The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-05-07

stopped by the agents ut least one day
in the week for month. One OF the
women expressed wonder why the
authorities did not do something to
clear the roads OF the robbers. At this
Il quiet looking little man In a corner
ieat said that to eradicate them would
II impossible. He hoped that he woui1
each Denver IN safety, and If he did
he would never ride in II coach again.
Suddenly the coach stopped. The
little man trembled from head to foot.
When it was learned that the pause
was TO enable the driver to fix some
part of the harness the other passen.
gers jeered the little man for his timid-
ity. whereupon he wrapped himself
up In his greatcoat and settled back
in his corner. The men passengers
clustered good deal about what they
would do If attacked, and the women
were very sneering in their remarks
about the coward.
The coach had passed down from an
eminence and was about to climb an
other when shot was heard. The
coach again came to a stop, and this
time II was evident that something
serious had happened. In a twinkling
the door was thrown open and a man
with an enormous revolver pointed into
the coach appeared ut the opening.
The women screamed. two of the
men turned pale-and. as for the little
II h. Ii
wrapped In his overcoat, which also
covered his face. The only uncon.
cerned personsin the coach was Joel
Simonson, who, not having anything
valuable to lose, was not Mt all wor,
ried.
come out of therew said the man al
the door In tone that indicated he
would be obeyed. The two women
allghted first, handed out by the rob.
Der, who was quite deferential to them
Then came two Of the men. followed
by Joel. The coward still crouched In
his corner. with his face covered. The
robber had not the stamina to kill such
an insignificant person. Instead he
thC otSpo VI TIC NOdCI
reached across it to the other side,
where the man was, and, selling him,
was dragging him out when there was
crack. and the robber fell on the floor
Of the coach.
The coward made one leap. In which
he reached the ground. and there were
two more shots in quick succession,
each bringing down a robber When
the passengers recovered from their
surprise they saw the coward standing
with smoking bulldog" revolver In
each hand. quite cool. but his eyes
dartlng about him in search of any
other man who needed his attention.
Seeing no more robbers. he turned
quickly to one of the men he had shot.
who was raising himself. Another
shot finished him. and this exciting
scene that had occupied about thirty
seconds was over.
While 1t had been enacted the two
robbers who were not engaged In get
ting the passengers out of the coach,
greedy for booty. had relieved the two
women and one Of. the men Of their
belongings. AS soon us the tragedy
was over the little coward said:
"My friends. | was sent out on this
trip to lay for Jim Dugan. who has
been robbing the coaches single hand.
ed and alone. | thought I'd meet him
alone and didn't expect that he would
have any one with him. If his two
pals hadn't been In such hurry to get
the stuff and had been tending to bust
ness instead Of going through the pas
sengers that had been taken out Of the
coach l would have been a goner, for
one of them. IL not both. would have
dropped me-"
He then proceeded to relieve the
fallen men. who were both dead. Of
what they had taken. One of the ar
ticles was lump Of quartz which made
Joel SimonsOn open his eyes. He rec
Dgnized the identical nugget of which |
he had been robbed the night before.
See here. you little stick of dyna-
mite" he said to the man who had |
killed the road agents. that thing there |
Is mine"
what makes you think sop said the
other.
IF you examine It you'll find my in
tials. y. S. cut on it."
The little man turned the nugget TIL |
ne brought the letters before his eyes. |
hen turned them over the passengers |
With scrltinizing glance. 1t did not |
AXE him long to spot one of the men |
passengers.
"Who are youT' he asked.
The man made no reply.
IF | mistake not I've seen you once |
Iefore'
With that the little man clapped a |
,air of bracelets on the fellow, who |
made no resistance.
When all had been attended to the |
'oach was driven on. and on its ar |
ival In Denver the stolen property was
to its owners on proof of own
rship. Joel receiving his nugget. The
coward from the time Of his quick
hange was hero and received a
arge reward for the service he had
lone the express company, having put |
In end to a series of robberies that had
.ost 1t many thousands OF dollars.
Joel Simonson sold his nugget for |
'nough cash TO send for his betrothed
md to furnish capital to develop the