Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-06-14
PEPPEREO THE BANDIT.

they ever get involved in train or
stage 'stick-up, as you call it back
this way. Myself, I've been stuck
up at the point of one or more guns
on three different occasions, and on
each occasion I've pointed my two
mitts heavenward without any fuss or
feathers whatsoever, and delivered the
goods with nary a whimper. But |
never figured on doing anything else.
Before | ever got held up at all al
ways said to myself that when the
time arrived for some fellow to poke
a gun into my face and request me
to elevate my arms, I'd do what he
asked me to do without any question
at all, and let him have all he could
find on me without any side-stepping
or murmuring. considered that that
was the only sensible thing to do, and
l consider 50 yet. So, while it's cost
me heap more than really could
afford to fork over my little valuables
on the three occasions the boys Of the
road have nailed me, always patted
myself on the back and told myself
that, while l mayn't have been very
heroic or dare-devilish, did the wise
thing in getting away with complete
and unpunctured hide.
But I've often met chaps who were
simply going to cut dog in two in
case anybody tried to stick them up
at the end of a gun. They were 60
ing to decline to be neld up, and
teach the bandit or bandits a lesson.
It's remarkable the bravery some Of
these fellows were going to exhibit
whenever any bold, bad proposition
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
fired his little parting volley and
taken to the tall cactus. But you
can never tell how mans going to
act in stick-up.
about six years ago l was riding
through southeastern Colorado on a
westbound train. l was only making
a six-hour journey Of it, and so 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 I boarded the train
he gagged me in conversation.
Belong out this way?' he asked
me in characteristic New England
drawl.
"'Yep, said I.
Reason I ask you that, said he,
is that I've heard there have been
lot of hold-ups on the railroads out
this way lately. That right?'
"'Pretty near, said l.
"'Ever find yourself mixed up in
one of those affairs ? he asked me.
"'Couple times, I told him.
"'Did you let them go through
you?' he asked me, with searching
look.
"Don't you think otherwise for
holy minute, said l. 4 am my sole
remaining support, and, in general, I
find life pretty good game. It's the
best I know anything about, any
how.
"'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 =
Il couldn't help smiling amusedly.
why, what would you do?' l asked
him, grinning right in his teeth-I
couldn't have helped it to save me.
"'Never you mind, sir, what I'd
do said the little man, choppedly.
I'd take good care that they didn't
get any of ms goods, however ! I'd
fix EN- Yes, sir, 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
that!
THE little man, who, as after
ward ascertained, was on his way to
California for his health, looked so
puf-tOday and fierce while he was
getting off these brave remarks that
I couldn't help but laugh in his face.
That nettled him a trihe, but l