Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-12-05
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
: Ghe Ladies Roses
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
1Originll.l

(Originll]
There were eight passengers In tn,
coach, six men and two women, ant
every man was armed. Gentleman
John, as he was called, had robbed the
coach the day before and had told the
driver to say that he would rob the
next one to pass over the road. The
consequence was, this being the next
coach, that the sheriff, disguised as q
parson, was In 1t, and the two won
en-" were disguised deputies. But their
identity was not known to the pas.
sengers.
"OPd like TO see this gentleman road
agent git any Of my money" remarked
a Hibernian. ''They say he's mighty
quick on the trigger, but OIL keep me
finger on mine the while"
"Some Of us down in Mississippi,
whar | come from, are In the habit of
usin' guns" drawled a man In a broad
brimmed hat
"Oh, we won't see Gentleman John, {"
said the supposed clergyman. "He
isn't the fool to give us warming"
"He give 'em warning on the Denver
line said a young fellow in a high
choker collar. "They were on the look.
out for him, but the first thing they
knew he was on the coach step and
had every one inside covered. Every
passenger was armed, but no one dared
draw"
The stage stopped at a tavern, the
door was opened, and woman with a
bunch of roses In her hand was about
to enter when she drew back, saying
that she wouldn't travel with men
alone. Apparently she did not see the
deputies. who were on the back seat,
and when they were pointed out to her
she sprang into the coach. AS she was
about to seat herself she dropped her
bouquet The young man In the chokef
collar picked 1t up and handed 1t to
her. She received 1t with smile and,
taking from the bunch the largest rose, |
gave 1t to him. He thanked her and |
put 1t to his nose. Then the converse
ton was resumed as to Gentleman |
John.
Has any one ever seen him unmask.
ed?" asked the sheriff. fishing for infor-
nation.
NO." replied the Irishman, "he's
modest as a cyril. He hides his face
rs the women do In Turkey"
"They say he's about forty" said
)ne Of the deputies.
"Who are you talking aboutf" asked
he woman with the roses.
Gentleman John. He's going to rob
his coach"
Law sakesl Let me out! Driver,
topw
you can't get out here" said the
herif. You'd have too far to walk
Jack. Besides. the fellow isn't fool
nough to forewarn u.s."
1--WE are all ready TO him." the Mis-
issippian remarked
"I'm 'fraid to death O. these western
Dad agents" said the woman. Il wish
was back east where l came FROM"
nd she trembled like leaf.
Don't We be afeared," said the Irish
ian. "If anything happens wen look
ut for the women folks"
The woman. who was still shivering,
'oked at window through which q
Ivy wind was blowing. The Irlshman,
Tho sat next 1t, put II down. He was
swarded with n rose. Then the donor,
nploring the men to save her IL the
zach was attacked, gave each man
use. This left two roses, which she !
lnded to the supposed woman.
Delicious" remarked the southerner,
lifting his flower Reminds me of
/ beautiful howe', the magnolia"
Every one In the coach was smiling, !
I'd, the windows being closed, the fra I
ance permeated the pent up atmos- U
lere.
II WINS now getting dark, and as the I
ach numbered slowly along one by I
e the party dropped Off TO sleep The II
st one to 90 to dreamland was the
nth In the chOker collar, whose head a
i against the Misslssippan. The i
shman leaned upon the sheriff, and u
9 two deputies leaned on each other u
red headed miner was the only one II
rake, and he made an attempt to u
en- window, but the woman caught 81
J hand AMI prevented him. He look
ut Der sppeallngly and made an eff
t to raise the window without her
Emission. She drew a revolver from -
newhere In her skirts and pushed =
muzzle up against his forehead :,
en- she picked up his rose, which he -
4 thrown on the floor and held 1t ~
der his nose ~
Sniff she commanded In a voice o'
t had lost all It's femlnlnIty. "Snlff -. ~
h your nose or you'll sniff through a -
@ In your head" "
he man shifted vigorously, prefer -
g insenslblllty to death. and the wo- ~
n soon threw his head back on the o'
hlon, where II remained quicscent -.
here were now eight lnsensible per- ~
8 In the coach and one very wide
axe. The woman threw of her out
apparel. displaying a wooden shirt L..
trousers tucked In boots. Indeed, ~
was no woman at all, but young =.
ow barely twenty. with cheeks rosy -
n vermilion paint He first re-
ed the sheriff Of his belongings,
a his deputies, then each man In '"
L. He got very little for his pains, ~
this didn't seem. to distress him, ~ ~
he chuckled as though greatly m IN
lsed. Having finished his work, he -.
ned the coach door and stepped -.
N into the road, carefully closing ",
door behind him ".
hen the driver drew up at the road 20
se door at the next relay and the :
lord came out with light to see n
he passengers wanted anything, he
Id a smell Of drugs and a coach
OF insenslble people. In the one
Int seat were their empty pocket
rs, and slipped In a fold In the
to-. 81 ~