The Washington times., 1903-11-08

TIME stage coach ratified unevenly
over the narrow mountain trail
much TO the discomfort of the
three hot and fll-humored passen-
gers. Of these one was a nOmadic mis-
sionary. bent upon the heroic task Of
rescuing from mortal SIN such COW hsrd-
ers as might come within HIS range. The
second was one of these herders. upon
whom the missionary had already tried
his gifts. with results that included
much profaIsty. considerable rough hui
NOR and no success. The third was the
Hon. Ezra Grafton. of Boston, I,resi-
dent OF great railroad. on MS way to
the Montana ranch Of a former college
friend heartily sick OF his journey. trli-
tated by the lang drawn exhor;ations OF
the missionary and sore from tie con
slant buInDings that had begun nine
hours before AT the beElnuiag o. the
stage trail
The cowboy after serbs OF good
natured attempts to enlicen me party
with obviously imaginary warns u GER
tain adventures Of his, only 40 meet with
sanctimoaious Interruptions on one side
and anJagonistic glances on the
Other. had taken refuge in "a ucid Of
tobacco ard brown flask
1T was right about hyah. ne ohserV-
ed casually. afer half an hours 81
lence ''tl.at the Powdervllle stage got
helt up last Chuseday week The at
tention that his magnihcently cOiored
"reminiscences had failed TO arouse now
became manifest
Would such an occurr el-e De likely
10 happen 20 us o. ventured tha railroad
president. with some uneasiness in his
voice. For answer came a volley OF
sharp rifle cracks. the scream II a
wounded horse and sudden stopping
OF the stage coach that precIritated the
three passengers in Il heap.
Walk out. gents suavely said "A biz
man. with dirt- cotton handkerchief
tied about the lower half OF his face.
The Invitation was punctuatel by tive
very long and cleaning revolVers-
The eowpuncher was the first to obey.
Then camc TIE Hon. Ezra Grafton. pale
and distinctly nervous The missionary,
with dolefui howl, eurled uD on the
floor of the coach and was tenderly
hauled oct by the collar by the second
bandit and deposited at the feet OF the
cattle herder with the remark. Guess
mebby that's yore property"
You car pave il long of the rest OF
the truck. responded the puncher
whose hands were elevated above his
head. He administered gentle kick
10 the PROSTATE missionary with the ad-
vice to Cit 10 on yer hinG less and
hit the sky with yer paws ef ye don't
specially care about bein' pumped ful
OF mineral" advice that the missionary
needed with a series of fearful walls
addressed with impartial generality
Guess you're the gent that carries
the c.. F. and Y Railroad in yer vest
pocket observed the bigger bandit q
the Hon. Mr.. Grafton. and he proceeded
10 go through" that individual with
rapiditv but care This process was alb
ruptly interrupted by a new fusilade
and five horsemen dashed down a steer
erabankmont To TIE trail How It al
happened Mr.. Grafton was never able
10 accurately describe. but IN an in
credible time the twv bardits lay, bleed
ing and bound, IN the stage coach, tbs
SIN fearful missionary and the cattle
herder had mounfed the box with tbs
driver. anl the Hon. Ezra Grafton. TOO
much overc 1-nc bN the rapidity of his
experiences o. the last FIVE minrSes 4
speak coherenJlv, gsas making very
bad witness uudc- eAanination by the
i've horsemen-
by thunder. as Grafton. boys" said
one, xho appeared 20 be the leader
That's all right, now, pardner, h'
continued TO che iustered capitalist