The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1916-06-29
A WILDLY WEST
EPISODE
By ELINoR MARSH

east. received an offer to go to Denver
to fill the position of teacher. At that.
time the Union Pacific railroad was
building, and trains yer running as
far as Laramie. From Laramie the
only public conveyance to Denver was
by ~stagecoach.
The train numbered yer long stretch.
cs of alkali fields. a good deal Of the
way beside the Platte river. which. not
having any trees on its banks. remind.
ed her Of n man with no hair or beard.
Miss Mildred reached Laramie in the
evening. and, since the daily coach did
not leave till the next morning. She
took a room in a tavern and went to
bed. The town had sprung up like a
mushroom in the night. comprising that
Kind of population which can only be
understood by a view Of it. Miss Hill
dred was tired and would have slept
soundly had it not been for revelry in
a dance hall close by. Zone lady more
for this set!' "Alamand left!- Swing
your partners" "Keno" were mingled
in confusion.
This introduction to western life at
that time was not encouraging, but a
more vivid experience was reserved
for the next day. After a sleepless
night the young schoolma'am break
tasted and went out to board the coach
for Denver. A man stood at the door.
only permitting certain persons to en.
ter. On seeing Miss Hildred he stop
ped her and was about to turn her back
when a man standing near spoke to
him. evidently referring to the young
lady.
care you in .it?' asked the man regu-
lating the entrances.
Miss Hildred. supposing that he
wished to know If she was going to
Denver, gave al affirmative nod Of her
head. She got into the coach, the door
was shut and the vehicle rolled away.
II thort.' said a woman. with q very
coarse voice. that there was to be six
Of US. I see there's seven"
That's not countin' the kid" said Il
posed to designate him as a clergyman,
at the same time casting a glance at
Martha.
Three of the passengers We're men
and three were women. the latter all
being strapping creatures apparently
as strong as the men Miss Hildred
"a on the back seat sandwiched be-
tween a man and q woman.
"Can you use another weepon. kid
dyf" said the woman beside her. I
got one more'n l need"
Miss Hildred looked at her blankly.
not understanding what she meant.
"Oh, l see! NUNS the word said
the other and made no further adj
vances.
There are no outsiders today said
n of the men, who wore the som.
brero, wooden shirt and trousers tuck
ed in his boots Of the typical westerner
of the period.
NO." replied a quiet little man, the
only delicate looking person in the
coach. 1.-THE agent concluded to man.
age 1t With only insiders. He was
afraid that too many would scare ZEN
of"
All this was Greek to Miss Htldred
but she was thinking about what she
would find in her new field Of labo,
and was not paying any attention to it
} Suddenly q shot rang u ahead
! The coach anne to ( stop. the doc,
was thrown open. and two men stood
, facing It with short guns pointing int
} the coach.
"Step out, ladies and gentlemen
said the man nearest the door.
No n made q move to do 90, buI
, one Of the women. apparently mucf
frightened. cried out. Don't shoo'
me" and with her arm raised tn,
muzzle of the gun held by the mai
, standing nearest her. Another one o
the passengers a. the same time shool
I a Derringer pistol out Of his sleeve ant
quick as a fash of lightning put a bull
, ! let into the brain Of the man who's,
) gun had been knocked up. The quie
little man covering in a corner sud
denly seemed to explode. and the 9th
er road agent, for that is what tn
) men without were, fell dead.
Miss Hildred at this point fainte.
dead away. When she came to her
self she was stretched out beside tn
road. while six men stood about bel
The first idea that popped into he
head was as to where were the tire
women passengers. One Of the me-
pulled out a flask and tried to Undue
her to take a drink, but she refused
Raising herself on her elbow in a.
effort to get up. she saw two dead me
and tainted again. On coming to hel
self a second time one Of the men es
claimed:
"How In thunder did you get int
this gang"
When later the coach rolled int
Denver there was q first class story t
be told. The express company, in OF
der to entrap a couple Of road agent
who had infested the road, permitte
it to leak out that it would send
treasure by that particular coach. Ii
stead It sent six armed men. half q
them in women clothes. Since all wer
disguised It was not easy for the pei
Snn wh0 admitted <lo.o