Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-08-22
FOOLED TWO HOLD-UP MEN.
Remarkable Foresightedness Of 81
West, a Smart Stage Driver.

West, a Smart Stage Driver.
ST West, the grizzled old stage driv-
er, a relic of early days, brought his
stage up in front Of the postoffice. The
mine superintendent came out with a
mail bag and handed it to him.
well, ST." he said, did you get the
gold?"
yep. There 'tis," replied the old
fellow, ejecting a mouthful Of tobacco
juice, and pointing to a square little
box on top Of the stage. "Eny passen-
gers?"
Yes, there's one" answered the su-
perintendent. He'll be out in a min
ute. You'd better be kinda careful to-
day, ST." he added, drawing closer.
There's more gold in that box than
usual this week. And you know Black
around here the last month or two"
Don't y'u worry none bout Black
Merton" assured ST. Il been up agin
him befo. They don't none of them
bad men git tn best O. 81 West. No,
STREE"
At this point the passenger a we'll
dressed and pleasant looking fellow
came out of the postoffice
This is the stage I'm to take?" he
asked.
yep" replied ST. "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 difference
He mounted to the drivers seat, and
81 cracked his long whip over the
!, e,fo ~ tftacr fhnx, Nff
They went for several miles without
old driver began chuckling softly to
himself
In a moment he spoke.
He, he," he giggled. Did yu' he
year what tn Sup was sayin' t. me?
He, he. / run up again Black Merton
onct. Yep, but didn't git none tn best
'o' me. No, sir-ree."
Tell me about It," encouraged his
passenger.
Wall" the old fellow began. Twas
bout six months ago, an 1 was car
ryin' a box of gold fer tn comp'ny. I'd
got jest bout long here som'ere, an he
comes a riddin' out firm benin thet
hill up there on tn road, an'-H'm."
Hands upI" he cried.
81 and his passenger instantly obey
ed the command.
Now" said the robber, ''y'u up there
with tn dude clothes, git up an take
down thet box firm off'n tn stage. Be
quick, too, befo' l give y'u little live
lier."
"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 neither
spoke. Then the old driver began to
chuckle again.
WELL" said his seatmate, in very
evident surprise, Il shouldn't think
you'd be so happy over losing that
gold. What do you think the superin-
He he" giggled ST. They don't
none of them get tn best O. 81 West
No sir-ree That fellow won't be a
feeln' very happy, neither, that Is,
less he was a-lookin' fer rocks"
WHAT"
"Shu. D. y'u think I'd put box O.
gold up there fer tn whole country t
be looking at? No, sir-ree. Thet box
didn't hev nothin' int but a lot a
rocks"
And where in the deuce do you
keep your gold?" asked the other.
For an answer 81 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.
He, he" giggled ST. They don't
none of them git tn best of ST West
No, STREE"
rs 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 companion's
steady hand.
Il guess you know me now, don't
you?" smiled the latter. I'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 dragging
that box out from under the seat
Thanks for telling me where it was
but l knew it wasn't the other one all
along. That other robber is a pal OF
mine. We figured this was the surest
way of getting the gold"
Some four hours later 81 West
brought his team to halt in front OF
little depot in Verde station. Alight-
ing from his seat he went quickly
around to the rear of the stage. Here
he lifted a piece of canvass, took out
a small square box it had covered
With great effort he lifted the box to
the ground and called the agent to
come and help him in with it.
He, he." he giggled. "They don't
none of them git tn best of ST West
| spotted Black Merton tn minute he
come outa tn postoffice this mornin'
Mebbe he likes rocks, too, though. He
he. They don't none of them git tn
best O. 81 West. No, sir-ree."-Los