The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1903-05-13
A BRIDAL
TRI II
......By Henry Lyle
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passengers. Inside IL accommodated
four comfortably and six uncomforta
bly,. Consequently every one Interested
In any particular trip of the Nephi
stage hoped that the number of pas
sengers would be limited to four.
At Millstewn, the half way station.
the grinning face of the hostler was
thrust through the stage window, and
the four passengers already inside
groaned. They knew the sign.
Two passengers. gents. Kindly git
tgether," the hostler announced.
The stage door was flung open. A
woman was rarity along the Nephi
stage line and bride unheard of. yet
the first passenger to be tremendously
thrust into their midst was very evil
IDENTIFY II bride. Had all other signs
failed, which they did not, there were
several kernels of rice sticking to the
back of her veil The tall. thin, spindle
shanked young man who followed her
was just as evidently II bridegroom.
Their clothing and manners proclaimed
them of the east and brand new.
The bridegroom carried II suit case.
which he pushed To one side after set
Ting his bride as comfortably AS the
middle seat permitted. Then he fitted
his knees between the passengers In
front of him and looked solleltously ut
his yelled bride Tired. dearieY' he
asked.
Just little. darling" she answered,
touching his shoulder lightly with hers.
WASN'T ii just lovely the way we got
away from them" she continued. Il
thought once they would really find
out where we We're going. Wouldn't It
have been terrible? But you were such
darling, you"
There was n suppressed smoker be-
hind them. One of the passengers fac
Ing them gulped and crammed his
mouth full of tobacco "Chaw, pard-
ner?" he asked, extending the package
to his seat companion, the fat store
keeper of Alkall City.
The man shook his head Hear
bout IN holdup las week." he nsked.
winking hard.
Nav. Yeou don't mean t say there's
been er holdup In these here days, do
yeou?"
"Turrlble! One man kilt an thirty
thousan' dollars Took the storekeep-
bridal couple.
"Oh, darling!' exclaimed the bride.
"Why did we come to this awful
placer Take me back-can't you, dar-
lingT
The bridegroom shook his head
Don't he afraid, dearie. I'm with you"
His voice sounded weak and tremu-
lous.
One of the men behind him laughed,
and the bridegroom flushed deeply and
made reply which was unlntelllglbly
jumbled by the rapid lurchlng of the
stage, which ut TINT moment entered
the rougher sections of the road.
The sharp report OF II pistol startled
the jostled passengers and brought the
stage to stop with suddenness
which jerked the bride into the arms
OF the storekeeper.
The smoking muZZle of II revolver
was thrust through the window, and II
voice exclaimed: Hands up. Step out
side, gents!'
No one hesitated one after the 9th
er, with hands well up, the passengers
alighted and stood In line along the
roadside The bride came last, and the
robber hesItated. astonished as she
stepped down.
Excuse me, miss" he exclaimed,
lifting his hat before he felt about the
mems clothes for weapons. Sorry t
disturb yeou, but business is business.
Now, Tom" he continued. address
Ing the driver, my pardner," motion
ing to n second robber who stood hold
ing the horses heads, will keep yeou
covered while look inter things"
The driver laughed. I'm afcared
yeou'r goin' t. be disappointed this trip.
Black John. s. far as | know. there
amt no treasure In this load.'
The bride gave faint cry, staggered
and toppled over into the arms of the
bridegroom, which, regardless Of or
ders, came down to receive her.
The robber swore. Keep yeour hands
upw he cried. swinging around and
covering the line with his revolver.
Let tn teDdcrfoot look after III gal
She's only tainted"
He had pulled several pieces out Of
the stage when an unusual movement
behind him caused him to turn his
head. lie looked directly into the muz-
zle of forty four, held by the bride.
1--WE got you dead to rights, Black
John" low voice whispered "NO
noise or III let loose"
The bridegroom held IA similar weap-
on Mt the other robber, who, uneon-
sclous of the slight change In affairs,
was twhting the driver. Now, Billy,
drop your gunr' the bridegroom called.
The man made an offensive move
ment There was fash, n sharp re-
port, and the shattered revolver
dropped from the robbers hand
Glands way mp. Billy, or it'll be you
next time" the bridegroom command
ed as he walked over aud relieved the
robber OF his other gun. NOW, you
fellows, Black John and Billy, get up
on the leaders blame quick. No par
leyingw
Black John glanced at the bride.
"Come," she said. Get along. My
husband says you've got to ride n
leader"
The bridegroom swung himself on
one OF the pole horses while the bride
stood In the roadway and held his gun
After he had mounted she lifted the
suit case out of the stage, handed 1t to
the driver and then climbed up on the
box beside him.
The driver frowned. "Yeou- yeou
Amt goin' y" he began. but the situa-
ton was too novel for him, and he sub
sided into astonished silence as the
bride turned her yelled face toward
him and suggested that her husband
wanted him to drive on. He cracked
his whip. and the stage started.
Progress was slow, and the stage was
80 late In getting to Alkali City that
the entire population was lined up Ia
front OF the Palace hotel In anticipa-