Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-12-01
DAILY. STORY.
THE LOAN OF "a QUARTER

from the then village of Denver
There was st. Louisian going out to
look at mines on Clear creek and q
Chicago merchant going to establish
q branch somewhere, anywhere-he
was not particular. A Methodist min
lister very Lean and an EngliShman
very fab completed the men. The
only woman was a schoolteacher, with
large, angular features.
They say" remarked the st. Loui-
sian, that there's a robbery every day
on some of the roads in Colorado, and
Notwithstanding the fact people con-
time to travel with valuableS on their
persons. | never use anything but
drafts for my expenses. When L reach
Denver I'll have to borrow quarter
for glass of beer to wash the dust
out of my throat
us there no law in the country:''
asked the Englishman.
Law" exclaimed the Chicagoan.
You English people are always talk
ing about law. OF course there's no
law away out here. Do you take this
for a suburb of London?"
IF we are attacked" said the min
lister, Il shall attempt to influence the
robbers by prayer"
"You might as well attempt to make
them drunk on soda water" snapped
the Chicagoan.
At this point the stage stopped. and
the driver was heard talking to a
horSemaE he had met in the road. The
horseman said he had been robbed a
mile farther on He did not know
whether the robbers had ridden away
or were waiting for the stage, but it
made no difference to the travellers, for
if the stage did not go OH to the rob
bers the robbers-if they chose-could
come back TO the stage. After some
discussion as to what TO do the driver
decided the matter by going on. Then
the conversation among the passengers
became animated. What was to be
dona with the valuables?
''Such things can only occur In a
country like this. where there's no re-
spect for the law" growled the Eng
lishman, whose face was very hot and
whose eyes were very anxious.
"You never had highwaymen III Eng
land, did your" retorted the st. Loui-
sian.
Lets give our valuables to the par
son here" said the Chicagoan. Per
haps after it's all over he can pray
them out of purgatory for u.s.
The schoolteacher said nothing, but.
pulling up her skirts on the right.
where she was protected from observa-
ton by the side of the coach, tied her
purse in her handkerchief and hung IL
to her waist.
Take mine" said the Chicagoan.
'"They won't search woman"
"And mine," said the minister.
Every man in the coach deposited
his valuables in the same safe place
except the st. Louisian. who had de-
clared that lie travelled only with
drafts Lifting up the cushion Of the
seat he placed his valuables under it.
then lowered it and sat on ii.
Meanwhile the coach rolled on and
was now near the place where the rob
berry had been committed. A clatter of
horses hoofs was heard coming from
the rear.
They're going to take us fore and
aft" said the st. LouiSian. We'll
hear a shot in front in moment"
But there was no shot. \ horseman
overlook the coach, and a number of
white faces peering from the window
saw the man who had been robbed.
He called to the driver to stop, and
when he did so the horseman jerked
out a brace of revOlvers and covered
the people in the coach. At the same
time the schooltea cher opened the door
next her and stepped down on the
road.
"Got 'emT' asked the man who had
been robbed.
"All but one. That galoot," pointing
to the st. Louisian. lis sitting on his
plumber. It's under the seat" The
voice was n mans.
The St Louislan was ordered to
arise and produce his valuables. which
he did with great alacrity. The horse
man opened the pocketbook accompa
nying them and took out a goodly num-
Der of crisp bills
Il knew he had the big haul of the
lot by the way he talked" said the
"We'll see what's here"
Without the slightest sign of mod
cSlS Dllicl Ills
corduroy trousers stuck in his boots
and about his waist dangled the peck
etbooks of the passengers. the circle
here and there by a gold
watch. Opening one pocketbook after
another. he took out the contents and
threw the pocketbooks away. Then,
laying all the bills together. he rolled
them in n wad and thrust them in his
trousers pocket. His next move was
to divest himself of. his feminine ap-
parel, which he rolled in a bundle and
handed to the horseman
where's my critter?" he asked of
his confederate.
'At the crossroads back there
Its two miles, but III have to walk
it or delay these confiding people by
taking one of their horses. But this
would make me a horse thief. which
Ia beneath 0pv pantIanqn Cnodhy