Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-09-29
'IA[ PAYMASIER'S RIDE
(Original.]

rhis is a true story related to me by
: .ho brother of the man principally con-
oerned. Only the name is changed
Many years ago, when California was
,,babited largely by people of Spanish
ascent, John Nolan was an officer of
lumber company at Sacramento. 1t
was one of his duties to 60 among the
lumber camps Of the company III a lii
+le two seated wagon and pay off the
mon. One evening while riding from
one camp to another Nolan saw tie
6oure of woman standing in the road
ahead Of him, evidently waiting fer
him to come up.
"Will you give me a lift, signor?'' she
said when he reached her
"Certa1nly. Get up beside me- or, il
YOU think it too crowded on the front
seat, take the hind one"
"Thank you, signor,' replied the wo-
man. 81 will take the seat that gives
the most ROOM" And she climbed in at
the rear.
"H'm!' said Nolan to himself "She
has an eye to correct behavior" And
he drove on. "It's q fine night he re-
marked by way of opening conyer-
sation 81 think the moon must be at
the full.
"a fine night repeated the woman
without adding any thing further. No
Ian tried with several remarks to G6aEF
her into conversation. but, failing,
relapsed into silence. Tho moonlit
plain over which he was driving, The
serene heavens through which the
queen of night was slowly moving, The
glittering stars were far more att9ae=
tive than a woman who would not talk.
Nolan drove on, occupied with his own
thoughts, and was gradually forgetting
his companion, when, happening to
turn his head sidewise, he caught
fash of moonlight reflected from some
polished surface behind him.
Now, there was nothing in the light
Of the round disk in the heavens to stir
any emotions within John Nolan ex-
cept those of the most serene character
Why. then, should these few reflected
rays, this momentary glitter, cause his
heart to stand still and cold shiver
to run down his back? What passed
through his mind was even quicker
than the flash of moonlight 1t was
this: He was riding alone, with
large sum Of the company,s money in
his possession. He was known far and
do tnl. q nd
this woman was sitting behind him
ready to plunge a knife into him in
order to obtain the money.
He was armed, but what use q Weap-
on at his hip in plain sight of the wo-
man behind him? AT the first move Of
his hand to grasp it foot of cold steel
would be thrust between his ribs.
There was but one chance for him, and
that q remote one-he must appear to
be without suspicion and invent some
artifice 10 secure an advantage.
Turning partly sideWise. he address
ed remark to her, keeping in that
position as if to converse the more
readily, but without in lie least ap-
pearing to be aware of her purpose. AS
he turned, her arm that had been raised
sank and her hand found concealment
in the folds Of her dress One Of No
lan's eyes was strained to watch her.
while the other was east ahead at a
forest they would soon enter. He
knew that in the struggle which was
inevitable he would have an advantage
On y" open plain. Within the shadow
of the wood there would be no ray of
moonlight to reveal to him an over
hanging dagger. He must devise be-
fore they reached the wood some ex-
pedient either to get rid of the woman
or force her to show her hand.
Get up, you lazy BEAST he said to
his horse. 'At this rate We'll be out
all night" And, striking at the an
imal with his whip, he contrived to
drop it in the road.
"Whoa!" He pretended to try to
stop the horse at once, but took pains
that he should leave some interval be-
tween them and the fallen whip.
"1've dropped my whip,' he said to
the woman. "Would you mind getting
1t for me?"
The woman heSitated a moment, then
got down and went back for the whip.
The moment she picked it up Nolan
lashed the horse with the reins and
started on. The woman, seeing that
she had been tricked. ran for the
wagon.
Then began race which Nolan
feared was one between life and death.
His horse, which was merely a hack,
broke into lope, but made no great
speed. The woman, on the contrary.
ran swiftly and in few minutes
caught hold of the tailboard Of the
wagon. Nolan seized the weapon near
est at hand, the seat the woman had
been sitting on. and began to belabor
her over the head. But her head was
hard, and she was persistent. While
she ran she was making efforts to