Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-04-07

splurge that would astonish some OF EN-;
L'Twouldn't be bad, either. I've worked
4 for the conf any nigh unto ten years, an
they amt lost cent by nc. 1t amt a
losin' bargain for 'em. They've made
me. But then think of the shamcl NO,
! sir, Git up there, boys, we must hurry.
He snapped his long whip in the air
and urged the horses on into break k-necN
pace. The rumbling of the heavy |
wheels soon brought the man back 10
his reflective mood. =,
"But how easily could work the
osme. y he mused again. ''Au' nobody
would be the better for it. Right aneao
in the canyon 1 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
a gentle trot, aud tae sturdy driver
fidoeted the box with his foot. Tne
1 spell of temptation nearly conquered
The hiding place was near at hand'-Ine
horses stopped as if by instinct; but this
IS very fact startled the man.
INo. no. What ails mel Git up, ye
IS brutcs, what are ye stoppin' forF |
wasn't goin' to do anything. | was only
thinkin' how it might be DONE Git
= upW e.. ,o;no
around him many times.
"Phawp Pm superstitious, he ex-
claimed with laugh. "Whc do think
E. will see me here. There amt nothin' TO
1t be afraid of. Pll just stop to quiet my
- nerves. Whoa, thereV ;,
The stage-coach came to dead matt
Ben Tillotson jumped down from MS
hioh seat and walked up to the heads o.
the animals. ;.
- GA mighty lonely place. NOBODY Il
III III twenty miles of me--and five, SIX o.
IT, seven thousand dollars in gold. Maybe
no there's more. Let me see how heavy Tn
box is. Ay, but that is heavy
b; Shouldn't wonder of there was more =
ne probably ten thousand dollars--all gold
T.vonder ef l could lift it. Yes, an
ew throw it in the bushes. Easy as can De
Field up by highwaymen, nice story, tw
bullets in the clothes, and one througI
h, the hat, Ha2 hal hal I'll try 1t, ye
no. Hey-whatF
.,. A stone rolled down the side OF tn
- canvon wall, and the man looked up mel
0'' vously. It was only grey squirrel OF
. the bead like eyes were Watching I'LL
intently.
tered. with the cold perspiratlon rur u
ning down his face. "Robbin', stealth
an ordinary highwayman. Heavens
wn Git up hereI Hurry boys OF III
IN. crazy" -
a. IA The coach seemed to rush along
,ne u lightning speed. The heavy box 4, ie
81 hack to its original position, but "a
a' drivers hands trembled so that he cou
hardly hold the reins. Down the canyC
horses and driver rolled in cloud Of dus
~ The man saw nothing around him, an
uoe 0 the whisperings of his own conscian.
'0 shut out every external sound. II
L horses followed the road by instinct, az
III that alone saved the coach from enu
uu destruction. Faster and faster ne urg
usS usS the plunging animals forward until tf
,Nr anu limit of their speed was reached. INT
Hi,' rushed a sudden curve with their IAN
aat reekirg with white foam, and tnen ID u
HSs 0HS came to a standstill so suddenly that b
IH, n;I Tillotson barely retained his seat.
"a GLANDS upl Hands up, quick
'St Was he dreaming, or was his bra
.;no ~ turning Was his mind still dwelh
lug lug upon the old idea, or was he held up
m, n., earnest9 Mechanically, however,
ny l;yy't raised his hands, and when his befogg
'in ' hrain was clear enough to understand
fny nv position he realized that heavy WI
IN III chester was staring him in the face.
.o,d - i "Don't move, old man, or yell dix
'O'" the masked highwayman said. calm
,uo. tYe'se caught this time. Hand o
msi 'r1oI the box Quick. Hands upW
ua, 4So The rifle moved threateningly near
o Vno and Ben had nothing to do but OBJ
was He had never been caught before,
onu the thought of delivering his treasure
@Iy ~ bighwayman reused all of hls lat
ret cunning and courage. -,
eT' "Here We are. Get hold of it,
th"t & must hold the horses.
'nS. N,. "Never mind the horses. Shove
ho.o box toward me"
ueoe s Rem obeyed. He pushed the
d"od n"J slowly along with bis feet. de co
sree are. see that the man was green at the b'
W =: '' ness. and he waited for his opportun
ond When the box was close to the highw
t:rS auu man the rifle was lowered for an inst'
niIu i Ben was within three feet of it, and W
,-;e .ue a sudden spring he caught the barrel
,,nJ 1t in his left hand.
= tuu, hn "Hold up, stranger; have the d
"' this time, he calmly said, producin
oa revolver and holding it within foo
49, the mans head.
| 40, lT' courses on ye," came from behind
,new mask.
here. "Drop that rife, and hold up
then hands. Drop it, l say, or you'll go
.ught eternity without warnin'
,onld The man reluctantly obeyed.
rous. could do nothing else under the circ
stances.
as he .Now off with that mask No;
him. take it off myself" =,
alley, The highwayman sought to eaten
gait. mask, but Ben tore it of with one sV
denly of his hand, holding the revolver