Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-12-24
his PRESENCE OF MIND.
Il Served Hin Pretty Well, but IL Might
Rave Done Better.

Rave Done Better.
"It's great thing, presence of mind,
and / always regret that somehow I
don't think Of the right thing until the
wrong time"
The speaker was q 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.
Il was guard on the Big Bend stage.
/ had been gambler for 90 years.
knew all the tricks, and had played ev-
cry game i'll all sorts Of ways and with
every kind of device.
1T =as just such night as this, the
very gentlest Of breezes, the moon so
right one could read by it and the road
through the woods was as white rib
bon. We were bowling along quietly
enough up grade, when at 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. / suspected the driver of conniv-
ance, for when we heard the horses he
said il was courier coming. He knew
CT the trip and so threw me off my
guard. Twas put III line alongside the
reinsman and while l had both eyes on
the guard and his partner not move Of
that rascally driver escaped me.
"Of course we all had our minds in
the air, and right here let me explain a
little point. Did you ever see poker
hold out? 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. 1t is
handy affair not 20 be caught with, too,
for it j. prima facic evidence, and hang.
ing's too little for a man who's known
20 be ready &C. play with the continuance
about him. When l quit the game, /
had a set of 'em. took 'em from fell
low from the bay who came up to earn
an honest dollar l wouldn't sell 'em or
give 'em away. Some one might think
used such things myself So just quiet
ly worked a patent. got pair Of SIN
gle shot derringers, which would lie In
the crock Of my arm, and not rest hard,
and fastened 'em TO either clip Of them
hold outs. or course when my hands
was up, the derringers lay snug against
my forearm. 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.
Il 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 sobblHg by
woman III the party, and sniveling
drummer was bemoaning his fate. Pets
was not doing good business with the
box, though, for he was clubbing away
with q hammer, but not making any
Roadway at opening the little safe
Suddenly the opening came The
guard was getting inpatient and ours
ing Pete, when with a smash the hinges
broke. Pete gave an exclamation, and
the guard turned his head--only for q
second, though, but that was enough,
for | had been watching him, and IL
was no great thing to take advantage
of the chance.
Like fash my arms had dropped,
and those little 3S calibCr pops were
in my hands With my right dropped
the guard, the bullet going through his
head l shot the follow at the box with
my left hand. l never was as good D
shot with my left as with my right,
and IN addition he was three times az
far away. So, instead of hitting him in
the head, as l tried, / only got him in
the body. AS he turned and drew his
gun l cried 10 the people to drop for
knew there would be some lively shoot.
ing. ! didn't take time TO reach for my
own gun, but threw myself on the dead
robber, catching this bullet as L went
down.
Il had the gun Of the dead one up in
a moment, and was able 20 kill Pete
before any Of the passengers were hit. /
have kicked myself 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 on the close party, and
saved the wound, but l couldn't think
fast enough. San Francisco Exam
iner