The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1901-08-09

would please you better than chance
to show the world you were not afraid
| of these robbers; you have a pistol,
and here is the chance
'Oh, Miss Grierson, be careful. or
you will make this dreadful man
angry; II-I-was joking--that is,
meant that-if-I had time might
| argue the matter with him.
IF that spooney wants to have
little row with me- said the road
agent, why, I'm agreeable
sOh-oh-oh-I couldn't think of
such thing-really I didn't mean it.
If you want my watch, here it is.
! Take what you want, and let us CO.
1.-THE hardest part of the business
was when Miss Grierson turned her
reproachful eyes on the major and my
self.
"'Are you going to submit to this?'
she asked. You are army men, and
supposed had too much courage to sur
render to single person, even if he
has loaded rife in his hands. If you
will loan me one of your pistols will
fight
I cannot tell you how much
admire your bravery said, in reply,
and I never felt quite so small in
all my life; but it can avail you moth
ing in this instance. The fellow over
there holds loaded Winchester. and
at the first demonstration he will
shoot the offender dead
Then the others can shoot him
dead was the plucky response of the
fiery. young lady.
Yes, but what good will that do
the party of the first part? True,
the major and 1 have seen fighting in
our day, but not of this sort. In fair,
stand-up, give-and-take bout I think
we can hold our own; but in the pic.
turesque language of the frontier, the
gentleman standing there with the
Winchester has the drop on u.s.
'Fudge!' she exclaimed, with an
impatient firt of her pretty shout
| ders; you are all cowards.'
Don't say that!' pleaded Hol-
brook, who, finding the robber did
not proceed to violence, began to re-
gain little of his assurance; we
are simply prudent. Now, if had had
notice of this-contemplated raid.
why, would have made fight, and
What's that?' Thundered the
man in the sombrero, turning so saw
agly upon the dude that he leaped
fully foot from the ground, knock
ing the eyeglasses from his nose:
do you say you want to fight with
me?'
'No-no-no! I beg pardon-but
that is
Sand the poor fellow absolutely
broke down, unable to finish his slut
tering sentence.
Even in those trying minutes I
could not help feeling amused at
Miss Grierson She was thoroughly
disguised with the whole party, for
not one of them had displayed the
spunk of a mouse.
"She seemed on the point of appeal
ing to Burt Bunker, the driver, but
changed her mind, and, with another
angry f1irt, exclaimed:
L believe you are in league with
the scamp. l.Q,s,
"'Miss Grierson,' said I, The isl
know it,
And so do l. added the major.
"Burt, who had been lolling on his
seat in front, now burst into uproar-
ious laughter.
4 think you have got me, pards,'
was his amazing remark. III have
to own up
"To complete the extraordinary sit
uation, the train-robber himself now
joined in the laughter, dropping the
at his feet, and giving way to mirth
until it looked as if he would sink
from exhaustion.
"And then the secret came out.
"Mr. Holbrook's braggadocio became
so annoying that we formed the plot
to put his courage to the test. The
driver, the major, myself and young
Hawley were in the plot.
"At the station where we halted
to water the horses and give them
little rest, Hawley, rifle and grip
sack in hand. left the coach, saying
that he thought of staying over night
with friend who lived in that neigh
bOrhood.
'We halted long enough to give
him time to assume the character of
a road agent. I have described how
well he did it.
81 have shown, too, that Miss Grier-
son proved that she was possessed
of genuine pluck, and that Holbrook
was an arrant poltroon. He strove
dismally to make us belive that he
knew all the time it was joke, and
that he was only playing part. Find
ing that would not answer, he became
glum and silent, and no doubt was
vastly relieved when we reached our
destination at Little Rock.
"Miss Grierson refused to recognize
him again. But it was plain that
Hawley had made an excellent i'm
preston upon her-so much so, in
deed, that their acquaintance contin-
ued, and, within two years from the
date of their first meeting, ended in
the usual happy way"