The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1900-06-28
!; PEPpERED THE BANDIT.
An Amusing Western Experience.

'.It's queer what different ileas
men have as to how they'll act in case
they ever get involved in q train or
stage 'stick-up,' or hold-up, as you
cali it back this way. Myself, I've
been stuck.up at the point of one or
more guns on three different occasions
aud on each occasion I've pointed my
Z two mitts heaveaward without any
fuss of feathers whatsoever, and de-
livered the goods with nary whim-
per. But I never figured on doing
anything else. Before ever got held
up at all always said to myself that
when the time arrived for some fellow
TO poke a gun into my face and re-
quest me to elevate my arms, I'd do
what he. asked me to do without any
question Mt all, and let him have all he
could find on me without any side
stepping or murmuring. I considered
that that was the only sensible thing
! to do, aud I consider so yet. So,
while it's cost me heap more than I
really could afford to fork over my
sIittle valuables on the three occasions
the boys of the road have nailed me,
]. always :patted myself on the back
and told myself that, while I mayn't
have been very heroic or dare-devilish,
/ did the wise thing in getting away
With complete and unpunctured
{ hide.
aBut I've, often met chaps who
were simply going to cut dog in two
in case anybody ever tried to stick
them up at the end of a gun. They
we're going to decline to be held up,
and teach the bandit or bandits
lesson. It's remarkable the bravery
some of these fellows were going to
exhibit whenever any bold, bad prop
osition with a mask tried to coerce
them into handing over the stuff they
had on them. In nine cases out of ten
these large and ample takers are the
very first to cast up their paws when
the command rings through the car or
coach, Hands up' and the last to
take them down when the robber has
fred his little parting volley aud taken
to the tall cactus. But you can never
I tell how mans going to act in a
stick-np.
"About six years ago I was riding
through southeastern Colorado on a
westbound train. was only making
q six-hour journey of it, and so I
took the smoker and stayed there.
There were about 25 or 80 men in the
smoker, all pretty comfortable looking
chaps. A dyspeptic- looking little man,
about 40 years old, with Bostonese
dialect, sat in the seat ahead OF me,
and an hour or so after boarded the
train he engaged me in conversation.
Belong out this way?' he asked
me in Characteristic New England
drawl.
Yep said I.
{" Reason ask you that said he,
SIS that I've heard there have been a
lot of hold-ups on the railroads out
this way lately. That right?'
s Pretty near said ].
/" Ever find yourself mixed up in
one Of those affairs?' he asked me.
$" Couple times" I told him.
sc Did you let them 60 through
you?' he asked me, with a searching
look.
" Don't you think otherwise for
holy, minute, said I. L am my sole
remaining support, and, in general, I
find life pretty good game. It's the
best know anything about, anyhow
"'Well, said the dyspeptic-looking
little chap, in his piping drawl, I'D
just like to see the loafers get any of
my money, that's all! I'd just like to
catch them at it!'
81 couldn't help smiling amusedly.
"'Why, what would you do?' 1
asked him, grinning right in his teeth
II couldn't have helped it to save
me.
".Never you mind, sir, what I'd
dor said the little man, choppily. I'D
take good care that they didn't get
any of my goods, however! I'd fix
'emi Yes, stree, the train robber
doesn't walk in shoe leather that's
ever going to relieve me of a copper
cent, and don't you fail to remember
thatp
s'The little man, who, as I after
ward ascertained, was on his way to
California for his health, looked so
pufr.toady and fierce while he was
getting off these brave remarks that I
couldn't help but laugh in his face.
That nettled him a triAe, but I
smoothed it over and made remark
or SO to him about the general matter
of train hold-ups.
"sMy friend, said in conclusion,
the only advice can give you is, If
any of these chaps ever comes along