The record-union., 1898-03-27

almost paralyzed McGrath looked into
/ the rnuzzle of a Winchester in the
/ hands OF the man who had waylaid
them not an hour before. He had
| mounted the little platform on which
the passengers luggage was generally
| strapped. il the rear of the stage,
after telling them to go, and had en-
/ joyed u free ride besides having the
! pleasure Of listening to their converse
| tion.
"Iil be dad gUmmed" said AIr. Nc
| Grath in tone that caused the bandit
| to smile beneath his bandana. But
/ the passenger turned pale
BE kind enough TO turn out to the
right, there. Mr.. McGrath." said the
i thighwayman. The driver o5eyed ''Sor-
ry I'm compelled to fool you SO much
to-day You can tie up the team. but
won't detain you long. The other
stage will be along in about twenty
minutes if it's on time. I'll just relieve
you of that five hundred you mention
ed my friend to the passenger.
The latter in mute despair took
pocket book from an inner pocket of
his coat. Inwardly he cursed his care
lessness in making the journey un-
armed. He would have taught this
mocking robber a lesson CT died in the
attempt, if he had only that dainty
! looking Colts that he had
given to a friend a few months ago.
The highwayman counted the money.
It was in bills
Five hundred That's right. I be-
lieve you said it was to pay off a mort
gage for your old folks?"
The ma nodded There was a
lump in his throat that prevented
speech.
well, you can take it back to them
with my compliments. The passenger
Istared
'Here!" said this peculiar bandit as
he tossed the book over 1T was only
an April-fool don't you know!'
The passenger pocketed the book
with an almost inaudible Thanks"
TN be eternally dad gummed!" said
Mr.. McGrath under his breath.
The stage Bud Sampson drove was
an hour late Fortunately for the ban
Idit, no other travellers appeared.
Sampson carried no passengers At
the robbers command he halted
promptly and threw out the express
box, which McGrath was compelled to
demolish as he had done the other To
the robbers disappointment. it con-
tanned only some letters and small
amount of gold coin.
You can go on noW," he said and
Sampson drove off in an easterly direc
ton.
I'm sorry to part with you, my
friends" said the robber to McGrath
and his passenger I've enjoyed your
! a. priSh hos
go with you Good-by'
This time McGrath could not resist
the temptation Of looking back He
ducked his head, however, and lashed
the horses when he saw the roboer raise
his rifle
I've mind to shoot over his head,
just to scare him." thought the latter,
but l suspect it's high time for me to
be making myself scarce in these
parts"
When the shadows were growing long
that afternoon a man, grim, determin
! ed, with a rifle in his hands and a
couple of revolvers in his belt, crept up,
apparently unobserved, to another man
! who had just descended from a tree in
the woods, not far from the cross
roads. The latter was young, clean
| shayen, we'll dressed with an almost
boyish face and a slender well-built
| figure. In his hand ne held a piece of
the pine gum of which children are SO
! fond
! The man with the rife called out
sharply, Halt! You're my prisoner
The young man looked surprised, and
/ turned in the direction of the voice.
Throw up your arms" was the next
command. The arms went up The
man with the rifle gave a prolonged
and peculiar whistle which was an
swered by some one near at hand
What's up?" asked the young man.
Il don't know of anything that's up
only your hands, said the other wick
edly. only I've got orders to arrest
you. What was you up that tree for?'
ITO get this gum. I saw it as 1 lay
on the grass, and got it for NY little
niece. She's fond of it, I was waiting
for my horse to finish his meal. I'm
not any too flush just now, and l have
to go through as cheap as l can
Whenever I find free pasture l take it
Presently another armed man came
into sight, then another from an op-
posite direction.
The pleasantfaced young stranger
evidently did not relish the situation.
but was inclined to make the best OF