Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-11-29

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the hotel and sometimes considerable
express matter, to say nothing Of the
passengers.
But the deacon happened to come
first, and as he turned the corner, plod=
ding slowly along, he heard a smooth,
clear, firm, but not impatient voice say:
"Wait a moment, sir. And kindly
hand over that gripsack and your mon
ey.''
CHANGING up, the deacon beheld big
revolver pointed at his head.
Deacon Hardwicke was surprised and
grieved. He was not coward. He had
lived in many lawless community,
had seen men lynched, had himself been
a target for bullets more than once. II
he had been armed, he would have
fought-as he afterward assured me.
But the appalling fact flashed over
him that he had 10 ''gup," and that
the gentle1nanly stranger "had the
DROP on him.
sCome," said the highwayman in a
more threatening tone, II mean bust
ness. Drop your wallet. Give me your
money, or Ill let daylight through you. -
The deacon halted and shook his fist
at the man. What he said is not mate
rial to this recital. Then he turned and
ran down the grade.
The highwayman fired twice, and the
deacon afterward stated that the balls
whistled by i'll close proximity to his
head. The shots fustered him. He
stumbled, tripped and fell He bruised
his shins and tore the skin from his
wrists The wallet flew from his hand,
and he lay in the road, bowling with
ra . and pain.
TIE I1la1..tider advanced leisurely and
picked up tie wallet. Just then the
stage, WHICH y7s;a a triHe late, as usual,
rolled slowly around the turn in the
road.
The deacon's assailant leaped down
the steep bank Of the canyon and rolled
headlong among the chaparral.
The remarks of the passengers On the
stage, which picked him up and brought
him to the hotel, did not tend to make
him better Latured.
s:Guess it was all fake. - ST didn't
hear any Shots. "Mors scared than
hurt These were some of the wills
pered comments that came to the dea-
cons ears.
eff l had only had a gnn," he said
10 me, "tbat fellow would never have
got out Of there alive. It's the disgrace
that hurts. I don It see how was care
less enough to leave my gun at home
these times,'' he said, with tears in his
eyes.
DO you thiak you would know the
fellow should you see him again?"
asked.
81 should know him anywhere. He
is short and wiry, dark hair, mustache,
no beard, black eyes. And there is a
great, red, flaming scar across his cheek
knife wound, reckon. p"
"I'll tell you what we'll do" said.
''Let us go to Boonopolis and find him.
lie will soon see that there is no pur
suit, and will certainly go there. Per-
haps we can arrest him yet.
Boomopolis at that time was only an
infant among the cities of southern Cal
ifornia. There were huge gaps among
its business houses, now filled with
stately edifces. There were no pave
ments, and where 100 globes of electric
fire now glare at night upon the passer-
by there was then only the dim and fit
ful CLEAN Of lamps from the windows
Of the scattered stores.
After AL elaborate supper at the Trans
continental, served by retired cowboys
from Arizona, we sailed forth to visit
the saloons and gambling places III
search Of our robber. We made three Or
four circuits of the town without sue
cess, and finally found ourselves i'll the
Magnolia club rooms.
was enjoying the character of anna
teur detective hugely. So far there was
a pleasant tinge Of e2citemeut-or rather
an expectation of eXcitement-and very
little danger. But as we scanned the
faces Of the company without seeing
Our man the deacons brow grew black
with disappointment.
It was now after midnight. The cigar
store was closed, but the bar was kept
open all night. Disappointed i'll our
search, we became absorbed in watch
ing the game.
There is something Of the gambler in
every man, and as I looked upon the
tense, excited faces of the players the
contagion of their example seized me,
and I felt in my pocket for coin. Find
ing nothing but silver, which 1 did not
like to stake, as there was none on the
table, I was OIL the point of borrowing
double eagle from the deacon when 1
heard quiet but distinct voice at the
end Of the room say:
Hands up, gentlemen, if you please !"
CHANGING around, saw man stand
ing at the door leading to the bar, re-
| volyer i'll each hand pointed at us. He
was short, slight man, with dark hair
and flaming scare across his face.
There was no confusion. One Of the
loungers quietly placed his back against
the door leading to the cigar store and
drew two revolvers, which he pointed
along the table. Two others, evidently
| confederates also, stood at ease awaiting
| the next order. The rest of us lifted our
| hands simultaneously.
"The gents that are seated will kind
| " rise, said the voice near the door.
The gamblers rose as one man.
'Now, then. Everybody right about
and face the wall. was the next COM