Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-09-26


reads Of Dakota. We had been together
ler four lays. We called the boy Jim
because Ais father did. We knew his
Athsr b b Col. Weston. banker. cattle
nan and mine owner. The Colonel
want . man to whom q stranger
would tshe at nrst glance. and even
after four days Of his company none
q - could say We liked him. When
you came to study him closely. you
saw that he was revsngeful and relent-
lsea- The boy was frank, clipper and
sooA-natured, and you took q liking to
him ~ soon As you looked into his big
hue eyes. His age was about 10. and
- had wit and knowledge beyond his
ysars. We had yet twenty miles to 60
20 reach the terminus, and the hour
was about 2 o'clock In the afternoon
when the coach came to q sudden halt
- II toiled up hill Next moment the
driver called to Us:
All you folks what don't want your
heads blown OF had better get down
G0d line up. We've been stopped by .
road agent"
We had arms In plenty, but no one
moved to resist Every bullet fred by
the robber would bore its way through
the coach and fnd q target, while the
robber had the cover Of the horses and
was safe from our 6re. 1t seems cow
ardiy when you read 1t, but to get down
and submit to be robbed was the wisest
thing to do under the circumstances.
Little Jim was not q 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 a double e-barreled
shotgun in bis hands. He cautioned
the driver TO hold the coach where 1t
was and then. advanced upon us. He
glanced carelessly into each face until
bis eyes rested on the Colonel Then he
gave a sudden start. drew In his breath
with q gasp. and We realized that there
was a 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
.Obber a. he hold out his hand for a
shake. well. you have been growing
since l saw you last It's a wonder
you knew me at first sight"
'Oh. 1 used to like you so well l
couldn't forget your face" replied the
boy. Are. there robbers around. Mr.
PeltonY'
With gentle hand the man pushed the
boy back in line and then stepped back
. pace or two. As he did SO his face
grew very sober, and l saw a fash 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 60 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
%, but the robber motioned him back.
'Wwhat do you want of me?" asked
the Colonel in 4 voice which qua cred.
''I'n tell you later" was the reply.
A the coach started on we looked ont
70 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
nA nd hut
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-fa Colonel entered the
pines and held 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 been 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 fed 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
a. they followed the father up the
rough way. and though he knew moth
ing Of mans vengeance there was
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 robber
half turned to look the Colonel In the
face and said::s < II
.Pve VISITED for this for two years. 1
sould neither die nor go away until l
had killed YOU"
1T will be murder-cold- -blooded muir
DER" replied the Colonel as he folded
bis arms. - - - ~
IF it was murder a hundred times
over, I'd do 1t. Do you suppose can
forset Rose Harper? Who separated
as. eWhp malignedme? Who wrecked
my life and sent her; 70 suicides
grave? Who drove me to be fugitive
from justice on a false charge? I'd kin
you IL 1000 men surrounded me-.
The Colonel was silent for q time.
He did not look at his boy, but past
him. The boys eyes were fastened on
his face, however, and a chill crept
over him as he noted the look of man
standing In the shadow Of death. II
was the first time he had ever seen 1t.
He turned from his father after awhile
70. look at the rObber.
There was another look strange to
him. 1t was a set determination to kill
the look Of a man who had hated and
thirsted and waited.
Take the boy away nrst" said the