The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-09-06

BUT IAlh
driver. At the messengers feet was ,
strong box which knew must contain
a treasure In placer gold. Between
the messengers knees was a rifle.
AS kept my wondering eyes on the
vehicle the four horses attached to II
suddenly went back In their traces
and then shot up In the air. The
driver exploded yell. and the mes.
senger, quick as chain lightning,
brought the rifle to his shoulder.
A report followed, and musical
ring followed the report--a ring that.
through some weird acoustic effect.
sounded for all the world like it'll.
lating, ironical laugh.
Swerving my eyes the other way
along the trail, beheld the SO called
motor cowboy planted In the path,
both weapons leveled ut the two on
the stage. A red card lettered In white
had abruptly materiallxed at the front
Of the car, Hands UpW
was spellbound-too much so for
recriminations. All could do was to
crouch behind my bowlder and keep
my fascinated eyes on the tail below.
The automton pulled trigger. and
the messengers hat few of. The mes.
senger empticd his magazine over the
horses heads, and chorus Of those
eerle laughs echoed up and down the
ravine.
BY then the stage horses were fairly
under control, and the driver elevated
his hands. The messenger, who had
lost lock OF hair by second bullet.
followed suit.
The Hands Upr card vanished, and
another took its Deposit Valu-
nbles In Iron Basket In Front Of Carr
"Jumpin wildcatsr' beloved the
driver. what sort Of a holdup Is this
anyhow That looks like the old boy
himself Why don't you say somethin'.
you feller with the gunsr'
A black card jumped viciously into
sight-"Your money or your life! Hur-
ryf'
This was Immediately followed by
the other card naming the place for
the deposit Of valuables and was en-
phasized with third shot from one Of
the Colts, the bullet singing past tho
messengers ear.
Don't shoot,' cried the messenger
frantically. You're bullet proof. and
I'm not, and that gives you the win
ming hand"
He clanbered down from the stage.
pulled the strong box after him,
dragged It to the car and heayed II
aboard. All the while Kilpton's chef
d'oeuvre kept him covered with one Of
the revolvers.
Rushing back TO the stage. the messen-
ger regained the box. Then oame a blue
card bearing the word ''Goodby," and tho
steel hlghwaymnn backed slowly from the
trail into a narrow defiie in the hillside.
Tho drivers long whip Hickered out
over the backs OF the leaders. and the
stage Jumped on toward Antansss like q
cannon ball There were no passengers
inside the vehicle. and the last thing
saw was the white. scared face OF the
messenger looking back at the scene Of
the automaton's exploit
Marcus kiipton." said ]. finding
tongue. now that the excitement was
over. you have betrayed my trust In
you. Motor cowboy. indeed" added saf-
casticaiiy. why didn't you tell me II
was motor hishwsynan In the first
placer
Don't get on your high horse. VII
liam" answered Rlipion- u wanted tho
truth 70 dawn oa you by degrees, ! have
tomato road agent II an unqualified sue
rendezvous out here In the hills and sit
our sndesiructibse highwsyman transform
us into miliionairss"
BE that as IL may" I went 90 reient-
iesnly, IN taking the loot collected BY
this ubiquitous machine you are receiving
taintsd money
III /, comes 10 that" ha broke IN. there
broad land ,ha, has not al some time OF
other been won dishonesty and passed
through criminal banda
"roa VIII become a fenos for stolen
propersy," / proceeded And then" !
hnisAed stsszly. ~suppcss the au,onsion
should XII sosnsboty'-
Hang H. william" crted Kipton.
you're about the worst case Of dis
eoarassmsni An Inventor ever wat ~
against ] bne~ when re got 8 seod
,Ainf. snd Up eosns % ~ nv savseste4
xork AaA.snoAEl- raxAiiina;f0enA- ~