Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-06-03
HIS PRESENCE OF MIND.
Il Served Him Pretty Well, but It Nigh
Have Done Better

Il Served Him Pretty Well, but It Might
Have Done Better
cts great thing, presence of mind,
and always regret that somehow 1
don't think of the right thing until the
wrong time.
The speaker was man whose mus
tache and hair showed the winter of life
was near. His eye was piercing, not
shifty, and his clothing and adornments
betokened comfortable circumstances.
81 was guard Oh the Big Bend stage.
had been gambler for 20 years. l
knew all the tricks, and had played ev-
cry game in all sorts Of ways and with
every kind of device.
It was just such night as this, the
very gentlest of breezes, the moon so
bright one could read by it and the road
through the woods was as white rib
bon. We were bowling along quietly
enough up q grade, when at a little turn
we met two horsemen coming at slash
ing gallop. They threw their horses
back on their launches, and we were
held up.
Passengers, driver and all were
stood up in row, and one OF the BAN
dts guarded us while his partner, Pete
he called him, was soon at work on the
box. l suspected the driver ct conniv-
ance, for when we heard the horses he
said it was q courier coming. He knew
of the trip and SO threw me off my
guard Twas put in a line alongside the
reinsman, and while I had both eyes on
the guard and his partner not move Of
that rascally driver escaped me.
'sOf course we all had our minds in
the air, and right here let me explain a
little point. Did you ever see a poker
hold out2 It's an ingenious continuance
which fits beneath your clothing, with
an arm extending down the sleeve of
your coat ON the inside, SO regulated
that by pressure Of the elbow the clip
at the end is at the wrist to grip card
or out of sight up in the arms It is a
handy affair not to be caught with, too,
for it is prima facie evidence, and hang
ing's too little for man who's known
to be ready to play with the continuance
about him. When I quit the game, I
had set of 'em. I took 'em from fell
low from the bay who came up to earn
an honest dollar. wouldn't sell 'em or
give 'em away. Some one might think
used such things myself. Sol just quiet
~ worked a patent. I got pair Of sim
gle shot derringers, which would lie in |
the crook Of my arm, and not rest hard,
and fastened 'em to either clip Of them
hold OUTS Of course when my hands |
was up, the derringers lay snug against
my forearm. I had practiced with 'em
lots and knew just how to cramp my
elbows, drop my arms little and have
the little bankers in my hands.
ST was gradually letting my hands
down once-that is, was testing the
thing-when the guard called me up
sharp, fearing something, and made me
move away mite from the line, where
he could watch me particular and keep
the passengers covered as well. He Or
dered everybody to keep still, too, for
there was little bit of sobbing by a
woman in the party, and a sniveling
drummer was bemoaning his fate Pete
was not doing good business with the
box, though, for he was clubbing away
with hammer, but not making any
Roadway at opening the little safe. 1
Suddenly the opening came. The
guard was getting impatient and ours
ing Pete, when with smash the hinges !,
broke. Pete gave an exclamation, and
the guard turned his head-only for a
second, though, but that was enough,
for had been watching him, and it
was 10 great thing to take advantage
Of the chance.
Like 9 fash my arms had dropped,
and those little SO caliber pops were
i'll my hands With my right dropped
the guard, the bullet going through his
head. I shot the fellow at the box with |
my left hand. never was as good
shot with my left as with my right, i
and in addition he was three times as
far away. So, instead Of hitting him in |
the head, as tried, only got him in
the body. AS he turned and drew his
gun cried to the people to drop, for
knew there would be some lively shoot :
ing. l didn't take time to reach for my
own gun, but threw myself ON the dead
robher, catching this bullet as went
down.
"I had the gun Of the dead one up in
mcnent, and was able to kill Pete
before any CT the passengers were hit. !
have kicked myself a hundred times
when remember my absolute lack Of
self possession. 1t would have been just
as easy for {. man with presence Of mind
to have turned the trick with two shots,
using the left Oil the close party, and
saved the wound, but I couldn't think
fast enough. San Francisco Exam
iner