The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-09-16
THE HOLDUP OF
MARY ASHTON


j Mary Ashton had a remarkable tai
tnt 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 a great help
to her In these more manly sports.
That was the time Redhand Bill, as
be 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
neighboripg town, and there was no
one at hand by whom to send it. He
was complaining at home Of his want
OF a messenger when his daughter
Mary spoke up:
"I'll take 1t, father"
''You2 Suppose Redhand Bill We're
to hold you up. What would you DOB"
THEY say he 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,
IL 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 trayersed most
! Of the route when man stepped into
the road, leveled a rifle at the drivers
head and called on him to draw rein.
/, This done, the agent invited the pas
0 sengers to alight and line up in the usu-
4 al way He relieved them of their
funds - no great haul = but when he
b came to Mary Ashton's bag his eyes
I stood out with delight
I "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
I names Bill?"
"0h, I've often heard of Redhand
+ BIZ and wanted to meet him. They
say you are a fine euchre player I've
always wanted to see how you played
your hands. Can't we have gamer
2 Bill stood looking at her in as great
(. astonishnent as the passengers.
9 Certainly. Got any cardsT
I II always carry them to pass the
e time on a journey"
8 Mary produced a pack of cards, and
Bill, after disarming the passengers,
permitted them to lower their hands,
and he and Mary sat down to game.
I'm Banker Ashton's daughter. If
I had a blank check, I'd fill it in for a
stake"
= The road agent always carried blank
3 checks, for he frequently compelled his
! victims to sign them. He diyed into
s his hip pocket, took one out and hand
II ed it to Mary, with a fountain pen
a which be found as available as the
9 bla- ks. Mary filed it in for $1,000,
: pledging her word that it would be
+ good. Now for the best two in three
4 games for 81, 600" she said.
Ill Bin staked ten 500 bills against it,
# and the game proceeded He won the
e first and Mary won the next two
2 games. Bill laughed a short, nervous
2 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
4 one more, double or quits" He gall
Z lantly consented, and Mary won two
It successive games.
o "Put up,p she said, raking in the
: funds.
I 'Put up? I'm busted Shut up, you
mean and so I do. You're the pluck
I lest woman and the best euchre player,
/ man or woman, ever met. If you'll
e give me just one kiss, I'll call this job
Il off and lee you and the whole kit go
scot free, with all the stuff"
q Mary was SO delighted with her sue
Y cess, especially with respect to her fell
l. low passengers, that she threw her
arms about the robbers neck and gave
him a hearty smack. Then, taking q
twenty dollar bin from the money she
{ had saved, she said:
Take that ard drink my health with
1t, and IL ever you decide to leave this
!, life come to me, and I'll get my father
g to help you"
Il won't take your money" said BILL
''but some day may accept your Of
fer.1
Some years later prospector named
4 Stone appeared In the town where the
s Ashtons lived, and after his departure
& was grub staked' by Mr.. Ashton till
he struck a 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
t. scandal. The wealthy Stone was ar
Y rested and charged with being the re
IS 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-
y tify him.
"Stand upg" said the prosecuting at
D torney to the prisoner. Then, to the
( witness. aVVere vou in a coach some