The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-22

J Of tho robbers held the door omen with
his LETT hand, while he covered the pas
scngers with the revolver in his right.
OF course they all filed out and were
stood up i'll row. There was much
trembling on tho part of tho men, and
the poor old woman wept audibly. 1t
only took Il few moments to 20 through
tho pockets Of tho line and to investigate
tho messenger small safe. Probably
the road agents would have taken to tho
hills as this moment had not one Of
them boheld the frail figure within tho
coach
"'Hold On, boysl Hoes one wo for
got. and no started III with an oath TO
drag forth the consumptive. AS he en-
tered most plaintive, cough interrupt
ed voice greeted him, and, tough rs he
was, he paused.
Please don't make mo get ont. l
am very sick. 1 will die, / know. If
you will only let me DO, 1 will tell YOU
where you can get 5000 which you have
overlooked. l havo no money, but L
know where the $500 is. The robbers
outside, having heard tho shrill, ponc-
trating voice. glanced at each other
Tho leader called out to his fellow
within the coach: All right Bill, find
out where them 5000 is and let the poro
devil alone. We got to be skS0ping out.
1.-The piping voice took courage
Gentlemen, if you will ask that old
lady to remove her left shoe, you will
find tho money.
The men began to mutter and scowl
The drummer found courage enough 10
say it was shame to rob an old woman
of her last dollar, and no one but the
most depravcd sort of road agent
would be guilty of such III act. The
leader walked ND to the drummer. slap-
ped his face and tickled the end of his
nose with the nuzzlc of his six shooter.
The drummer discrectly held his tongue
nnUl the thieves We're gore
1t WAS with signs and sobs that the
old lady seated herself on the ground
took the shoe from shat fat foot ana
handed up her last dollar. In twin
king it was pocketed, and the outlaws
jumped for their horses and were gone.
What hubbub broke ont when the
people found themselves alone once
more! With one accord they assaiIed the
man within the coach
oh, you villain, you wretch, to
tell them Of my money! cried the WON
an rs she shook him by the shoulders
The drummer entered at this moment
He had been talking To the other mon
OF the party in low tones.
Just step out, madam. Wo want
to talk with him, he said. She obeycd
and several entered 1t was noticed that
the driver had his reins in his hands,
and one end of them looked suspiciousy
like moose
You Id rascal, said the driver
TO nave 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 for moment.
and then the moose fell down, clean cut
through. 1t was seen that the little man
had IL bowie i'll his hand. He spoke IN
u different voice this time
For Gods sake don't bother me
here. You can hang me at Miles City as
well as here. It's only little way.
shall not escape. When we get there, |
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 us well us here.
Some one helped the driver with
the body of the messenger, and the
coach started for town. Tho drummer,
the miner and several others watched
the little man intently, but he made 10
movement, nor did he speal: until the
coach numbered up i'll front OF the post
Office and hotel. Then he said in Il quiet
voice:
- i am Tom --' Cone cf the famous
men Of Tire Black Hills), and | have
$40, GOO i'll this grip. The only way to
save it was by telling the robhers of the
old Woman's money. | AIM glad to re-
turn il TO her and "a stake extra for the
worry caused her. AS for the rest OF
you, | have nothing 10 do with your
losses We all ran the same risk. l wish
you good evening, and he stepped
| quickly from his seat to the door and
INTO the street, dropping IL bundle of
bills into the lady's lap us he passed. :"
And after Lighting his pipe our story
teller passed out into the night and
wcnded his way TO his humble cabin. =
New York Tribune.
Alcohol From Apples.