Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-17

Two nFu hFiscu-
tom rail- We've got acquainted now,
though. Want to try herr"
mo! mol" hastily disclaimed the
girl. ut might frighten the horses"
Not on your life-they're used to
it, 'Tain't over two weeks ago that
Black Bart shot up the Auburn Kid
Wells Fargo man, you know. He
was settin' right where you are"
What do you mean?" said she,
moving uneasily. WHO is Black
Bart?'
Shorty gazed ineredulously at her,
but she smiled into his eyes till he
suddenly felt chills racing madly up
his spine and grew apoplectic.
"Er-ah-ain't you heard about
Black Bart, the outlaw? Say, You
must live plumb out of the world.
New York? I thought so. You East
ern folks way down around Denver
an Boston is clean off the map,
amt you? This Bart is a guy with
leanin's toward politeness an other
peoples money, also hell of an
aim. / beg your pardon, Miss" he
stammered, while his face grew red
and hot
60 on, please"
"Nobody's ever seen his face,
though some people claims han
kerin's for sight of it, such bein'
mostly sheriffs an Wells-Fargo di-
rectors. He works alone, an hot
gun messengers sort of rifles him.
They must be associated with some
thing sad in his past, for he's ac-
quired such a mild aversion to 'em
that he's laid out five in eight
months"
What a horrible creature" said
the lady with heat.
"Oh! he might be considerable
worse. S'posin he couldn't shoot
straight? He'd puncture me some
day.
I'D kill hint" said the passenger
with emphasis.
81 couldn't. 1t wouldn't be reg'lar.
I'm the driver, and drivers amt sup
posed to draw cards in the game.
Besides, amt fightin' man"
The young LADY studied for some
moments.
81 hate to think about robberies,
for all the money / have in the
world is in that box
WHAT" Shorty squared around
yes! Two thousand dollars. It's
the first payment for my brothers
claim. Perhaps you knew him. Lin
coin Gushing? He was a trifle wild,
I'm afraid"
Shorty guessed maybe he was, and
realized only too well how the young
rascal had jumped camp owing him
hundred dollars.
The lady leaned over confidential
ly.
That's not the worst. though. I've
heard he drank" She said it breath
lessly, with open shame.
Her listener didn't seem particu-
larly Mortified.
well he ct, too, as I recall it
now"
Yes. yes! I don't mean that way.
He drank whiskey-think of it."
Il often do" said Shorty, licking
his lips.
I'VE heard he was dead" she con-
tlnued sadly. 1T nearly killed
mother, and as soon as my school
closed came out to sell the mine"
Swinging past an elbow in the trail.
they sagged rafting down across a
gully. thence up a gentle rise where
the horses slowed. AS they topped
this, the girl shrieked muffledlv.
Two hgures had risen from the top
OF the bank, armed, masked and SIMS
ter. One, the familiar form of Black
Bart. tall, debonair, mocking. The
other, stranger whom Shorty had
never seen before. Each carried a
Winchester; the elder man holding
his loosely in his followed arm; the
other, half leveled in the position for
quick action.
| Before the horses had reared at the
back pull, the little man had crashed
these points and swore again at the
luck which sent two men against him
on this of all days.
1t had come too suddenly for him
to formulate plan of action. More
over, 1t was contrary to all precedent
for driver to assume other than
passive duties; he doubted whether
road etiquette permitted it. Still, it
was quite impossible that the little
lady should lose her fortune
AS these thoughts hurtled through
his brain he likewise weighed the
odds against him. Even though he
got one, the other would kill him
where he sat. Bart he knew for a
deadly shot, whereas the stranger
seemed oddly shaken-regular buck.
fever apparently, from his trembling;
also, rage had flashed blindingly over
him at the hooking words of the
desperado: "Ohi Better cargo thar
bullion this trip. Shorty. You've
brought me a sweetheart. eh?''
He had cooled even before hii
weight on the brake brought then
to stand. AS the reins eased, hi.
hand slid suddenly to holster, anC
the oyergrown gun leaped forth
roaring as it came. Bart's Winches
ter rang whirling from his grasp.
AS the driver fired, he writhed il
his seat, expecting the blow of tn,
others ball, 1t did not come Swing.
ing, he fired again, and the stranger
SWayed grOpingly ont over fhe hanI
and slid Imply down into the road
amid a rattle of gravel and stones
Bart snatched at his rifle and leapeC
to cover behind the powders of tn,
hillside, moving with the quicl
litheness of panther.
AS the bandit lodged out of rang
Shorty 1eaped down.
"Herel get inside quickl' and tn
girl flung herself into his arms
OH the indescribable sweetness o
that moment! He had held a womal