The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-05-10
FOOLED THE HIGHWAYMEN.

Il had quart of whiskey once that
was worth just $500 to me-" said
Colonel Davis, of Chicago. But it
didn't cost that much" he added
quickly, noticing a look of astonish-
ment on the faces of half a dozen
friends leaning against the mahogany.
Lets see, that was away back IN
the '7Gs, when stage coaches were
still rafting into San Francisco l
was on my way down through the
Sacramento River country by stage,
with little more than $4,000 of
Northern Pacific money in my belt
and the prettiest gold watch you ever
saw in my pocket. We were within
day of Frisco and the weather was
dreadful cold for California Just as
the old coach swung round one of
those short turns on the mountain
side, three road agents sprang to the
leaders and leveled their rifles at the
driver Well, we all knew what those
quick stops meant. | remember it
now" the colonel unused, caressing a
glass, las well as though it all hap
pened last month. The passengers
growled as they got out on the cold
ground and lined up along the rickety
coach. Two of the highwaymen
trained their rifles on the line and
the third, with derringer ready for
action, ordered us to shell out. It's
all over. boys [ remarked in an off
hand way, and we might as we'll
make the best of it, but the air is raw
and | suggest we take drink before
going any further Well. sir, that
leader was prince. Got anything
good about your clothes?" he asked
"A quart of the best stuff that ever
ran oat of BOTTLE Ireplied. Get
it. he ordered. [ stepped over to the
coach, with a rifle aimed at me that
looked as. big as the end of a tunnel,
and IN STOPPING over my valise drop
ped in the belt with $1,000 and my
watch. we might as we'll be sociable
like [ said as l turned around with
that long bottle, particularly since
these gentlemen have the drop on u.s.
Take drink YOURSELF the leader
roared, probabably fearing the liquor
was dosed. oh, I'll do that and SO
saying [ raised the glassware and
took long swallow. Well, that fell
low actually stood there and watched
the stuff gurgle down my throat, to be
sure was swallowing it. Now give
your fat friend a drink he ordered,
and | passed the bottle to heavy
passenger who was No. l in the line
of shivering tourists. The fat man
grabbed the bottle and sucked it as
though his life depended upon it.
Now drink again yerself,' the head
man ordered. | raised the bottle
again and as that good stuff trickled
down my throat the leader became
convinced of two things one was
that [ had good liquor and the other
was that it was fast getting away.
Hold on there he howled, I want
some of the stuff myself l passed
the bottle over and they took three
rounds. Now for business the boss
of them shouted. Well, sir. they got
$500 from the fat man and about
1900 from the next fellow. When
he came to me | hauled out Sl1 in
silver. It's all yours l remarked:
all I've got and you're welcome to it,
but I'd like to keep about So to pay
my hotel bill in Frisco until l can
telegraph for some more That fell
low looked me in the eye, and he
hadn't particularly friendly expires
sion either. oh, we'll, you're a pref
ty good sort of a fellow and generous
like-if that is all you've got we'll
pass you up;' and he walked on down
the line gathering in well-filled wal
lets and gold watches as he went. As
they dug spurs into their horses and
rode away one of the fellows turned
back and yelled, Good stuff YOU had
IN that bottle, major; sorry you don't
travel this way oftener.'
From that day TO this I have
never gone out on the road without a
quart in my valise tits always there:
a new bottle every time, and 1 would
as soon think of going away without
d few spare shirts as without that
quart bottle"