The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-07-18
Making a
Goat

HsSSS~0 IA CO VOA n StdI1Ou, duO tA0y
were all business men connected with
some eastern or western house. No.
81 was not popular train, and they
took it simply because each had bust.
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 five men were grouped togeth.
er, pretty we'll talked out on general
subjects. and each ready for little
excitement, when one Of them pointed
out of the window. "See those foot.
hills over there? Just 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 a little insignia.
cant chap who had joined them fifty
miles back, by his card representa-
tive of a small beef concern, ruffled
the nerves Of the five travel weary
men in a 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 l wouldn't lay down for no
man that walks here In the west OF
anywhere. Most of you fellows are
from the east, take ii, and go through
to the coast; but I 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-satisfied
air.
The others said little, though one OF
two winked slyly, but all were 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 bad
man, he'd crawl down his shirt to get
out of sight. He don't know 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 a little excitement
and make him the goat?" another
asked, eager for some excitement.
They sat in thought for a few mo
ments, then a young member Of the
group spoke up. "I've got it! We
ought to make a 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"
Brownell, an engineer. was to be
the robber, because he was carrying a
rough suit of clothes for mountain
work.
The train stopped at watering sta
ton, then began the long hard pull
over the Ridge.
II the smoker all were reading
earnestly eycertt pike who was look
ing out the window.
OUUUSuly uOOI OpSuCu duu
slammed, and a masked figure stood
before them.
Hands zup!" rang out, sharply in
tonated
Every pair of hands went meekly
up; Blake's face was a picture of sur.
prise.
The masked figure came along tc
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.
cav, come on there Fat" one OF
the men sang out; "he's bad un-
give it to him."
A roar of laughter went up.
Brownell slipped Off his mask, expos
ing a grin that went from ear to ear.
"Shut down on the hot air, Beef
he said; land don't come butting in on
the conversation of gentlemen unless
you're asked"
Blake was staring out of the win.
dow; he turned. and in fash he
stood in the aisle, gimlet-eyed and
grim, holding in his hand black big
Colt-not the toy in his case. "Quick!
hand over that mon," his words siz.
zled.
81 want that mon-it's my joke, ow!
Or"
Brownell started at him with an
angry oath. The gun spat at him,
and the tall figure collapsed into a
seat. AS if in answer ahead and back
of the smoker, echoed sharp reports.
Blake stopped and rifled Brownell's
pockets, and then one by one he went
to the dazed, dumbfounded men.
The train was at a standstill.
Blake passed at the end of the car.
"That was clever, and I went you one
better. I'm the real thing. The next
time you meet little Insignificant
cuss like me who wants to entertain
you with a few yarns-take off your
hats!" He vanished.
When out Of the confusion came or
der, and a doctor had brought Brow
nell around and dressed the slight
wound on his shoulder, the silent
group Of men took notes and thought
together.
'Tt's regular planned hold-up;