El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-08-22
LLl1 TILE JjlMa
His Peculiar Pleading For His
Fathers Life.

There were 1--WE men or us ana q boy
In the far western stagecoach as 1t
rolled over the rough roads of Dakota
We had been together for four days
We called the boy Jim because his IA
ther did. We knew his father to be
Colonel Weston, banker. cattleman and
mine owner. The colonel wasn't a man
to whom a stranger would take at first
glance. and even after four days OF his
company none of us could say we liked
him When you came to study him
closely. you saw that he was revenge
full and relentless The boy was frank.
clipper and good natured- and you
took a liking to him as soon as you
looked into his big blue eyes. His age
was about 10. and he had wit and
knowledge beyond his years We had
yet 20 miles to go to reach the termi-
nus. and the hour was about o'clock
IN the afternoon when the coach came
to a sudden halt as II toiled up hill.
Next moment the driver called to us:
"An you folks what don't want your
heads blown of had better get down
and line up. We've been stopped by a
road agent"
We had arms In plenty. but no one
moved to resist Every bullet fired by
the robber would bore its way through
the coach and find a target, while the
robber had the cover Of the horses and
was safe from our fire. 1t seems cow
ardly when you read IL. but to get
down and submit to be robbed was the
wisest thing to do under the circum
stances
Little Jim was not a bit frightened.
On the contrary. he rather enjoyed the
situation. II was not so with the colo
mel. l saw him turn pale and heard
him cursing under his breath, and he
was the last man to get down.
The robber had a double barreled
shotgun in his hands. He cautioned
the driver to hold the coach where It
was and then advanced upon u.s. He
glanced carelessly into each face until
his eyes rested on the colonel Then he
gave a sudden start. drew In his breath
with gasp, and we realized that there
white under his look and began to
tremble. The boy had no sooner looked
into the road agents face than he cried
out:
why. it's Mr.. Pelton-Mr. PeItoni
Say, Mr.. Pelton. I'm awfuIly glad to
see you Where've you been this long
timeT'
$50 it's you. Jimmy" laughed the
robber as he held out his hand for
shake. We'll. you have been growing
since 1 saw you last It's a wonder
you knew me at first sight"
-Oh, / used to like you so well 1
couldn't forget your face" replied the
boy. Are there robbers around, Mr..
Pelton:''
With gentle hand the man pushed the
boy back in line and then stepped back
a pace or two AS he did so his face
grew very sober. and I saw a flash in
his black eyes did not like. His voice
was low and steady as he finally said:
I'm much obliged for your prompt
ness in climbing down and lining up,
and I think I'll let you OF this time
The four of you may go back into the
coach and go on I'm leaving your
guns with you. but don't attempt to
play me any trick"
The colonel took his son by the hand
and attempted to enter the stage with
Us. hut the robber motioned him back
Wv what do you want of me?' asked
the colonel in n voice which quavered-
I'll tell you later" was the reply.
AS the coach started on we looked
out to see the three standing in the
road Little Jim still had hold of his
fathers hand, but had reached out the
other and caught the robbers sleeve.
When we had gone 200 feet. the road
turned and shut them from our view.
At the disappearance of the stage the
man turned on Colonel Weston and
pointed TO the hillside on the right and
said:
Move OH that way. Jimmy, give me
your hand. and I'll help you along"
The white faced colonel entered the
pines and held a straight course up the
hill Behind him came the robber and
his son. The boy had been full OF curl
osity at first. but presently he was
awed and frightened by the looks cast
upon his father
Two or three years before he and
Mr.. Pelton had beer great friends. Mr..
Pelton had been manager for his IA
ther. One day there had been a bitter
quarrel. pistols had been drawn, the
sheriff had rushed in. and Mr.. Pelton
had fled to escape arrest. He remem-
bered his father calling the fugitive a
thief and of men being sent out to hunt
him DOWN All this came back to him
as they followed the father up the
rough way, and though he knew moth
ing OF mans vengeance there was a
feeling of dread in his soul Now and
then the robber ordered the colonel to
the right or left, but these were the
only words spoken until they finally
reached rude camp high up among
the powders. By and by the robber
half turned to look the colonel in the
face and said: