The Opelousas courier., 1897-03-20
ooh, dear, oh, dear!' cried the

"'Hustle up here, git ont and one
| of the robbers held the door open with
his left hand while he covered the pas
scneers with the revolver in his right.
OF course they all filed out and were
stood up in a row. There was much
trembling on tue part OF the men ana
| the poor old woman wept audib!y. II
ONLY took a few moments to go
through the pockets of the line and
to investigate the messengers small
safe. Probably the r~oad-agents would
have taken to the hills at this moment
mad not one of them beheld the frail
figure within the coaclr.
":Holl ou, boys ;herc's one We for
rot and he started i'll with an oath
to drag forth the c~onsumptlve. AS he
entered Il most plaintive, cough-lnter'
ruptea voice greeted him, and, tough
as he was, he paused.
"'PIease don't make me get out. 1
am very sick. l will die. l know.
II you will only let me be l will tell
YOU where you can get $500 which you
have overlooked. | have no money,
but | know where the $500 is The
robbers outside, having heard the
shrill, penetrating voice, glanced ut
each other. The leader called out to
his fellow within the coach: All night,
Bill; find out where them two hun
bred is and let the pore chap alone.
We got to be skipping out.
1.-The piping voice took courage.
'Gentlemeu, if You will ask that old
lady to remove her left shoe you will
find the money
"The men began to mutter and
scowl. The drummer cven found
courage enough to say it was q shame
to rob a'poor old oma Of her last
dollar, anu no one but the most de-
PRAYED SORT OF a road.agent would be
guilty of such al act. The leader
walked up to the drummer, slapped
his face and tickled tho end Of his
nose with tho muzzle of his six shoot
err. The drummer discreetiy held his
tongue until the thieves were gone.
"It was with signs and sobs that the
old lady seated herself on the ground,
took the shoe from that foot and
handed up her last dollar. In a twink
ling it was pocketel aud the outlaws
jumped for their horses and were
gone.
what n hubbub broke out when
the people found themselves alone
once more! With one accord they
assailed the man within the coach.
"Oh, you william, you wretch, to tell
them Of my money!" cried the woman
as she shook him by the shoulders. The
drummer eniered,at this moment. He
had been talking'to the other men oil
the party in low tones.
Just step out, madam. we wan
to talk with him. be said. She obeyed
and several entered. It was noticed
that the driver had his reins in hi
hands and one end Of them looked
suspiciously like a moose.
".You rascal said the driver, 'te
have deliberately given this woman's
! money over to those outlaws! Well
| make short shift Of YOU, and he threw
the moose over the mans head. Their
was q desperate struggle fora moment
and then the moose fell down clean Gu
, through. It was seen that the little
. hi had q bowie in his hand. He spok'
in a different voice this time.
"'For Gods sake, don't bother M
1 here. You can hang me at Miles Git,
t as we'll as here. It's only a little way
I shall not escape. When We &c
there I will have something's tell you
which will explain my action. A ma
]. always has a right to have a fair hear
3 ing before he is hung, and I CLAIM
e that privilege
+ "'Well, we can watch him that far
said the drummer, wi can hang hi,
y there rs we'll as here
" "5ome one helped tho driver wit
!, the body Of the messenger, and til
II coach started for town. The drummer
u the miner and several others watche
: the little man intently, but he mad
u no movement nor did he speak unit
b the alach numbered mp in trout OF tt
postof1o5opnd hotel; then he said in
a eriet voics:a
,, ~ am Tony" Zone Of the famo'
men of tho BlaSk Hills), and I ha,
$40, 900 in thiB grip. The only ws
- - to save it was BY telling the robbie:
II Of the old woman's money. I am glt
to return it to her and a stake ext
c. flor the worry I caused her. As +.
u the rest Of you, I have nothing to {
n with your losses. We all ran the san
a risk. I wish you good evening" al
70 he stepped quickly from his seat