Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-03-06


were approaching.
"Colfax," answered the man from
High Hat: 1--WE stop for water about
five minutes"
My partner held the winning trick,
and wheh the last card was on the
board the score stood four to four.
swell, gentlemen, this decides it,"
said the man from High Hat. "and II
no one objects I'm going to open the
car door to let in little air. F" He
rose, stepped out, and we heard the
rear door open. When he came back
he threw away his cigar with de-
termined air and cut for the hat drum
mer. As the cards were dealt We felt
the train slow down to stop, and
heard the forward door bang as the
porter and conductor went out to the
platform.
was gladdened when I took up my
hand by the sight of four high trumpe.
1t was the -four mans lead. arranged
my hand and glanced over at him;
and then I let my cards fall ON the
board. The -four man. with set face
and twitching lips, was staring at the
man from High Hat. The drummer
was still studying his cards. / turned
and followed the -four mans gaze.
What I saw seriously damaged my
composure. The man from High Hat
sat far back in his seat and held be-
fore him two determined looking re-
volvers. His hat was pushed to the
hack OF his head. and he was differ.
ent person. indeed, from the countri'
fed traveller who had Joined us at the
dinner stop. heard the drummer's
cards alight softly IN the board ana
knew that he, too, had at length
grasped the situation. There followed
a moments silence, during which only
the sound OF voices far up the plat.
form and the subdued ''puf puff" of
the engine were heard. The hat drum.
mer sighed nervously, and the man
from High Hat shifted revolver in
his d1re0tion like fash. That broke
the tension.
"Gentlemen,' he said, at lengtu,
"this is rather an unpleasant situation,
but much of the unpleasantness may
be removed by obeying my instruc-
tions to the letter and with alacrity.
The gentleman on my left will empty
his pockets on to the table; the next
gentleman will kindly follow suit
there is no renigg1ng in this game
and the gentleman on my right will
do the same. At once, please" The
last words were spoken in tone that
sent our hands to our several pockets
simultaneously. When his instruc-
tions had been obeyed, there rested on
the table three pocketbooks, heap
of small silver, three watches, and two
silver match safes. Further orders led
to the addition to the collection oftwo
immense diamond studs from the flour
mans shirt front, three rings, and q
diamond pin from my scarf.
"Now, gentlemen, if there are any
tickets or papers of only personal
value in those wallets which you desire
to keep, you can take them.
IL should like to keep about fifty
of that currency" ventured the hat
drummer with tremulous laugh.
81 am sorry that can't accommo-
date you," was the unsmiling reply.
"Now, sit perfectly still, gentlemen,
until am through"
He laid one pistol on his knee and
used his right hand to stow our be-
longings in his coat pocket. A sudden
recollection of the electric call button
by my elbow must have shown in my
eyes, for the man from High Hat
moved the muzzle of revolver hair q
breadth nearer the line of my breast
and remarked:
''It is quite useless there is no one
else in the car. And now, gentlemen.
accept my apologies for what incon-
venience I have put you to. and my
thanks for your pleasant company and
your pleasanter gifts. lneed hardly
point out to you that the moral to be
derived from this evenings adventure
is: Never travel without gun! I ask
you to remain quiet moment longer. "
The sound of the engine whistle
broke in on his last words and the
train began to move.
"Keep your seats, gentlemen, or
shall not be responsible for the con-
sequences!" The man from High Hat
backed to the door, dropped one pis'
tol into pocket, settled his hat firmly
on his head. buttoned his coat and
waited, eying us closely the while, and
never letting the muzzle OF the re-
naming gun move from our direction.
The train took on more speed; We
heard the door close at the front end
of the car and listened to hear the
footsteps OF the conductor approach
ing. But not so the man from, High
Hat; with a quick "Good night.
friends!" he stepped outside OF tht
door and slammed it swiftly behind
him. We sat motionless the fraction
OF minute, during which we heard
him reach the car door and heard II
bang sharply after him. Then
leaped at the bell cord.
When the train started on again
after ten minutes fruitless delay, WI
viewed sorrowfully the yellow valist
and the light overcoat. In the former
reposed solitary chunk of red sand
: stone; the market value of the over
coat was something under three dol
lars. Our investigations were dis
turbed by the porter.
HAS any you gentlemen seen d.
big man wild de damon studs?"
8 I locked around; he was not il
I sight; but on the Uttered card table
lay sheet of paper torn from the
s back of a book. This is the message
it bore, hastily scrawled in pencil:
"The -four man has gone with tn
dough-"
So we had been sold by more thar
one scoundrel.-Munsey's Magazine.