Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-08-16


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; ILI-was joking-that is.
I meant that-if-I had time might
argue the matter with him.
s. IF that spooney wants to have
a 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.
IT you want my watch, here it is
Take what you want, and let US co.
sThe hardest part of the business
was when Miss Grierson turned her
reproachful eyes on the major and my
self
6 Are you going to submit to this?'
she asked. You are army men, and
supposed had too much courage to sur
has loaded rifle in his hands. If you
will loan me one of your pistols will
fight
" I cannot tell you how much
admire your bravery I said, in reply,
and I never felt quite SO small in
all my life; but it can avail you moth
L
there holds loaded Winchester, and
at the first demonstration he will
shoot the offender dead
&c Then the others can shoot him
dead was the plucky response of the
fiery young lady.
Sc Yes, but what good will that do
the party of the first part? True,
the major and 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
inpatient firt of her pretty shout
ders; you are all cowards.'
" Don't say that!' pleaded Ho1-
brook, who, finding the robber did
not proceed to violence, began to re-
gain a little of his assurance; we
are simply prudent. Now, if had had
notice of his-contemplated raid.
why, would have made fight, and
&c What's that?' Thundered the
man in the sombrero, turning SO saw
agly upon the dude that he 1eaped
fully foot from the ground, knock
ing the eyeglasses from his nose:
do you say you want to fight with
me?'
sNo-no-no! I beg pardon-but
'And the poor fellow absolutely
broke down, unable to finish his slut
tering sentence.
Gwen in those trying minutes I
Lo1 81
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 flirt, exclaimed:
I believe you are in league with
the scamp
"'Miss Grierson,' said I, 'he isl
know it!'
sc And so do T. added the major.
''Burt, who had been lolling on his
seat in front, now burst into uproar-
ious laughter.
'' L think you have got me, pards,'
was his amazing remark. I'l have
to own up
s'To complete the extraordinary sit
uation, the train-robber himself now
joined in the laughter, dropping the
butt of his Winchester on the ground
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.
cat the station where we halted
to water the horses and give them
little rest, Hawley, rife and grip
sack in hand, left the coach, saying
that he thought of staying over night
with friend who lived in that neigh
borhood.
eve halted long enough to give
him time to assume the character of
road agent. 1 have described how
well he did it.
81 have shown, too, that Miss Grier-
son proved sthat she was possessed
of genuine pluck, and that Holbrook
was an arrant poltroon. He strove
dismally to make us belive that he
hAcW al tHc tlluc III WAS d joke, anu
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.
s'Miss Grierson refused to recognize
him again. But it was plain that
Hawley had made an excellent inn
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"