The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-26
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"Fil LEN fOfS IHE SUNDAY NEPUBL1C.
The stAgecoach ratified unevenly over the
morrow mountain trail. much to the dis
comfort OF thu three hot and iI-humored
passenger
or these one was q nonnGo missionary.
bent upon the heroic task OF rescuins from
mortal sin such cow hcrders as might como
within his range
The second WIGS one Of these herierss up
on whom the missionary had already tried
his gifts with results that included much
profanity, considerable rough humor and
10 success
The third was tho Honorable Ezra Graf
ton OF Boston, president OF q great rail-
road, on his way to the Montana ranch Of
a former college friend, heartily sick OF his
journey. irTltated by tho long-drawn e1-
hortat,ons Of tho missionary and sore from
the constant bumpinSs that hnd begun nine
horrs before at tho beginning of the stage
trail
The cowboy, after series OF good-na-
tured attempts to enliven the party with
obviously imaginary yarns OF certain sd-
ventures Of bis. only to be met with sane
tmonious Interruptions on ono side and
stifay sntagonisto Eiances on the other,
had taken refuge in a ouid OF tobacco and a
brown naAk
1T WIGS right about hyah." he observed.
casually. after half III hour silence that
the Powcsrvtlls stage got hel, I'd last
Chuseday weak
Tns attention that his maEninoenty
colored "reminiscences had failed to arouse
pow became manifest
Would such a ecourrsnos b likely to
heppsn 70 usT'' vNatursd tbs railroad prest-
Cant, with some unsssiness in bis voice.
Tos answer cAn,s . vollsy Of sharp r1ns
crAokA. the scream OF q wounded horse and
. sudden stopping Of the staSecoaah that
prsGipitarsd the ures pAsssnxsrs In heap.
walk out EeatA" suAvsiy said bug
man. with . dirty cotton handkerchief ted
about the lower half OF bis facA. The In
vitauon vas punstuA.ed by two very long
and cleaning rsvoivsrA
The oovpunch.r was the drBt to ebay.
Than oams the Honorable Ezra Grafton.
pale and distinctly nsrvouA
Ths m,ssionAry. with . do,eful howl,
erried up On the door Of the coach and
was tsnder1y hauled cut b. the collar By .
second bandit and dspostsd at the feet Of
the cattle harder with the remark, Guess
msbby that's yors property"
You oan have II long Of the rest Of ths
truck" responded the punoher. whose hands
ware elevated above his head.
He administered = gentle kick to the pros-
trate missionary, with the advice to -ait
I'D on yer hind legs and hit the sky with
yer paws II ye don't specially care about
bein' pumped full of mineral" advice that
the missionary needed with q series Of tear
full walls addressed with impartial sener-
allty.
Guess yo,re the gent that carries tho C.
f & Y. P. r. IN yer vest pocket" observed
the bigger bandit to the Honorable Mr..
Grafton. and proceeded to go through"
that individual with rapidly but care.
This process was abruptly interrupted by
a new fusillade. and i've horsemen dashed
down a steep embankment to the trail.
How 1t sll happened Mr.. Grafton was
never able to accurately describe. but In an
Incredibly short tirno the two bandits lay,
bleeding and bound. in the stagecoach, the
dead horse had been Dragged to ons side OF
the trail. the still fearful missionary and
the cattle herder had mounted the box with
the driver and tho Honorable Ezrn Grafton,
too much overcome By the rapidly Of his
experiences Of the la1t ave minutes to speak
cohsrentiy. was making a very bad witness
under examination by ave horssmen.
BY thunder. it's Grafton. boysr' said
one. who appeared to be the leader. That's
all right. now. Partner" he continued to
the clustered capitalist: quit yore buck
in in that soand'lous manner. settle Down
nice and quiet In yer trzoss ease I'd In var
collar and stand rsntls Thar. now. the
funs over and thcys ne,hin' to shy at
1t developed that the I've hor,crn,n war.
cowboys on the Bar Ranch, owned BIZ m.
former college friend Of the railroad pr..,-
dent.
Happening to be In IN. ne,rhoo-noo6 .,
the hold-up ana hearing the volIey nred bv
the bandits. they had left their own near-b,
trail and had gone to the rescue Of m.
Honorable Mr.. Grnfton'r fat pocketbook
and peace Of mind.
1t was arranged that the ,t.p.co.o,
should proceed to Fowderville with tbs
wounded prisoners and remaining pass.n.
gers. while the cowboy party should escort
Mr.. Grafton to the ranch
The last this gentleman saw OF III. coach
the missionary was evidently trying HI,
hand on the driver. to the obvious edif,ca-
ton and relief Of his tellow-passeng.r.
Gratitude was one OF Mr.. Graftou's stronr
characteristics.
Having recovered his self-possess,on. he
made neat II somewhat ponderous speech
TO his rescuers. in which he requested their
names and addresses, together with the
dearest wishes OF their hearts, that said
wishes might be Immediately granted by
the speaker. as an evidences Of his deep and
lasting gratitude.
burned Of the stout party sin't q regler
fairy sodmother dumped most providential
onto Montana Territory" observed the
lender. in open admiration.
wall to begin with, I'll read yer the
brands Of the boys, . ceremony that Was