Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-09-17
DAILY SHORT. STORIES.

She looked at me so beseechingly
that l consented. dismounted and
led my horse. She hurried on before
lne. reaching her husband when Was
still some distance away. and | saw
her talking to him excitedly. deter
mined to conceal myself behind a rock
and observe what might take place.
The wife had not beel with her hus.
band 1--WE minutes, before l. hsslrd n
shot. Not seeing any one hurt. con.
cludsdl that Il was signaIa Then I
saw man moving down onrthe wood.
! cutter, Taking position above him.
he called on the woodman to stop. The
latter lhnlted his oxen and satsdown on
a bowlder beside the road. Ills wife
walked nervously, about, Within ten
minutes tho other two men came
downs and all three moved on the
| woodcutter. .,t ~
4 had q short rifle slung TO my sad.
die and n revolver Mt each hip. ! re.
| solved TO keep the men covered and
II saw any attempt 70 kin would I've
in n position to render assistance. The
woman kept looking up my way. MS IL
she wished would join them. /
feared she would call their attention
to me. but fortunately she failed To do
| so. -a es,.
The men made n search OF the load
| on the cart. throwing OFF every stick
of wood and ripping up the floor But
not sack OF dust was to be found.
They withdrew for consultation. then
returned. and one OF the men put a re-
volver To the head OF the woodman.
and could hear him threaten TO shoot
him IL he didn't tell where the dust
was. Suddenly the woman drew n
revolver and shot the robber dead.
Each of the other two men drew their
weapons TO finish the woodman and
his wife
now thought II high time 10 I'm.
terfere. i fred Mt one OF the men and
dropped him. This startled his com.
| panion. who looked about wildly for
the unseen enemy. While he was do.
Ing so the woodcutter. whom the rob
bers had not disarmed. put bullet In
| his brain.
The road agep&s now nll being dis.
| posed Of. / descended. The woman
had tainted I'm her husbands arms.
| The wood was scattered on the road
beside the cart. The dumb brutes were
standing patiently waiting for the
crack of the whip TO move on Hear
ing steps above him. the woodman
looked up md saw me descending. At
that moment his wife regnincd con
seriousness. and by the time Joined
them both had recovered something of
their equanimity. sui .
| Talk of gratitude. There was graft
tude enough IN that young woman's
eyes TO thank nm army for the relief
OF beleaguered city.
II thought you had deserted us."
she said.
IF bad come on you would both
have been dead by this time and /
as well probably"
That's true" said the man. We're
only here by miracle"
AS soon as the pair had recovered
from the shock the man began to re-
place the wood on his cart ] turned
In and helped him. AS soon M we had
finished the job and the couple were
ready TO proceed on their Journey he
said TO me:
II don't think wen have any more
trouble. bat j don't know"
IF you're not certain ! shalt 20 back
with you. ] don't like leaving man
and | won't leave woman In dan.
ger"
The wife gave me a look that set
tied me. l turned back with them.
intending TO take fresh start the
next day
Now. IL you don't mind" ! said. az
would like mn explanation as 10 why
the robbers suspected you OF carrying
gold or OF knowing who WINS carrying
IT,"
ut is better" said the man. that
you shouldn't know till we're out OF
danger Not knowing. 10 one can
force YOU TO tell. Wait Till we gct To
PunkerviIle. then III tell you all about
H."
To this I assented. aud we continued
our journey TO within few milcs OF
the town. when. unable 10 kccp the
slow pnce OF the oxen, l showed signs
Of impotence.
III you don't mind" said the wood
man. who since the fracas had dropped
his lingo. you might ride ahead aud
send out wagon"
did so utter having accepted IN I'm.
yitatiOn from the man tO call that
evening ut his house.
when ! stood before the door OF his
dwelling 1 Ipokod ut,ou tbe Itpst bpusa
IN the town. found the wotdman
dressed like a gentleman and his wife
dressed like u lady.
Permit me to introduce myself" hg
said. "as the owner OF n newly dis
covered mine up In the canyon. Last
night ] got wind Of n proposed attack
by road agents to carry of our stock
VI accumulated ore. We arc defense
less up there and determined t. bring
Il. A..