Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-06-13

the little implement that had worked
the formers financial ruin. Jim's first
impulse was to secrete the holdout upon
his person and seek revenge upon the
unsuspecting miners in the gulch, but
he remembered that he had hired him
self to the stage company and forsworn
gambling. He was man Of his word,
and stage driver he became. 1t was a
monotonous life until the road agents
began to pay frequent visits to the line,
and Jim liked it. The only thing that
disturbed his serenity was the recollec-
ton of the gentleman from Texas If he
could but once meet that scientist face
to face, life would take on new charms
for him.
/ had seat beside Jim on the Lead
Vile coach, and as tho horses crawled
slowly up the grade Of Kenosha noun
tain, preparatory to wild dash down
the other side into the South park, l re-
marked to him that it was going to be
pleasant night. He replied that you
never could tell much about nights in
that country until the next day; he had
seen nights just as promising as this
one turn out real bad before daybreak
The very best of meteorological predic-
lions were likely to fail in country SO
thickly infested with gentlemen Of the
road.
/ expressed desire to have view of
Red hill as we crossed that famous ele-
walton and wondered if the moon would
be down before we got there. Jim
vouchsafed the information that the
moon would be up, but added that he
had known Of peoples appetite for seem
cry being permanently destroyed by
gazing on Red hill by moonlight.
was sound asleep with my head OH
Jim's shoulder when he nudged me and
said:
"We're going up Red hill now. Help
yourself to the scenery, and if you've
got any valuables about you you'd bet
ter hide them We're liable to see more
things than scenery.
Then the horses came to sudden
stop, and Jim and were looking down
the muzzle of revolver in the steady
hand of horseman beside the wheelers.
"Will you step down for moment,
driver?" asked the gentleman OH horse
back.
Jim replied that he was just thinking
of getting down, as he was tired Of sit.
ting. I followed him and took my place
beside him in time to see the other pas.
sengers descend one by one from the in
side of the coach with their hands above
their heads and take a place in line be.
side us.
There were but two of the road
agents. While one of them relieved the
passengers of their weapons and all ar
ticles of value the other was III the
front boat of the stage securing the
treasure box.
When the first robber came opposite
to Jim, he drew back in surprise, ex'
claiming, "Well, I'll be hangedV
For second only he was off his
guard, but that brief space Of time was
fatal one A pistol cracked, and he
fell shot through the head.
"Bang, crack" went two more shots.
Both took effect The second road agent
reeled and fell from the boot of the
stage, and Jim was lying beside the
first robber. 1t was the big six shooter
of the man on the stage that had an
swered Jim's first shot, and it was the
crack of derringer that had terminal
ed the brief battle.
Jim was wounded in the leg Ayoun@
doctor in the party stanohed the flow O.
blood, and we proceeded on our way
with the bodies of the two bandits
thrown into the hind boat.
The shooting was shrouded in mys
terry SO far as the passengers were con
cerned. They had seen Jim's six shooter
taken from his holster by one of thu
bandits, after which careful searcl
had been made to see that no had III
other weapon, but when we picked hin
up derringer was clasped in eithe
hand. The question was how had HI
managed to conceal them and bring
them into use at such an opportun'
time? The mystery was solved when hi
clothing was removed at the hotel il
Fairplay. Under his waistcoat was TIN
wire and elastic poker holdout formerl.
belonging to the gentleman from Texas
The nippers for holding the cards hac
been removed, and circular clasp larg'
enough to securely hold the handle of
derringer had been attached in thei
place. The gentleman to whom the con
trivanoe originally belonged was in thu
hind boot. His surprise upon reoogniz
ing Jim accounted for his presence there
Jim's leg was broken, and the doc
tor informed him that when he recover
ed that leg would be shorter than tn
other; that he would always limp whel
he walked.
Its all my own fault" said Jim.
II don't see how you can make tina
out. {"
"Well, it was this way: When ! 10
the derringers down into. my hands,
calculated to shoot the man on the boo
with the gun In my right hand All TAXI
the highest Teller with my left, but jus
then recognized him as the gent wa
mostly seekin after, gent from Texa
who skinned me out O. my pile will
this yere hold out, an, doc, the tempta
tion was too great / give it to hin
with my right, an it took me too loni
to get bead OH the other one. But
say, doc, this science is great thing. ;
Chicago Times.
Lighting Up In Parliament.