The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-06-11

! 1t looked as though the road agents
would relieve the express company O
the treasure and let us go on Besides
the expressions of terror Of those in
side the coach excited my contempt
Strong men were begging the robber.
to spare their lives, while shrieks cam,
from the women. 1t did not seem t.
me that they were in any danger sc
long as they did not offer resistance
but that they had lost their head.
through cowardice.
My friend the driver sat quieting the
horses by word now and then-foi
they seemed to know what was going
on and were very restive-but he seem
ed anxious about me. Why cculdn't
understand, because l had no idea OF
resistance, and didn't believe the rob,
bers would modest a woman. l did not
even believe that they would collect
the valuables Of the passengers since
they had seven or eight boxes Of bull.
lion to take care Of
The boxes were unloaded and piled
on one another beside the road. Two of
the men who had laid their rifles down
and helped to carry the treasure were
about to pick them up; the other armed
man held his weapon, muzzle down, In
the hollow Of his arm, and the fourth
armed man was looking with satisfac-
ton at the fine haul he had made
when the driver said to me In a quick
sharp voice.
Get down."
Before ] could obey I heard the
cracking of rifles inside the coach and
saw two of the road agents topple over.
None Of the others had their hands on
their weapons. and before they could
get them every one was laid low. 1t
was all done in less than quarter Of a
minute, and l saw that getting down
under the seat was unnecessary.
But whence came the firing? Surely
not from the cowardly passengers.
looked at the driver for an explanation,
but he was busy with the horses, who
were rearing and plunging, and 1t was
no time for the satisfaction of my curl
osity.
The robbers were all dead or dying.
and the passengers were getting out
Of the coach The women tore off their
dresses and exposed mems clothes.
Every one was armed to the teeth.
though the weapons were concealed.
AS soon as the horses were quieted the
driver put out his left hand to me
still holding the reins In his right-and
said:
why didn't you get down when
told you to? By Jove, I'm glad you're
all rightP'
The explanation of the affair came
to me piecemeal. The coach had been
sent out as decoy. All inside were
men with concealed weapons The
boxes were loaded with stones or sand.
The agent had contrived to have it re-
ported to the road agents that treas
ure would go by that coach with
view to an ambush. When l came up
at the starting and asked to be allow
ed to go on the coach the agent nat
urally demurred to take on a woman
wishing to have my company, argued
that at the springing of the trap could
get down where no stray bullet would
be likely to hit me. Nevertheless he
was much worried on my account and
much relieved when 1t was all over
Leaving some of the passengers
they were all in the service of the ex-
press company with the dead and
wounded robbers. we drove on to the
next relay station and sent a wagon
back for the wounded. But so far as
was concerned the adventure was
enued. And yet it cannot be said to
have ended, because in it found my
fate. My drubbing the three RS into
children's heads did not last very long.
My acquaintance with the stage driver
was enduring, and after a brief court
ship OF month-rather lengthy for
that country at that time-I married
him.
His stage driving did not last long.
Receiving some capital from the east.
he entered into the business Of mining
machinery and supplies and prospered
And now that the region in which we
live has grown populous and civilized
we enjoy beautiful home, in which
we are very happy, surrounded by nu-
merous children and grandchildren.