Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-08
DAILY SHORT STORY
The Holdup of Mary Ashton.
GOriginal.1

ent for all games. Mary's father went
to Colorado with his family and en-
gagged in banking before the days when
railroads carried people everywhere.
Mary showed as much aptitude at
western sports, shooting, riding, skat-
ing, as she had shown at other games.
A natural fearlessness was Il great help
to her in these more manly sports.
That was the time Redhand Bill, as
he was called, was masquerading as a
road agent. He was one of the gentle
manly rascals who invite men to hand
over their purses in true Robin Hood
style and was especially gallant to the
women he robbed. One day Mr.. Ash
ton had occasion to send $4,000 to a
neighbOring town, and there was no
one at hand by whom to send it. He
was complaining at home of his want
of Il messenger when his daughter
Mary spoke up:
''I'll take it, father"
you? Suppose Redhand Bill were
to hold you up. What would you do?"
''They say lie is very gallant to wom-
en-
Yes. but he always takes their val
uables."
Mary persevered. and her father,
thinking there would be no trouble, or,
if there were, woman would fare no
worse than a man, consented. The
next day Mary left with the money,
which she chose to carry in her grip
sack. The coach had traversed most
of the route when a man stepped into
the road. leveled rifle at the drivers
head and called on him to draw rein.
This done, the agent invited the pas
sengers to alight and line up in the usu-
al way. He relieved them of their
funds no great haul = but when he
came to Mary Ashton's bag his eyes
stood out with delight.
Good morning, BILL said Mary.
Good morning, beauty" replied Bill,
good natured at his find, while a ire
NOR ran through the line at the girls
temerity How did you know my
names Bill?'
ooh, I've often heard of Redhand
Bill and wanted to meet him. They
say you are fine euchre player. I've
always wanted to see how you played
your hands. Can't we have a gameT"
Bill stood looking at her in as great
establishment as the passengers.
Certainly. Got any cards?"
81 always carry them to pass the
time on journey"
Mary produced u pack of cards, and
Bill, after disarming the passengers,
permitted them to lower their hands,
and he and Mary sat down to a game.
I'm Banker Ashton'S daughter. If
had a blank check, I'd fill it in for
stake"
The road agent always carried blank
checks. for he frequently compelled his
victims to sign them. He dived into
his hip pocket, took one out and hand
ed it to Mary, with a fountain pen
which he found as available as the
blanks Mary filled it in for $1,000,
pledging her word that it would be
good. Now for the best two in three
games for $1,000" she said.
Bill staked ten 500 bills against it,
and the game proceeded. He won the
first and Mary won the next two
games. Bill laughed a short, nervous
laugh and put up another thousand.
Mary won the first and the last game
of this rubber. The next rubber Mary
lost and asked Bill if he would play
one more, double or quits" He gal
lantly consented, and Mary won two
successive games.
"Put up" she said, raking in the
funds.
Put up? I'm busted! Shut up, you
mean, and so 1 do. You're the pluck
lest woman and the best euchre player,
man or woman, / ever met. If you'll
give me just one kiss, I'll call this job
off and let you and the whole kit go
scot free, with all the stuff"
Mary was so delighted with her sue
cess, especially with respect to her fell
low passengers, that she threw her
arms about the robbers neck and gave
him n hearty smack. Then, taking a
twenty dollar bill from the money she
had saved, she said:
Take that and drink my health with
it. and If ever you decide to leave this
life come to me, and I'll get my father
to help you"
II won't take your money" said Bill.
'but some day l may accept your Of
fer"
Some years later a prospector named
Stone appeared in the town where the
Ashtons lived, and after his departure
was GRUB staked' by Mr.. Ashton till
he struck fairly valuable property,
upon which Mr.. Ashton organized a
gold mining company. This led to
other discoveries, and at last the man
became rich. Then there was a great
scandal. The wealthy Stone was ar
rested and charged with being the re-
doubtable Redhand Bill, who years be-
fore had terrorized the country. When
his trial came, Mary Ashton, whose adj
venture with Bill had been long and
widely known, was called upon to iden-
tify him.