The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-31

at once shifted the revolver to his left
hand, and shot one of the men who held
the horses. AS he was cooking the weap-
on TO fire again two of the party climbed
up from behind and oyerpowered him.
They rified the maii-sacks, securing
about 800 from the registered letters, but
the s35 600 IN bills which they expected to
get could not be found. The men accused
Copp OF concealing one OF the bags, and
began TO torture him in order TO make
him confess. While two men held him
and another broke his fingers between
two stones Copp uttered one OF his urgent
chrrups to his horses, which started to
run, overturnning the man who was hold
ing them, and never stopped until the
stage had reached Bucksport. An armed
force was at once sent back to the rescue
They met Copp about two. miles out of
BuckspOrt. He had stolen a horse and
sleigh from a farmers barn. and ridden
IN haste 10 give the alarm.
I'm make the money good II they want
me to-" said Deacon Robinson. who own
ed the stage route, but I'm awfully
sorry for you, Nose; for money won't
heal your hurts"
you amt got to make any money
good" cried Copp. mot darned cent"
"Why7" asked the deacon. Didn't
they go through the mails?"
"Sartln." said Copp. but the money
wen, by express, ana you'll find Il IN
the wooden box strapped on behind"
The Eastern Express Company paid
Copp's doctor bills and gave him 5000 for
his yalor.
He had made a half dozen trips after
his recovery when he met with an adven-
ture that Is still talked OF in Maine. one
night in february he was coming down
GRO, Tpu,, gp rufa
that blocked the roads and made travel
ling next TO impossible lie had few
boxes and trunks on behind There was
only one passenger. large well-dressed
woman about sixty years. old, who COM
planned OF toothache and who took fire.
quent doses OF brandy to relieve her pain.
AZ COpp was not averse TO little good
liquor on a cold night he helped to low
or the contents OF the bottle several times
II was past 10 o. clock when he pulled out
Of Mil Creek on the ten-nile run for
Bucksport The road led through open
fields that gave the wind free sweep. IL
blew so hard that Copp pulled the robes
over his face 10 shield his eyes, trusting
his horses 10 follow the road After he
had gone mile Or two he looked out and
found that the stage was moving through
q rough pasture and near a growth OF
wood which he did not recognize. lie
lighted a lantern and tr1iled the stage
tracks back for half mfe without find
ing the highway After this he shaped
his course by the wind and drove on for
half an hour in silence. BY this time the
horses were used up from wading In the
deep snow, so Copp came to a stand-s,ill
in the lee OF some thick evergreens. The
woman. who was inside was not afraid.
She toiu Copp that she would take the
lantern and go on ahead 10 pick out an
easy road. while he could follow behind
with the stage. Copp said she could wade
In deep snow better than any man. lie
followed her for an hour. All at once
she lifted her lantern and shouted back
10 him:
MAKING TIME
Come on. We are almost out. can
hear a dog bark"
Copp whipped his weary horses into a
gallop. .Ae stage rocked and swayed
among the trees. ard In very dark place
among the woods pitched off into space.
Ccpp saw the lantern dropping into an
abyss. grabbed the mail bags and leaped
among the trees Just as the horses ana
stage went over the brink. He stayed
In the woods until daylight. by which
time the storm had s.bated so that no
could see houses I'm the distance He was
at Bucksport Centre, just across the
river from Frankfort. After he had sent
the mail on by special delivery, he and
The neighbors made long search for the
missing woman, who had led the stage
astray. The tracks were followed TO
tall hun that overlooked the river. which
was open at that place. On the ed1ss BE-
,nw vars soma rooes ana few fraSuents