New-York tribune., 1896-12-27
FFFffFffff ffffffffTTTTTTTT
+ SUNDAY EDITION !
DECEMBER n. tS96.+
THE OLD WOMAN'S MONEY.
Az EPISODE OF THE FRONTIER.

were q number Of us ti ncwsntrcr corrcsp spondents
and few Interpreters officer and reseryation
! employees. The days previous bad been ful oi er-
element. for Brul4 and Ogalals Sioux were en-
gagged In the Ghost Dance or Messiah craze. AboJt
! the Agency General Miles had grouped some 80
troops beyond their white tents clustered the dingy
| iepces OF tho Indians. some 80 Of them
! We greatly enjoyed those evenings IN the hotel
/ They brought back 20 memory pictures OF m" old
! West-staging. buffalo hunting Indian lighting
And what a fund Of information the scouts inter-
prefers ard "od timers" poured into our willing
ears. Each could have talked an night and
yet left the narration Of his experiences unfinished
! then. We especially interested IN the singu-
lar career OF r. he had left home in Con-
nec;lcut. and after varied experiences N Iowa and
Nebraska joined company o; miners and with
them entered the new mining camp Of Dcadwood.
He was then but seventeen years old. That same
winter he carried the first mail ont % Deadwood
to the Missouri River
T. Joined our circle while scout was relating
some experiences with stage robbers in tho carly
seventies. and Immediately entered into the con-
vsrsatlon
so far ! know the smOOthest trick. prompted
by desire to money. ever played upon stage
robbers occurred near Miles city IN -. load OF
passengers were almost within sight OF tho town.
Tncy had been travelling an day and we're worn
out. for the roads were awful bad In those days
and all coachcs bounced and swayed very much.
Having come near ih'F Journey ~ 'N' lN'S WI"
congratulaiing thcmsel,ca Hoid-ups had been fre-
qucnt. Two heavily armed m"ssen1'rs accom-
panied each coach. with orders 90 fire on any per-
acting suspiciousy.
Dear me" said an elderly man near the door,
I'm glad We are safe have about so and Il
lost It | don't know whore ] could sei mole
~ can get plenty Of money said q travelling
salesman. but the Jos. OF what has" would put
me to much trouble out here among strangers
Two miners and q prospector. each Uith largo
rolls expressed their satisfaction az passing dam
eerJus points safely The next speaker was a l!tue
Old woman. kind and motnerly .n her ways
Ny boy has started restaurant in town and
is doing well H. wanted me - come and help. 30
here am goodness knows FAR enough away from
dear old Ohio thought be- would need MS
mother. for those mining towns are Wild hear
and full Of tcmptati0rs. / have only got 81" irs
all the cash have I'm th" world Fearing robbers
! have put # I'm place whore no ono would mink
81 looking You canno, guess whcrer ~ course
tho suesscs were aii WRONG.
We'll have four 81 bills against the sole OF
my foot inside my efi shoe"
Capital" said the elderly gentleman. no one
would ever think OF looking for money In your
shoes II. the far corner the front sat a small.
slender. black-hairel man. ie kept between his
feet a little nlack vaiiso ~ on, spoke % him
during the Journey and Boz made 20 sound save
occasionally to cough in d peculiar manner soms
Of the passengers thought him 20 10 consnmp-
tive Even when general rood-f'.lonshiN prevailed
he took no part IN the conyersaton. Making bold.
the old lady said.
And YOU. what would you DO II you we're held
up?'
"A hollow cough and a shruS OF the shoulders
was all his reply
What a mean fellow" ihouch' tho oil gentle
man A. this instant the coach iGrchod violently
TO one side and bang hlrs. bang. came the sud-
den reports of guns one messenger was shot. tho
other compelled 10 throw up bis hands before lime
FOR resistance. aud CONSERVATION and terror pre-
vailed within the coach
Lord Lord" prayed the elderly man.
oh dear. on. dear cried the woman.
Hustle up here. Git OUT ald one Of the rob-
bers held the door open with his leit hand while
he covered tho passengers with the revolver In his
right OF course they an flied out and We're stood
up IN a row. There was much trembling on tho
part Of the men and the poor Old woman wept
audbiy It only took a fcw moments TO 70 through
the rockets OF the line and 70 investigate the mes
-senger's small safe. Probably the road-agents
would have taken TO the hills az this moment had
not one Of them bcheld the frail figure within the
coach.
Hold on. boys here's one We forgot and 10
started IN with an oath TO drag forth the con-
sumptiye. As he entered most plainiiye cough
interrupted voice greeted him. and. tough as 10
was he paused.
Please don't make mo get out. I am very sick
viii die. / know. II YOU Will only et me be
Will tel you whore YOU can get $40 which you
have overlooked. have no money. bat | know
where the 500 is The robbers outside. having
heard the shri penetrating voice. glanced a.
each other. The leader called out to his fellow
within the coach: All right Bill ind out where
them two hundred il and let the pore devil alone
We got to be skipping out
The piplng voice took courage Gentlfmen.
YOU will ask that old lady to remove her left shoe
Won will ind the money
THE men began TO mutter and scowl The drum
mer even found courage enough 70 say II was
shame rob a poor old woman Of her last dollar.
and no one but the most deprayei sort of a road
agent would be guilty OF such an act Tho leader
walked Up TO the drummer. slapped his 'tce and
tickled the end Of hts nose with the muzzle of his
six shooter The drummer discrecuy hold his
tongue until the thieves We're gone.
1T was with sighs and sobs that tho old lady
seated herself tho ground, took the shoe from
that IA, foot and handed mp her last dollar In
twinkling it pocketed and the outlaws jumped
for their horses and were zone.
What 4 hubbub broke on; when the people
found themselves alone once more, Win ore ac-
cord they assaied ihe man within the coach
on you villain. you wretch TO ir., t.rn ,. o, ny
money! cried the woman as she shook MIN pf tne
shoulders The drummer entered 90 this moment.
Just Step out madam. We want 10 talk with
y., rotf..d mar the driver had his reius IN his
hands and one end Of them loof'd sHSpi'iousiy hHs
a moose 4,
,Yoff ID rascal said 'ho driver 20 have de-
libcrItoly given this "omau'- money over 70 nose
out.tws' Wen make short enit OF You. ana 10
throw the moose oyer fht mans head. There was
4 desperate strugg.~ for moment ana then ne
moose fell down clean cuf through. II Va. seen
fhat the ni,le man mad bowie in his Band. lie
spoke ia a different voice this time.
- For Gods sake. don't bother 20" mere. You
Gan hang ua at Nl.s Ciiy Wei as here. ft's
only a little way. I shall not escape When We get
There I viii have sOmrta.s 20 tell YOU which Will
explain my action. man always has flsht ID
nave a fair hearing before Do D. nIrg and claim
that privilege.
Nell We can watch him nat far said the
drummer we can hang aim there u as here
som. one helped the driver wiki the body of
the messenger. and the soac1 started for town.
The drummer the miner and several others