Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-04-05
A Cute Little Man.
Happy Chance Enabled Him
to Foil the Road Agents.

Hills coach lett Cnt Nenne iOI DeauWoOe
with S passengers were men, one
was a woman. As they journeyed to-
ward DeaGwood they eonvers4d among
themselves. Each expressed different
opinions as to the probability OF a hold
up. Some said they would hide money
under the customs, o hers would surrend'
er what bills or gold they might possess,
while two or three men exhibited revolv-
ers and vowed that they would make
resistance. The woman said she had
only 500 in the world. She had come
out west to make living by keeping a
restaurant in the mining camps aud had
done very well until fire destroyed
her property and her investment. She
was going back TO her son in New Eng
land to spend the remainder OF her DAYS
upon the farm The safest place I'M
aginable, in her opinion, was the sole
of her left foot, aud she had according.
ly placed two $50 bills inside her shoe
There was a small man seated in the
corner next to the driver. bis hat was
pulled we'll over his eyes, and he kept
constantly in his lap small black va
lise He took no part in the converse
ton, and 1t was not long until the pass
engers, who received rather curt t.
sponses to such questions as they adj
dressed to him, began to r,gard his ac-
tions with suspicion.
"Well the coach rolled on toward
Deadwood. Next morning toward
O'Clock the expected robbers appeared.
The messenger was shot and slightly
wounded, the horses were held and
both driver and mess niger compelled
to dismount and put up their hands.
| TIE pass engers were ordered out Of the
| coach, ard it is needless to say that
they obeyed with alacrity. The three
men who were to resist the robbers
were so awed by the presence of sew
eral largo revoivers thrust in their
faces that they gave up their treas
ures wlh little remOD>trance. Said
one of the robuers. lis agin our rules
| to bother women. so, old girl, we won
bo.her YOU While two Of the despera
does went through the pockets OF the
men another happened to see the small
man in the corner. Hello, said he,
here's one in the coach. Come out Of
there. The man appeared, but with.
out his little valise. lie was very poor.
ly dressed, thin, rale and affected by q
hacking cough, Said he: Boys, | have
MT got much-only few dollars ! am
going back east to die. If you take what
little cot. | won't have no money 10
get meals. MY railroad ticket ain'i
any use to you. If you will let me 4
lone, will tell you where you can get
$780,
"At this the poor old woman turned
pale and some of the passengers began
to mutter
FAN right said the spokesman Of
the bandits, wen search yoD, and il
you amt lying Well let you 90 if yon'l
tell us where We can get that $780,
| So they searched him and found 81
or IS in silver in his pockets, which
they let him keep.
. Now, said the consumptive look.
ing man. If you'll make this ole
woman take off her left shoe, you will
find next to the sole two $50 bills
1.-The robbers comuelled the old WON
an to loosen Ter sho3 and found the
money, Upon this they took their de
parture, the passengers mounted the
coach, and the journey toward Dead
wood was resumed.
| Scarcely had they entered when {
torrent of abuse was poured upon tht
small man. You villain, SAID one
'ycu ought to be hung One of his
men called to driver to stop. The NEAR
man 10 the corner was dragged out o
the coach. and the excited passenger!
were about to string him to the neares
tree
One minute just one minute? plead
ed he. 1T is only 10 or II miles to the
next stat on, and it is customary in ihi!
country 10 give man little show fol
his life. / beg of you just go that far
and if cau't properly explain you car
hang me-
.sThe driver told the pass myers tha
the men at the station would not inter
fere if the suspect could not make 1
proper defense, SO they all re-enterec
the coach and proceeded upon theil
journey. There was little said during
the next hour aud half The mean
man was closely watched BY the male
passengers, and escape for him was i'm
possible.
CAS- the buildings of the station came
into view upon the coach suddenly
swinging around bend in the road the
small man frightened up considerably.
Now, said he. L win tell YOU. We
are perfectly safe here, as this end Of
the line is free from robbers. have
S25, 600 10 my grip. and the only way
that could save 1t was by divertiag tht
attention of the robbers TO some one il
the party. Unfortunately that Que had
to be the lady, That is why | have
kept my own counsel during the JOUR
ney'
As the coach rolled up in front d
the postoffiee he opened his valise, pre-.
stnted the old lady with six $50 bills
and 10 addition gave each of the othel
passengers sufficient monev TO cover
his expenses to Deadwood. "-SanFran.
cisco Examiner.