The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-16

. y 4
schemes often, go wrong. On the NOR
row, at the hour scheduled for the
departure of the first stage, there was
including Madame Allanni, were all
aboard and their fares paid; but Six
Fingered Joe, the driver, was miss
ing. TO find a substitute and get him
ready to start took time, and, in the
meanwhile the stage from Violet came
to give drink to the thirsty horses and
driver, went on ahead. And SO 1t hap
pened that, instead of being the first
over the road, the vehicle that carried
the prima donna stood idle at Sage
town, while it's Violet rival was jog
ging merrily along the road toward
the point of vantage where Corpus
Deficit and the Lame Kiote awaited
the coming of their victim.
There We're four passengers in the
Violet stage-three men and women.
The men We're a Presbyterian minister,
Pinkerton detective, and drum
mer from a Chicago shoe house. Any
one would have written down the
woman as a "spinster" at first sight,
and we here introduce her as Miss
Lorena June of Currency, Kansas.
Miss Jnne's age was, of course, un-
certain. She was tall and rather lean,
not very angular, but large-boned and
strong looking Her hair was black,
coarse, and brushed we'll back; her
face long and narrow; her mouth wide,
with thin lips that shut close together.
She used spectacles with very large
glasses, and wore a plain, dark-col-
ored dress, and brown straw hat
with pink ribbons. She was sitting
and had sat all day-erect, motion
less. and silent, holding in her lap
large bandbox, across the top Of which
hy,n1l oil IN H1o h1y
her brown, ung1oved hands.
The horses were going at a brisk
trot, when suddenly the vehicle
stopped with an abruptness that made
the passengers lurch forward on their
seats-all but Miss June, the rigidity'
Of whose position was not easily dis
turbed. simultaneously there was
vibration, shuddering of the air, and
then the ventral tones of Corpus
Deficit, Hands up"
This invitation was addressed to the
driver, but the men inside waited no
second call; their three pairs of hands
went into the air with a cererity and
force of action that jerked' their shirt
collars up against their ears, Miss June
looked surprised, but said nothing, and
clutched her handbook with a tirmer
grip. Then the door was opened, and
the muzzle of a revolver appeared,
backed by a face the aspect of which
sent the three men into a frantic
struggle to get their hands thru the
| eyes passed over the group, and rested
on Miss June. "a fine day, lady and
gents" said the deep voice. -.
"See here, mister" said the lady,
! "you can't come in here. I won't
have tramps ridin' with me. There's
suspicious-lookin' characters enough
, in here now, and I won't have no more
| oF h ONtSiHa
driver"
| you're dead right, Miss" said Cor
pus; 'they are bad-looking lot, and
we'll shake their company. Just
shunt yourself this way, and I'll help
you out" lr' So.
Help me out! I amt goin' to git
out; and if I was, could do it without
your help. Go away, you nasty-look-
in villain. Driver, why don't you go
on?" .-@
"The lady doesn't understand the
situation, colonel said the drummer.
You see, Miss. this is a hold-up; and
you see" g..
yes; see fool. Tn looking at
him now. If it's a hold-up, you better
| keep your mouth shet, and you can
hold up your hands all the easier.
You're "a. purty-lookin' specimen.
You look gay, settin' there all bumped
UP, and your paws in the air. You'd
DCllCl lSil oiloIICl AulllS oSoI AAetNlA =
you?" -..l ,.s- A..
Bully for you, me lady" said Delic-
ii. you're as good as circus with
a bull fight attachment; but business
is business, and time is flowing; so
have the kindness to step this way.
right there; it'll be STE; the company
Is responsible
II tell you amt goin' to git out;
I've said it twice now, and THAT'S
tenough; and if was wouldn't leave
my bandbox, Where 1 goes that goes
and where 7 stays that stays. And
can tell you something else; if you
pint that pistol at me, Tll-Il swat
ye."
She gripped the handle Of her UNI
brella with, both hands, braced herself
and awaited developments.
BY an adroit movement Deficit had
slyly reached his disengaged hand in
box. Put it down, say! You won't
hey!" she rose to her feet, and the
light Of battle was in her eyes as she
made for the door, thru which he1
) property was disappearing. Cit out
Of Of my way !, smarty; Let me ou1
. all better git petticoats the first thing
| after you git home."i az
All clear, drive on said Deficit
"Go ahead, driver, you are dis
charged" yelled the Kiote.
Don't you dare stir a step till 81
my handbook and git back into the
!. wagon" said Miss June.
. These conflicting instructions con.
, fused the driver, and he. remained sta
tionary. Then ensued battle royal
. Deficit with the bandbox, like a lior
| bearing Off his prey, with eye alert
backed slowly away from his ap.
preaching, foe. She, like a liones.