The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-08-31


with mail bag and handed 1t TO
him.
"well, ST. he said, "did you get
the gold?"
"Yep. There 'tis," replied the old
fellow, ejecting mouthful OF toDac-
co Juice, and pointing to a square
little box on top of the stage. "Eny
passengers?"
eyes, there's one," answered the
superintendent. Hell be out in
minute. You'd better be kinda care
full to-day, ST." he added, drawing
closer. "There's more gold in that
box than usual this week. And
YOU know Black Merton's been tear
ing off some stunts around here tne
last month or two"
sDon't y'u worry none bout Black
Merton assured 81. II been up
agin him befo'. They don't none OF
them bad men git tn best O 81
West. No, sir-ree.'
At this point the passenger, we'll
dressed and pleasant-looking Fellow
came out of the postofice.
.sThis is the stage I'm to take?' he
asked.
"Yep,", replied 81. ''Yu' kin either
git inside or y'u kin ride up here
with me on tn seat, jest as y'u like.
Thanks. Guess I'll ride up on
the seat, as it don't make any differ
ence.''
He mounted to the drivers seat'
and ST cracked his long whip over
the horses, starting them of at gal
1op.
They went for several miles with
out either breaking the silence. Then
the old driver began chuckling soft
ly to himself.
In a moment he spoke.
"He, he,' he giggled. "Did y'u
he-year what tn Sup. was sayln' t
me? He, he. I run up agin Black
Merton onct. Yep, but didn't git
none tn best O. me. No, sir-ree."
sTell me about it," encouraged his
passenger.
.sWall," the old fellow began,
Twas bout six months sgo, an l
was a carryin' box of gold fer tn
comp'ny. I'd got jest bout long
here SOM ERE, an he comes rlddln
ont firm. benin that hill up there on
tn. road, an'-H'm."
Glands up!" he cried.
81 and his passenger Instantly
obeyed the command.
tsNow,'' said the robber, "y>u up
there with tn dude clothes, git up
an, take down thet box firm of'n tn
stage. Be quick, too, befo' l give
y'u little livelier."
"Ge-ed up," called 81 to the
horses, and as they started they heard
the clatter of hoofs as the robber
galloped away.
< For perhaps twenty minutes neltn-
er spoke. Then the old driver began
to chuckle again.
..sWell," said his seatmate, in very
evident surprise, 'sI shouldn't think
you'd be so happy over losing that
gold. What do you think the super
intendent will say about this?'
"He, he," giggled ST. "They don't
none of them get the best O. ST West.
No STREE. That fellow won't be a
feelin' very happy, neither, that is,
less he was a-lookin' fer rocks"
sWhat?"
tsShu. D. y'u think I'd put a box
O. gold up there fer tn whole coun-
try t. be looking at? No, STREE.
Thet box didn't hev nothin' int but
q lot a rocks
.tAnd where in the deuce do you
keep your gold?" asked the other.
For an answer Si pulled up the
flap that hung over the front seat
on which they sat. Under the seat
lay box, precisely like the one that
the robber had taken.
sHe, he," giggled 81. ''They don't
none of them git tn best of ST West.
No, STREE"
els that right?'
The driver started up at the
strange note in the others voice,
and found himself staring into the
barrel of big revolver, held in his
companions steady hand.
''I guess you know me now, don't
you?" smiled the latter. ssI'm Black
Merton. You fooled me with that rock
gag before, but the man amt living
that can fool me twice. Now, you
can just exercise your muscles drag
ging that box out from under the
seat. Thanks for telling me where it
was, but I knew it wasn't the other