Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-07-18
PEpPERED The BANDIT.
An Amusing Western Experience.
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sits queer what different IDEAS
men have as to how they'll act in case
they ever get involved in train or
stage 'stick-up,' or hold-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
aud on each occasion I've pointed my
two mitts heavenward without any
fuss of feathers whatsoever, and de-
livered the goods with nary whim-
per. But I never figured on doing
anything else. Before I ever got held
sup at all I always said to myself shat
when the time arrived for some fellow
to poke gun into my face and re-
qnest me to elevate my arms, I'd do
& what he asked me to do without any
question at ali, and let him have all he
could find on me without any side
stepping or mnrmnrins. + considered
that that was the only sensible thing
to do, and / consider so yet So,
1 vile Its cost me heap more than I
really could afford to fork over my
little valuables on the three occasions
the boys of the road have nailed me,
Ialways patted myself on the back
and told myself that, while I mayn't
have been very heroic or dare-devilish,, i,
/ did the wise thing in getting away
with complete and unpunctured
: hide.
.But I've often met chaps who
we're simply going to cut dogin two
in case anybody ever tried TO stick
them up at the end of a gun. They
were going to decline to be held up,
and teach the bandit or bandits q
lesson. It's remarkable the bravery
some of these fellows were going to
exhibit whenever any bold, bad prop
osition with o mask tried to ooerce
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 upp 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 q
stick-up.
'About six years ago I was riding
through southeastern Colorado on a
westbound train. I was only making
a six-hour journey of it, and so I
took the smoker aud 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 engaged me in conversation.
Belong out this way? he asked
me in characteristic New England
drawi.
Yep said 7.
(" Reason I ask you that, said he.
is that I've heard there have been a
lot of hold-ups on the railroads out
Z this way lately. That right?'
"'Pretty near,' said !.
sEver find yourself mixed up in
one of those afairs?' he asked me.
Couple times," I told him.
"sDid you lot them go through
you?' he asked me, with searching
look.
Don't you think otherwise for o
holy minute, said I. L am my sole
remaining support and, in general. I
find life pretty good game. It's the
best I know anything about, anyhow.
"eWell, 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?' /
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
'eml Yes, stree, the train robber
doesn't walk in shoe leather that's
ever going to relieve me y, copper
cent, and don't you fail to remember
thatp
"The little man, who, as I after
ward ascertained, was on his way to
California for bis health, looked SO
puff-toady and fierce while he was
getting off these brave remarks that ]
couldn't help but laugh in his face.
That 5nettled him triae, but ]
smoothed it over and made remark
or SO to him about the general matter
of train hold-ups.
... .My friend, said I in conclusion,
tile only advice I can giTe you is, il
any OF these chaps ever comes along