Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1893-04-28


sir, git up there, boys, we must hurry"
He snapped his long whip in the air
and urged the horses on into break k-neck
pace. The rumbling of the heavy
wheels soon brought the man back to
his reflective mood.
| "But how easily l could work the
game" he mused again. .sAn' nobody
would be the better for it. Right ahead
in the canyon l could chuck the box in
the hollow, an all would be done.
They'd send out scoutin' parties, but no.
body would find it. Then months later
I'd come for it"
Once more the horses slowed down to
gentle trot, aud tne sturdy driver
fidgeted the box with his foot. The
spell of temptation nearly conquered.
The hiding place was near at hand. The
horses stopped as if by instinct; but this
very fact startled the man.
"No, no. What ails mel Git up, We
brutcs, what are ye stoppin' for2 l
wasn't gOin' to do anything. I was only
thinkin' how it might be done. Git
up!"
He was ner vous and excited, glancing
| around MIN many times.
"PhawP Pm superstitious, he ex-
claimed with laugh. "Who do think
will see me here. There amt nothin' to
be afraid of. Pll just stop to quiet my
nerves. Whoa, therc!"
The stage coach came to dead halt.
Ben Tillotson jumped down from his
high seat and walked up to the heads of
the animals.
"a mighty lonely place. Nobody in
twenty miles of me-and five, six or
seven thousand dollars in gold. Maybe
there's more. Let me see how heavy the
box is. Ay, but that is heavy!
Shouldn't wonder ef there was more
probably ten thousand dollars-all gold.
wonder eff 1 could lift it. Yes, an
throw it in the bushes. Easy as can be.
Held up by highwaymen, nice story, two
| bullets in the clothes, and one throu III
the hat. Ha2 hal ha! I'll try it, yes
no. Hey-what!"
| A stone rolled down the side of the
canyon wall, and the man looked up ner-
vously. 1t was only grey squirrel, but
the bead like eyes were watching him
intently.
"What am doin'," the man NUT
ming down his face. ''Robbin', stealin'
AN ordinary highwayman. Heavens!
Git up here! Hurry, boys, or I'll 60
crazy"
The coach seemed to rush along at
lightning speed. The heavy box fell
back to its original position, but the
drivers hands trembled so that he could
hardly hold the reius. Down the canyon
horses and driver rolled in cloud Of dust.
The man saw nothing around him, and
the whisperings of his own conscience
shut out every external sound. The
horses followed the road by instinct, aud
that alone saved the coach from entire
destruction. Faster aud faster he urged
the plunging animals forward until the
limit of their speed was reached. They
rushed sudden curve with their fl inks
reekirg with white foam, and tnen they
came to standstlll so suddenly that Ben
Tillotson barely retained his seat.
"Hands upl Hands up, quick!"
Was he dreaming, or was his brain
turning2 Was his mind still dwelling
upon the old idea, or was he held up in
earnest9 Mechanically, however, he
raised his hands, and when his befogged
brain was clear enough to understand his
position he realizel that heavy Win
chester was staring him in the face.
"Don't move, old man, or yell die,"
the masked highwayman said, calmly.
"Ye'se caught this time. Hand over
the box quick. Hands upP
The rifle moved threateningly nearer,
and Ben had nothing to do but obey.
He had never been caught before, and
the thought of delivering his treasure to
hlghwayman reused all of his latent
cunning and courage.
''Here ye are. Get hold OF it.
must hold the horses"
.'Never mind the horses. Shove the
box toward me-"
Ben obeyed. He pushed the bcx
slowly along with his feet. He could
see that the man was green at the busi-
ness, aud he waited for his opportunity.
When the box was close to the highway
man the rifle was lowered for an instant
Ben was within three feet of it, and with
sudden spring he caught the barrel OF
1t in his left hand.
''Hold up, stranger; have the drop
this time" he calmly said, producing a
revolver and holding it within foot of
the mans head.
Courses on ye," came from behind the
mask.
"Drop that rife, and hold up your
hands. Drop it, say, or you'll go into
eternity without warnin'."
The man reluctantly obeyed. He
could do nothing else under the circu u
stances.
"Now off with that mask. No; I'll
take it Off myself"
The highwaymau SOU ght to catch the
mask, but Ben tore it off with ole sweep
of his hand, holding the revolver tight
in his right.
"Harry Somersw he gasped.
The two men gazed at each other for
several moments. The uncovered high
wayman was pale, and Ben Tillotson
trembled at the sudden revelation. The
penalty Of such a crime was death, and
the driver would be justified in shooting
his rival without word of warning.
On the other hand, if he showed a mag
unanimous spirit, and forced him, at the
point of his revolver, to accompany him
to the nearest point OF civilization, he
would be strung up at the first tree.