Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-05-16

| Douy would lind 1t. Then months later
I'd come for it"
Once more the horses slowed down te
gentle trot, and tae sturdy driver
hdgetei the box with his foot. Tae
spell of temptation nearly conquered.
The hiding piace was NJ. at hand. The
horses stopped as if by instinct; but tli5
very TACT startlei the maa.
''No, no. What ais me. CIT up, ',
brutes, what are We ss1ppin' for2 1
wasn't goin' to do anything. was only
thinkin' how il night be done. Git
upw
lie was ncr vous and excited, glancin,
frouud him many times.
"Pnaw! Tin superstitious, ne ex
claimed witi a !auEh. "Who do think
will see me here. There amt nothin' to
be afraid OF. Pll Jst stop to quiet my
nerves. Whoa, tnere!"
! The staye-coacl came to dead halt
Sen TilIo-son jumped down from hi.
high sea: ani walked up to the heads oI
tie animals.
"a mighty lonely place. Nobody il
twenty miles of Ine-and FIVE, six or
seven thousand dollars in gold. Maybe
there's more. Let me SEQ how heavy the
box is. Ay, but that is heavy |
Shouldn't wonder et there was more =
probably ten thousand doilars-all gold
Iwonder ef l could lift it. Yes, au'
throw it in the bushes. Easy as can be.
Held up by highwaymen, nice story, two
bullets in the clothes, aud one throu .h
.he hat. Ha2 ha! HI! I'll try it, yes
no. Hey-vhat!'
A stone rolled dovn the side of tn,
canyon wall, and tho man looked up ner.
vousIy. 1t was only grey squirrel, but
the bead like eyes were Watching him
intently.
! "What am 1 doin',' the man NUT
tered, with the cold perspirstion run
ning down his face. "Robbin', stealin'
An ordinary highwayman. Heavens
Git up here! Hurry, boys, or I'll &c
crazy"
The coach seemed to rush along a
lightning speed. The heavy box fel
back to its original position, but tne
drivers hands trenbed so that he could
hardly hold the reins. 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 followel the road by instinct, and
that alone saved the coach from entire
! destruction. Faster aud faster he urgeo
the plunging animals for ward until the
limit of their speed was reached. Tlcy
rushed sudden curve with their fllnks
reekirg with white foam, and then Trey
came to s;andstilI so suddenly that Ber
Tillotson barely retained his seat.
Islands upl Hands up, quick!'
Was he dreaming, or was his braiL
turning2 Was his mind still dwelling
upon the old idea, or was ne held up in
earnest7 Mechanically, however, he
raised his hands, and when his befogged
brain was clear enough TO understand his
position he realized that heavy Win.
chester was staring him in the face.
"Don't move, Old man, or ye'll die
the masked highwayman said, calmly.
"Ye'se caught this time. Hand over
Ihe box quick. Hands up!"
! The rifle moved threateningly nearer
! md Ben had nothing to do but obey
de had never been caught before, and
the thought of delivering his treasure to
i hlghwayman reused all of his latent
cunning aud courage.
"Here ye are. Get hold of it.
must hold the horses"
, Never mind the horses. Shove tn,
oox toward me-"
/ Ben obeYed. He pushed the be-
ilowly along with his feet. He could
see that the man was green at the bust
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, aud with
sudden spring he caught the barrel OF
I in his left hand.
"Hold up, stranger; have the drol
his time" he calmly said, producing a
revolver and holding it within foot of
!hc mans head.
Courses on ye," came from behind the
mask.
"Drop that ride, and hold up you
nands. Drop it, say, or you'll go into
eternity without warnin'."
The man reluctantly obeyel. H
could do nothing else under the circu u
stances. ..---
NOW OIL Will lAldL ludohs &NO, Ia
cake it of myself"
/ The highwayman sought to catch tn.
mask, but Ben tore it off with oGe sweep
of his hand, holding the revolver tight
IN his right.
"Harry Somersl" he gasped.
The two men gazei at each other fol
,everal moments. The uncovered high
srembled 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 warnin-;.
On the other hand, if he showed 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.
The choice OF deaths was not encourag-
ing.
"Well, what are you goin' to do with
ne2" the captured man asked In voice
that was intended to be brave. "You
have me in your power an my life IL
yours, l s'pose. / could have shot you
before, but couldn't commit murder.
You can shoot me, an nobody will call i,
murder. It will be justice. Or you can
take me to che town an have my body
grace tree. Mandy Duyval will be
there, an she'll rejoice with you at the
wight"
At the mention of his sweetheart
name Ben started. The mans harsh
laugh grated horribly on his nsEves.
Would Mandy think more of him II he
brought his rival to justicea Justice
Had he not just attempted the same
crime, and been prevented only by the
sudden awakening of his fear and con-
science2 Was not he as guilty as Harry
Somers Of highway robberyf The
thought of his indicted crime made his
hand tremble, and the beads OF perspirI'
lion started out upon his forehead. =.
"Come, what are you waitin, furi