The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-06-02
HELD UP.

heavy stage echoes it. Eight year of
hard work in tho little mining vilsg,
of Spriggs' Pocket have been rewarded
by sufficient amount Of the yellow
metal Nature had concealed in these
mountains to comfortably keep mo
until am slowed away in the same
earth whose bosom / so often have
desccrated with the pickax.
There are four. passengers beside
myself, and Dick, the driver, to wit: a
young lady Of about twenty, who, 1
believe, is q schoolmistress; a fiery.
little red headed Irishman; tall Her.
cules with an immense black mustache
and long hair who had fought Indians,
slain road agents, and been generally u
dangerous man by common report
understand he runs saloon at Bilburys
Luck; and last, n short, stout man
dressed very much like u clergyman.
He has round, fiorid face whose good
humored expression is heightened by
pleasant pair of eyes overlooking gold
rimmed spectacles.
A stone on one side of the road and
a rut on the other swayed the stage so
sharply that I am landed in the old
gontleman's lap. fall full force upon
small black leather grip which he has
been nursing ever since we left the
Pocket
Hope I've done no harm,"I apollo
gize. "The road is somewhat uneven
on this route"
Not at all--not at all r. he answers,
with a smile. You may have to catch
me next time. Being tumbled about is
excellent for the appetite. Going far ?"
Vermont.
"Ah A grand old State. Born there
myself"
He Of the formidable mustache turns
and looks down at the speaker rs if just
discovering his presence, and then ele-
waiting his nose looks away again.
Il have been in nearly every consid-
erable country on the globe" he con-
tinues. "but know of no spot comb bining
so many happy influences.
Il suppose you have had some strange
experiences.
You are right. / have. I've been
captured and held for ransom by Italian
banditti almost torn asunder by q
Chinese mob an Indian thug made a
pass at me with club the size of
base ball bat, and I am still alive and
in other peoples way. Indeed 1 have
become SO accustomed to meeting dan
ger that it seems almost dull to travel
through q country where there is no
chance of molestation." And he laughs
good naturedly.
The saloon proprietor favors him
with another glance, and says in decided
accents
Stranger, I don't reckon you was
ever held up by agents ?"
Agents Do you allude to agents
Of creditors ? have met several Of
that kind"
Evidently the westerner hardly knows
what the other means, but does not care
to acknowledge his ignorance.
Stranger, means road agents"
Seeing the old gentleman is as mysti-
fed as ever, explain that road agents
are neither moro nor less than high
waymen.
They are getting scarce In this Sec
tion. 1t has been over year since the
sheriff and his posse exterminated Red
dy Hoogly's band. Since then they
have left this neighborhood very much
alone"
: "Yaas, they did fur the gang, but
Reddy give EN- the slip, an I happen
to know that him On pard has begun
to operate hereabouts again" the West
erner interposed.
This is disagreeable news to me, and
my faco very probably shows it, He
proceeds to unfold still more, causing
much concern among the stage occu-
pants.
Its q heap likelier than not that
they'll hold up this very identical wag-
on. That's why I'm here. There is q
reward for Reddy Hoogly, dead or
alive, and if he shows up to-day"
Here he taps the handle of the heavy
revolver at his side in significant
manner.
1t is obvious that the young woman
is alarmed. The Irishmsn looks
moody. and the little man with the
high hat interested. 1Fiffl ftNf
The prospect OF being robbed is to
me most unwelcome. All possess in
the world is secreted on my person
the product of years Of hard, cherries,
uncongenial labor among rough. un-
companionable men. But after all we
may not be disturbed /; Western brag.
gadocio is no new thing to me, and l
doubt not but that the saloon keeper
would be as terrified in the event OF an
encounter as any one present.
'.Bedad, Nv the spalpeens wud foight
wild sticks loike white men, it's short
work I'd be maxim av them. the muir
therin' blackguards t. declares the
Irishman.
This sensible remark does not afford
much comfort Suddenly IN idea
strikes me. 1 request the loan of re-
volver from tho sombrero owner. He
looks me over in superior manner and
says with great decision
oWell. guess not l reckon can