The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1897-02-25

ilar manner. oome of the passengers
thought him to be consumptive.
Even when general good-fellowship
prevailed he took no part in the con-
versation. Making bold, the old lady
said:
"'And you; what would you do if
you were held up?'
"a hollow cough and shrug of the
shoulders was all his reply
"'What mean fellow! thought
the old gentleman. At this instant
the coach lurched violently to one
side and bang, bang, bang, came the
sudden reports of guns! One mes
senger was shot, the other compelled
to throw up his hands before time for
resistance, and CONSERVATION and ter
ror prevailed within the coach.
"Lord, Lord' prayed the elderly
man.
"'Oh, dear, oh, dear' cried the
woman.
Hustle up here, git out, and one
of the robbers held the door open with
his left hand while he covered the pas
sengers with the revolver in his right.
OF course they all filed ont and We're
stood up in row. There was much
trembling on the part OF the men and
the poor old woman wept audibly. 1t
only took few moments to go
through the pockets of the line and
to investigate the messengers small
safe. Probably the road-agents would
have taken to the hills at this moment
had not one of them beheld the frail
figure within the coach.
"'Hold on, boys ;here's one we for
got, and he started in with an oath
to drag forth the consumptive. As he
entered most plaintive, cough-inter-'
rupted voice greeted him, and, tough
as he was, he paused.
am very sick. I will die, know.
II you will only let me be I will tell
you where you can get 5000 which you
have overlooked. ! have no money,
but know where the 5000 is. The
robbers outside, having heard the
shrill, penetrating voice, glanced at
each other. The leader called out to
his fellow within the coach: All right
Bill; find out where them two hun
dred is and let the pore chap alone.
We got to be skipping out.
"The piping voice took courage.
Gentlemen, 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 even found
courage enough to say it was shame
to rob poor old woman of her last
dollar, and no one but the most de-
PRAYED sort of road-agent would be
guilty of such an act. The leader
walked up to the drummer, slapped
his face and tickled the end OF his
nose with the muzzle of his six shoot
er. The drummer discreetly held his
tongue until the thieves were gone
sIt was with sighs and sobs that the
old lady seated herself on the ground,
took the shoe from that foot and
handed up her last dollar. In twink
ling it was pocketed and the outlaws
jumped for their horses and were
gone.
..What 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 entered at this moment he
had been talking to the other men OF
the party in low tones.
I" Just step out, madam, we want
to talk with him, he said. She obeyed
and several entered. 1t was noticed
that the driver had his relns IN his
hands aud one end of them looked
suspiciously like moose.
".You rascal, said the driver, to
have deliberately given this woman's
money over to those outlaws! wen
make short shift of you, and he threw
the moose over the mans head. There
was desperate struggle fora moment
and then the moose fell down clean cut
through. 1t was seen that tue ittie
man had bowie in his hand he spoke
in different voice this time.
sEor Godbs sake don't bother me