The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1912-08-29
Making. a
Goat

!! Goat
There were only five men in the
smoking car by the time the train had
passed Three Fork station. and they
were all business men connected with
some eastern or western house. No.
% was not popular train, and they
took 1t simply because each had bust.
ness engagements or schedules that
must be followed.
The train had Just spun through .
wide. arid waste, leaving behind
clouds of alkali dust.
The five men were grouped togeth.
pr, pretty we'll talked out on general
bubjects, and each ready for q little
excitement. when one Of them pointed
but Of the window. "see those foot.
hills over theref Just q few months
ego. they caught Red Bert there. He
held up q train near here, and shot
the engineer and an express agent"
Then It was that little insignifi.
cant chap who had Joined them nifty
miles back, by his card a represents
tive Of a small beef concern, ruined
the nerves of the five travel weary
men in a way he had not before.
The little drummer, nlake, nodded
his bald head, and started in to relate
some of his exploits and went on:
''You bet I wouldn't lay down for nc
man that walks here in the west OF
anywhere. Most Of you fellows are
from the east, I take it, and go through
10 the coast; but I do business round
these parts: and I've mixed with bad
tmen IN bad places. and I've never laid
down. but I've made some Of them do
IL" He lit q cigar with q self.satished
tir.
The others said little, though one OF
two winked slyly. but ill were Of the
Dame mind evidently; for whom the
conversation had ended, thoroughly
illsd BY Blake. they drifted together
h another part Of the coach, after
Blake had gone bacR into one Of the
Fear coaches.
gay. but 1T little pup gave me
ipns Gigantic pain. II he saw . bad
man. he'd crawl down his shirt to gst
out Of sight. He don't know . gun
from . hole in the ground" one Of
khem exclaimed heatsdly. /
The others concurred.
This 10 q deadly tirssome ride.
Can't We get up Q little excitement,
and make him the goatf" another
asked. eager for some excitement.
! They sat In thought for . few mo-
{ments. then Q young member Of the
group spoke up. i've got It! We
ought to make Q regular Jack Of him
to pay him for that hot cir, 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. 81 gun. and
while the trains going slow up the
ridge. come I'm. and hold the. bunch
up!" ~ es=es. ..ss.xss,..r. go.
Brownell, an engineer, was to b
the robber. because he was Carrying q
rough suit Of clothes for mountain
work. -.
The train stopped at q watering sta
ton, then began the long hard pun
over the Ridge. -.
In the smoker all were reading
earnestly except Blake who was look
ing out the window.
: Suddenly q door opened and
alarmed, and q masked figure stood
before them.
Hands zup!" rang out, sharply in
fonated.
Every pair Of hands went meekl,
up: Blake's face was q picture Of sur
prise.
The masked figure came along tt
each one. and obediently they yielded
mp their worldly goods. As the rob
her passed in front Of Blake, he, too
gave up his cash.
Jaw. come on there Fat" one Of
the men sang out; hes a bad un-
give It to him!"
! A roar Of laughter went rp
brownell slipped of his mask, expos
Ing grin that went from ear to ear
"shut down on the hot air. Beef
be said; land don't come butting In on
The conversation Of gentlemen unless
you're asked"
I Blake was staring out Of the win
faow: he turned, and in Q fash he
btood in the aisle. gimlet.eyed and
grim, holding in his hand q black big
polt-not the toy in his case. "Quick!
band over that mon," his words siz
He'd.
IT want that mon-it's my Joke, nowi
br-"
Brownell started at him with an
h9gry oath. The gun spat at him,
hid the tall figure collapsed into q
heat. As II in answer ahead and bach
q the lmoker. echoed aharp. reports.