The record-union., 1897-09-05

LII
them come on. I am prepared for just
such an emergency l always travel
with this, my trusty weapon If you
are all equally as we'll prepared, we
need have no fear, should they be In
dians or brigands that attack us. /
assure you l am one who means busi-
ness every time.
HGsh' said the nervous man. Your
revolver frightens the lady. and you
speak so loud that you will wake the
baby. Besides, there are spies every
where. Each clump of bushes may
hide robber and a murderer. For
heavens sake let US get quietly and
safely over this journey. Once through
with my business in the od-forsaken
country, l am going East. 1 really
have 40 taste for adventures
The third gentleman was quite a
young man. My experience may be of
use to YOU he said. I was halted by
road-aGents a month since They
showed no disposition to kill us: on
the contrary, treated us with excessive
politeness, and we were detained but a.
short time
Did they rob your
oh, of course Took everything
they could lay hands on
And yet you say they were poiite?'
In their words and manners. Moth
ing could have been finer than the
way n which they requested the loan
Of our watches and purses, and the
bows with which they received them,
when we, with equal politeness. prof
fered them. A transaction between
an T
have been less courteous in our man
ners had we not plainly seen the cold
nozzlas of those things like what our
friend over there has. The alacrity
OF our obedience must have been en-
couraSing to the road-agents, but then
they are used to that sort of thing
Didn't you show any fight at ALP
None whatever. How could we?
If you knew just when and where YOU
We're going to meet the enemy, and had
time TO draw up in line of battle you
might get in the first shot But what
this gentleman says is true. Road
agents have a bad habit of sprineing
out upon you when you least expect
them. Let man get the drop on you,
and you surrender at discretion, with
out saying much about terms If you
don't resist, your life is tolerably safe.
They would rather not kill you. not
because of their high regard for hu-
man life, but because murder is. on
the whole, dangerous occupation.
Even here vengeance stalks abroad.
Better travel as 1 do, with next to no
money, and then you don't lose much.
A coach is not liable to attack unless
it has been spotted beforehand. and
some one of the passengers is known
to have money or valuabies Of some
kind"
What brings you here?'
! am an agent of New York COM
pany. 1 have matters in Virginia to
look after. Besides, I like adventure.
and this wild country suits me. not
withstanding all its drawbacks. For
myself, 1 have no fear. but I travel
with my eyes open, and I am free to
say that l have seen some suspicious
circumstances on this trip. Has either
Of YOU much money about you?'
The nervous man turned several
shades paler. I may as we'll confess
to you l have my entire fortune with
me. Two bags of gold fastened to my
belt inside. 1t is not possible that any
one should have become aware of this
fact. Gentlemen, stand by me. You
will not see fellow-man robbed and
murdered in cold blood, would YOU?
Oh, how I have worked day and night
to accumulate this little fortune!'
All I can say is you are a fool to
pass through Southern Montana with
bags of gold at such a time as this.
How these fellows become aware of
the condition of a PERSONS pocket, or
that he carries bags of gold next to
his skin, l am sure I do not know.
But L have been pretty sure one of
US here was spotted. At the last sta
tion but one, where the coach stopped,
there were two rough-looking men
lounging about, evidently in communi-
cation with one another They were
carelessly watching the stage One
galloped away on his horse before we
left l spoke to the driver about it,
and he said he feared there might be
trouble. Well, we're in for it,
Drops of perspiration stood on the
nervous mans forehead. His teeth
chartered with terror.
Come" said the owner of the re-
volver, I will protect you at any cost.
Far be it from me to see a man stripped
and robbed without fighting manfully
in his defense. Cheer up, sir. 1t may
not be so bad, after ALL [ am a pretty
good observer myself, and 1 have seen
none of these things which this very
young man speaks of. Youth is apt
to see visions and dream dreams. And
youth is over-confident in it's own
judgment. Now, when this young gem
tleman has had the years of expert
ence which have come to men of nv
age, he will not take alarm so quickly.
Mademe,' addressing the lady. who
p9u9luS!IJ g Ql!M pIBMIoI SuIugeI sgM
look on her pale face, you have moth
ing to fear. My strong right arm has
ever been raised in behalf of defense
less females, especially when invested
with the charms of maternity accom-
panying the chivalrous words with a
profound bow.
THE lady was not reassured bv these
glowing words of her self-constituted
champion. She laid her hand upon the
young mans arm and said, in whis-
per, Your are right. 1 myself saw
those wicked-looking men. I saw one
of them ride away, and | was only
1iiaiih1ul tIdl lie was not gong In the
stage. How stupid I was! I shall
never forget his terrible scowl, though
he took no notice of me. Do you think
we are in danger my baby and +? She,
poor little thing, has never done any
harm. that she should meet such a
dreadful fate. And what would she
do if anything happened to me? 1 have
so little money in all the world. Would
they take this, do you think?' holding
up a shabby pocketbook
u wish you We're not here, mad
ame,' the young man said, but since