The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-09-07
a Bluff
By ALAN HINSDALE

employment in q bank. It was q rough
country in those days, road agents,
horse thieves and the like being plenti-
full. The bank In which / was en-
pioyed was in a small mining town
not many people, but a good deal Of
money in proportion to the Inhabitants.
One day the cashier told me that he
wanted me to carry eighteen hundred
dollars in currency to man in Taylor
vile who owned and ran stamp
mill. The distance was forty miles,
and there was no public conveyance.
I mounted horse and with a roll Of
bills in my right boot leg set out on
my journey. Ny only defense was
~ caliber revolver at my hip under
my coat.
/ had done about half the distance
when overlook girl riding on horse
back in the same direction as 1 was.
She was astride, and had it not been
for her feminine costume l would not
have known that she was a woman.
However, when she turned her face as
rode up beside her saw that she
was quite good looking, though not of
refined type I dotted my hat and
babe her good morning. She replied to
the saiutation, and we rode on to
gether.
In those days women were scarce In
the west, and l, being young and not
overthoughtful, was much pleased at
having q travelling companion of the
opposite sex. The young woman did
not appear averse TO my company, and
we were soon on friendly terms She
asked me more questions about myself
than liked, but judged that it was
through the idle curiosity of a girl,
whom judged to be not over seven
teen.
After awhile we saw two men about
a quarter of mile ahead Of US ride
out from behind rise In the ground
ON to the road. From the way they
looked back at us I feared they were
road agents. impaired my suspicion
to my companion, and she said she
suspected the same thing.
"Are you armed" she asked.
Il havea revolver"
: II got $15 in my pocket she said,
land a gold watch and this ring on my
finger. You take 'em. If you beat the
men off you can give 'em back to me-"
They're much more likely to relieve
me of them than you" replied. keep
them. And here-take this"
Owed into my boot leg, drew forth
my roll of bills and handed them to
her. She took them and stuffed them
into pocket in her dress.
When we came up with the two
men they asked us if we had seen
some stray cattle they We're looking
TOR, and when we told them we had
not they said nothing more, and we
rode on. I was very much relieved,
for, to tell the truth, my heart was I'm
my throat. 1t was beating too wildly
for some time after the meeting for
me to say anything to ray companion.
When had quieted down and looked
aside at him | saw that her own
fright had been either negligible or
her equaninity very quickly recovered.
She looked pleased rather than scared.
We'll" said after we had proceed
ed short distance, ''Ill not need to
trouble you any longer with my prop
erty."
What property?"
why, the roll of bills I gave you to
keep for me-"
Il don't remember your giving me
any bills"
cast quick side glance at her.
Her expression was very much chang
ed All that innocence I had noticed
before had departed, and a resolute
look had taken its place. 1t told the
story at once. She had offered me her
valuables as a suggestion that / offer
her mine instead. had been victim
lied. She had my money. She was a
woman. | did not relish getting il
from her forcibiy.
'sYou give me that money" I said In
20 soft tone.
l@CC ACLC, AAStcE, SIG TOpIIRQ. III
you intend to rob me, say so. But l
want you to know that III get nv
friereis after you, and if they ketch
you you'll swing like any other road
agent"
The game was developing rapidly. 1
saw possible situation did not like.
Probably she was a decoy-had been
sent out to waylay me or any traveller
and her friends had their eyes on us.
Ii took my money from her forcibly
they would come down on me and
hang me for robbing woman.
you've got me-" said, "but there's
risk for you in this business. can
get posse after you, and if they get
their hands on you it will go hard with
you. How much do you want to set
tle?"
How much you gotT' she said.
There's $50 in that roll" replied,
perhaps more. I'll give you half.
Call it $50. If you don't accept the
offer I swear I'll have you in the
hands of the vigilance conT1oittoa with