Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-09-18
LITTLE JIM.
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ca HERE were five men Of us and q
boy in the far Western stage
- coach as it rolled over the rough
roads of Dakota. We had been together
for four days. We called the boy Jim
because his father did. We knew his
father to be Col. Weston, banker, cattle
man 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
Iof us could say we liked him. When
you came to study him closely, you
saw that he was revengeful and relent-
less. 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 twenty miles to go
to reach the terminus, and the hour
was about o'clock in the afternoon
when the coach came to a sudden halt
as 1t toiled up hill. Next moment the
driver called to us:
"Al you folks what don't want your
heads blown off 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 it's way through
the coach and find target, while the
robber had the cover of the horses and
was safe from our fire. 1t seems cow
!ardly when you read it, but to get down
and submit to be robbed was the wisest
thing to do under the circumstances.
Little Jim was not a bit frightened.
On the contrary, he rather enjoyed the
situation. 1t 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 double-barreled
shotgun in his hands. He cautioned
the driver to hold the coach where it
was and then advanced upon US. He
glanced carelessly into each face until
his eyes rested on the Colonel. Then he
gave sudden start, drew in his breat tn
with gasp, and we realized that there
was q recognition. The Colonel grew
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. Pelton!
Say, Mr.. Pelton, I'm awfully glad to
see you. Where've you been this long
timer
so it's you, Jimmy" laughed the
robber as he hold out his hand for a
shake. We'll, you have been growing
since / saw you last. It's a wonder
you knew me at first sight"
"Oh, l used to like you so well l
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 1 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 think I'll let you off 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, but the robber motioned him back.
"W-what do you want of meT' asked
the Colonel in voice which quavered.
"I'n 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 Col Weston and pointed
to the hillside on the right and said:
"Move on 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.
Mr.. Pelton had been great friends. Mr.
IPelton had been manager for his ia
Ither. One day there had been a bitter
quarrel, pistols had been drawn, the
sheriff had rushed in, and Mr.. Peltor
had fled to escape arrest. He remem
bered his father calling the fugitive q
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 a rude camp high up among
the powders. By and by the robbel
half turned to look the Ctlonel in the
face and said: