swell. some
where near the north fork Of the Cana
dian river. was rough. dreary and monot-
onous.
Inside. among other passengers. were
the retired admiral and his daughter,
both heartily tired and hungry. They
wished themselves at Kickapoo, where .
midnight supper and frontier bed Of
fered some perspective consolation. but
even wishing grows yet more tiresome
under certain circumstances.
The coach was passing through an ex-
tended bottom, where gloom Of over
hanging timber and thoughts Of the wild
western highwayman made the more
timid travellers think Of the open prairie
with regret.
The admiral's daughter, though, was
not nervous. Even certain narrowing
stories of the Jesse James order, with
which drummer from Little Rock in
sisted upon RECALLING those who perforce
must listen, did not prevent her from
taking sundry cat maps in her own espe-
cial corner. The admiral. being rather
testy and impatient. would give vent to
occasional snorts Of indignation over the
territorial laxity Of public morals that
allowed any such heinous crimes to 60
UNPUBLISHED.
Suddenly the stage stopped. and the
voice of the driver was raised In vehe-
ment adjuration Of the kind peculiar to
the sons of Nimshi. The passengers
peered through tho windows. All around
was the overhanging forest and above q
thin slice of starlight. Before the coach
was dim barricade of logs and brush.
Gentlemen" said the driver, you'll
have to get out and help clear away il
you expect to reach Kickapoo this night.
This is the first blamed time I've knowed
the road to be blocked since Cholery Bill
helt up the stage in '85 in this here very
bottom. We must
Further speech was Quelled by fusil.
lade of firearms from either side Of the
road that startled the admiral's daugh.
ter into uttering pretty shrek and sent
dozen bullets over the coach. Then q
stern, peremptory voice ordered every
one to get down and out. The passengers
obeyed. following one another like Q
flock Of terrified sheep. The admiral,
daughter brought up the rear. All wert
ranged in line and commanded to hold
up their hands on pain Of instant death
while robber at each end. with levelet
revolvers. enforced swift obedience.
third man looked after the driver ant
the mail pouches, and fourth rified tn,
pockets of each passenger in turn.
The same notifying experience, 81
often related in western papers, was en-
dured. Anger, protest and timidity OIL
the part of the robbed. rude handlinl
and brutal popularity on the part Of thu
robbers. Only two noteworthy incident.
varied the usual sameness of the scene.
The first occurred when tho masket
boodler in chief came to primitive look
ing, elderly man. who was clad in un
mitiSated homespun VI ridiculous style
and fit. AS the expert appropriation Of
other mems goods fished out sundry ar
ticles Of homely personal usage from sev
eral capacious pockets. he became pro
fessionally Disguised.
You're a gay old cock, amt your" bt
muttered. examining one article after
another. "One cotton red swipe, with q
nickle; ono knife. barlow. by all that's
holy.-10-cent Testymcnt-so you're on
the pious lay. are We? And here's half a
plug of tobacco" smelling the same,
mot very good at that: q 80 silver and
n bottle-hello! Corn juicer'
Inc ro5per held up fiat glass flask
shook it. smelled at it. tasted it and
placed it in his own pocket.
Its the genuine stuff. old man. Well
well. You hain't rich. pard. and for the
sake of the whisky you can have the rest
back. Testymcnt and all. Tain't often
We letches the two goin together. Here
take your things. Put EN- where you
con set on EN-. You can't risk such 10,
of valuables too often. There won't ID
no liquor to save EN- next time"
At last he came TO the admiral's daugh.
ter, who. having surrendered watch and
purse. begged to be allowed to retain a
certain ring which. as he looked at it.
fell from the highwayman's hand. He
denying her request with an oath. stoop-
ed to pick it up, when she. with grea,
GOODNESS. tore the mask from his face.
Curse You" he roared. then dived for
the mask and hurriedly replaced it, but
though his back was toward the others
the lady had caught one clear glimpse Of
his face.