Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1901-12-13

'h'iN Ndo certain UHfbIlcSS luul con-
trasted strongly with the CHEEKY frank
ness of expression when in II lighter
mood, What his head was like could
not see. as ever at supper he kept his
SLOUGH felt hat pulled down low Oh his
forehead
Charlie muttered something about
coarse bush manners, but the gentle
man with the hat either did not hear
or was wilfully dcaf-at any rate Char
lies remark in no way intcrfered with
his spirits or appetite.
"Bit of nuisance, gentlemen" he
said, with his mouth full of cold beef
being dragged on like this when re-
spectacle travellers ought to be Abed.
Devil take the gold escort, say I! |
don't cotton to sitting by Il man with
loaded rifle slung across his knees
it's bit shaky for cove of my time
of life
He laughed as he spoke and helped
| himself to huge slice of ounce tart.
Lucky we're not in the old days,
gentlemen he continued Il shouldn't
have fancied going over that mountain
with a coachload of dust and only two
armed men-and one of 'em a civilian
to guard it,
"Who said there were only two arm
ed men," interrupted Il gruff voice, and
the sergeant stood in the doorway. For
Il moment Mr. Landon-that was his
name-looled startled, but the next in
slant turned laughingly to the SER
geant.
"Why, YOU said so yourself, sergeant.
Didn't you say that you and the ac-
countant (Nr. jones' would he ready in
half an hours time? You didn't say
nothing about no others"
Sergeant Fulton growled something
under his breath as he dropped his
huge frame into chair and called for
drink.
whats happened to that fellow
Moonbeam. sergeant" asked Charlie
Wilson after Il pause. He seems TO
have left this district
Cant say, sir replied Fulton,
Hes a tough nut to crack, and the
devil knows what he's up to now. ia
give ten years of my life TO get that
scoundrel.'
Yes" laughed Charlie, "he's given
you chaps a rough time for the last
wear or two. | can't help admirlng the
pluck Of the fellow, though he is such
bad lot"
"A bad lot" growlcd the sergeant
Hes a murdcrous villain, that's Wha'
he is. lie shot my mate, Dick gum
ton, without giving the poor chap ;
dog : chance of n run for his money
Il don't know anything about 1t, ant
I'm talking Il lot of rot, suppose sal'
) Landon. joining in, but it seems to M
an outsider-to have been his life o.
your friends. Perhaps Trooper Gum
ton wouldn't have given him much law
expect, if he could have drawn
bead on him.
you think not" said the sergean
SHARPLY. well. think, as I've said
that Mo6nbeam, as he is Called Is
: murderous blackguard, and if | coui'
get a chance ut him I'd plug him as
: would bandicoot.'
"Well, well, sergeant laughed tn
other, mo offense, and, rs say
I haven't heard much about the chal
what's he like? Have you ever see
him.
"Onlv once" said the sergeant $40"
". but think I'd know him again.
!, well" laughed the other, i ca
i only hope, for Moonbeam's sake, tina
Won won't happen to meet him.
At that moment a tall young MAJ
clad in n heavy ulster. entered u
Il room. He carried black bag III III
t hand. Good evening, gentlemen--M
> Fame. Mr. Landon-may | introduc
:, myself? I'm the bank accountah
Il We're to be fellow travellers, and II
much obliged to you for your courleS
d in coming on tonight. The coach
i ready. Shall we start"
Five minutes later had wruhs ue'
: old charities hand for the last time Il
!, many a day and taken my seat III II
Il coach. 1t was a light spring coac
u with a covering over 1t ana two para
{ InI seats. In the front one sat u
driver and by his side Sergeant L U
ton, Win Iptucb I'M 49,
Il knees In the back seat sat Lando
Jones. and myself; Jones, with his pi
e of gold on his knees, being III u
" center.
u II was n beautiful starlit night, al
Ii the air was dellciously cool after u
81 broiling heat of the day We were
y in the best of spirits, despite our co
tinuous journey, Landon especially Z
II ing in a particularly facetious iran
u of mind. As fellow traveller 1t Won
Is have been difficult to surpass hllh'
VOL stocked was he with lively l
u mlniscence and amusing ahecuo'
J. What Ire was by trade or profession
~ did not say, though l fancy that we
II +ocitly took him to be commerce
III traveller. Certainly he knew the TO
III weIl and even at that hour of the mig
< nointed out the various LANDMARKS
u interest as we observation-disclosures 1.
II dered historical by association WI
u, hrsbronging and gold mining inclde
al "Tbat's the rock behind which I
III C,orkes hid to bail up the coach,
Is exclaimed suddenly, as great Wh
IT. howlder doomed out, white and gho
Ut like. in the flash of the coach lamps
our right. H. =,
Ae I naered with interest at the 81
OIL noiuted out by Landeh. the Story
ne that particular Clarke exploit OF SO
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