The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-07-09
AIaLi.na
4V4oNAAA5 q
Coat

1uGEG were only I'VE AASA "A SAS
smoking car by the time the train had
passed Three Fork station, and they
We're all business men connected with
some eastern or western house. NO.
So was not a popular train, and they
took it simply because each had busi-
ness engagements or schedules that
must be followed.
The train had just spun through a
wide, arid waste, leaving behind
clouds Of alkali dust.
The fve men were grouped togeth-
er, pretty well talked out on general
subjects, and each ready for a little
excitement, when one Of them pointed
out Of the window. "see those foot
hills over there? Just a few months
ago, they caught Red Bert there. He
held up a train near here, and shot
the engineer and an express agent.
Then 1t was that little insignif-
cant chap who had Joined them fifty
miles back, by his card representa-
tive Of a small beef concern, rufled
the nerves of the FIVE travel weary
men in way he had not before.
The little drummer, Blake, nodded
his bald head, and started in to relate
some Of his exploits and went on:
''You bet / wouldn't lay down for no
man that walks here in the west or
anywhere. Most Of you fellows are
from the east, take it, and 60 through
to the coast; but / do business round
these parts; and I've mixed with bad
men in bad places, and I've never laid
down, but I've made some of them do
it." He lit cigar with self-satisfled
air.
The others said little, though one or
two winked slyly, but all we're Of the
same mind evidently; for when the
conversation had ended, thoroughly
killed by Blake, they drifted together
in another part Of the coach, after
Blake had gone back into one Of the
rear coaches.
"Say, but that little pup gave me
one gigantic pain. If he saw a bad
man, he'd crawl down his shirt to get
out Of sight. He don't know a gun
from a hole in the ground" one OF
them exclaimed heatedly.
The others concurred
"This is a deadly tiresome ride.
Can't we get up little excitement,
and make him the goat?" another
asked, eager for some excitement.
They sat in thought for few mo
ments, then a young member of the
group spoke up. eve got it! We
ought to make regular jack Of him
to pay him for that hot air, and take
some of the swelling out of him. What
do you say to this? One Of you go
back and fix up kinda rough, You
know, some old buds, get gun, and
while the trains going slow up the
ridge, come in and hold the bunch
up!"
BroWnelI, an engineer, was to be
the robber, because he was Carrying a
rough suit Of clothes for mountain
work.
The train stopped at a watering sta
ton, then began the long hard pull
over the Ridge.
In the smoker all were reading
earnestly except Blake who was look
ing out the window.
Suddenly a door opened and
slammed, and masked figure stood
before them.
Hands zup!" rang out, sharply in
tonated,
Every pair of hands went meekly
up; Blake's face was picture of sur
prise.
The masked figure came along to
each one, and obediently they yielded
up their worldly goods. AS the rob-
Der PASSED in front of Blake, he. too,
gave up his cash.
"Aw, come on there Fat" one Of
the men sang out; hes bad un-
give it to him!"
A roar of laughter went up.