Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-03-13

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 out and were
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 60 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 en-
tered a most plaintive, cough interrupt
ed voice greeted him, and, tough as he
was, he paused.
Please don't make me get out. l
am very sick will die, I know. II
you will only let me be, will tell you
where you can get 5000 which you have
overlooked. / have no money, but I
know where the 5000 is The robbers
outside, having heard the shrill, pene-
trating voice, glanced at each other.
The leader called out to his fellow
within the coach: All right, Bill, find
out where them $500 is and let the pore
devil alone. We got to be skipping out. ;
"The piping voice took courage.
Gentlemen, it 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 found courage enough to
say it was shame to rob an old woman
of her last dollar, and no one but the
most depraved sort of a road agent
would be guilty of such All act. The
leader walked up to the drummer, slap
ped his face and tickled the end Of his
nose with the muzzle of his six shooter.
The drummer discreetly held his tongue
until the thieves were gone.
"It was with sighs and sobs that the
old lady seated herself on the ground,
took the shoe from that fat foot and
handed up her last dollar. In twin
king 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 villain, you wretch, to
tell them of my money! cried the wom-
Io E,xyf f1,n oh
The drummer entered at this moment.
He had been talking to the other men
Of fhe party in low tones.
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 reins in his hands,
and one end of them looked suspiciously
like moose,
"'You d---d rascal, said the driver,
to have deliberately given this woman s
make short shift of you, and he threw
the moose over the mans head. There
was Il desperate struggle for a moment,
and then the moose fell down, clean cut
through. 1t was seen that the little man
had a bowie in his hand. He spoke in
different voice this time.
For Gods sake don't bother he
here You can hang me at Miles City as
we'll as here It's only little way. /
shall not escape. When we get there, l
will have something to tell you which
will explain my action. A man always
has right to have fair hearing before
he is hung, and claim that privilege. ;
We'll, we can watch him that far, ;
said the drummer. we can hang him
there as we'll as here.
''Some one helped the driver with
the body of the messenger, and the
coach started for town. The drummer,
the miner and several others watched
the little man intently, but he made no
movement, nor did he speak until the
coach numbered up in front of the post
Office and hotel. Then he said in quiet
voice:
"T am Tom --' Gone of the famous
men of the Black Hills), and have
$40, 900 in this grip. The only way to
save it was by telling the robbers Of the
old woman's money. | am glad to re-
turn it to her and stake extra for the
worry l caused her. AS for the rest of
you, have nothing to do with your
losses. We all ran the same risk. wish
you good evening", and he stepped
quickly from his seat to the door and
into the street, dropping bundle of
bills into the lady's lap as he passed. %
And after lighting his pipe our story
teller passed out into the night and
wended his way to his humble cabin