Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1907-01-03
Me Ladies Roses

NOutH. SfA Iljtii uiii wv "cii'N's $500
every me- 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 a
pars0n, was in 1t, and the two WON
en- were disguised deputies. But their
Identity was not known to the pas
sengers.
"Ord like to see this gentleman road
agent git any Of my money" remarked
n Hibernian "Thcy say he's mighty
quick on the trigger. but 0ill keep mo
finger on mine the while"
''Some of US down In Mississippi,
wllar I come from. are III the habit OF
usin' guns" drawled a man in broad
brinmed hat.
"Oh, we won't see Gentleman John"
said the supposed clergyman. HE
Isn't the fool to give us warning"
ole give 'em warning on the Denver
line" said a young fellow in a high
choker collar. They were on the look
ont 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 tavern, the
door was opened, and woman with q
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 Oh 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 it to
taking from the bunch the largest rose,
gave 1t TO him He thanked her and
put ii to his nose Then the conversa-
ton was resumed as to Gentleman
John.
Has any one ever seen him unmask.
edo" asked the sheriff, fishing for infor.
nation.
NO" replied the Irishman, "he's
modest as cyril. lie hides his face
as the women do In Turkey"
''They say he's about forty" said
one OF the deputies.
"Who are you talking aboutT' asked
the woman with the roses.
Gentleman John. He's going to rob
this coach"
Law sakes, lie! me out! Driver.
Stop
you can't get out here" said the
sheriff. You'd have too far to walk
back. Besides, the fellow isn't fool
enough to forewarn US"
I'VE are all ready TO- him." the Mis-
sissippian remarked
I'm 'fraId to death O. thes, western
road agents." said the woman. II wish
/ was back east where | came from"
and she trembled like Il leaf
Don't We be afeared," said the Irish
man. IF anything happens Wen look
out for the women folks"
The woman, who was still shivering.
looked at window through which n
raw wind was blowing The Irlshman
who sat next 1t. put It down. He was
rewarded with rose. Then the donor,
imploring the men to save her If the
coach was attacked. gave each man n
rose This left two roses, which she
handed to he supposed woman.
delicious" remarked the southerncr.
shifting h'S flower. Reminds me Of
ou' beautiful fown. the magnolia"
Every one In the coach was shifting.
and, the windows being closed the fra
GRANGE permeated the pent up atmo1-
phere.
II was now getting dark. and as the
coach numbered slowly along one by
one the party dropped off 10 sleep. The
first one to go to dreamland was the
youth In the choker collar, whose head
fell against the MSslsslppian. The
lriShman leaned upon Tie sheriff. and
the two deputies leaned on each other
A red headed miner was the only one
awake. and he made an attempt to
open Il window, hut the woman eau, int
his hand and prevented him. He look,
cd ut her appealingly and made an eff
fort to raise the window without her
permission. She drew revolver from
somewhere in her skirts and pushed
It's muzzle mp against his forehead.
Then she picked up his rose. which he
had thrown on the floor. and held II
under his nose.
sniff" she commanded in voice
that had lost all It's femininity. sniff
with your nose or you'll sniff through
hole IN your head"
The man shifted vigorously, prefer
ring inscnsbility to death. and the wo-
man soon threw his head back on the
cushion, where it remained quiescent.
There were now eight insensible per
sons in the coach aud one very Wide
awake The woman threw off her out
side apparel, displaying a WOODEN shirt
and trousers tucked In boots Indeed.
shn was no woman at MI, but young
FOLLOW barely twenty. with cheeks rosy
from vcrmllion paint. lie first re-
loved the sheriff Of his belongings.
then his deputies. then each man IN
turn. He got very littla fe~ his pains,
but ibis didn't seem 70 distress him,
for he chuckled as though greatly
plpo cod TInyfur Hlti -hp1 his ,,.prt. Ia