Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-08-03
A WILD WEST
EPISODE
By ELlNOR MARSH


graduated from normal school In the
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 were running as
far as Laramie. From Laramie the
only public conveyance to Denver was
by stagecoach.
The train numbered over long stretch
es 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 a man with no hair or beard
Miss Hildred reached Laramie in the
evening, and, since the daily coach did
not leave till the next morning. she
took room in a tavern and went to
bed. The town had sprung up like
mushroom in the night, comprising that
kind Of population which can only be
understood by view of It. Miss Hill
dred was tired and would have slept
soundly had 1t not been for revelry in
a dance hall close by. zone lady more
for this set!' "Alamand leftr' Swing
your partnerv' "Kenop' 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 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.
"Are 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 an affirmative nod Of her
head She got into the coach. the door
was shut and the vehicle rolled away.
IL thort," said a woman, with a very
coarse voice. that there was to be six
of us. see there's seven"
"That's not countin' the kid" said q
man in a white cravat which was sup.
posed to designate him as a clergyman
at the same time casting glance al
Martha.
Three Of the passengers were men
and three were women, the latter all
being strapping creatures apparently
| as strong as the men. Miss Mildred
was on the back seat sandwiched be-
| tween a man and woman.
| Can you use another weepon, kid
dy?" said the woman beside her.
got one more'n | need"
Miss Hildred looked at her blankly
not understanding what she meant
"Oh, l see! NUNS the word" sale
the other and made no further ad
vances.
There are no outsiders today" sale
one of the men, who wore the som
brero, wooden shirt and trousers tuck
ed in his boots of the typical westernel
of the period.
NO" replied a quiet little man, tn,
only delicate looking person in thu
coach. THE agent concluded to man
age 1t with only insiders. He wa
afraid that too many would scare ZEN
Off"
All this was Greek to Miss Hildred
but she was thinking about what sh
would find In her new field of labo
and was not paying any attention to II
Suddenly shot rang out ahead
The coach came to a stop, the doc
was thrown open, and two men stoo
facing it with short guns pointing int
the coach.
"Step out, ladies' and gentlemen,
said the man nearest the door.
, No one made a move to do so, bu
one of the women, apparently niue
frightened, cried out, Don't shoe
mew and with her arm raised tn
muzzle Of the gun held by the ma
standing nearest her Another one {
the passengers at the same time shoe
, a Derringer pistol out Of his sleeve an
> quick as a fash of lightning put blu
let into the brain Of the man who's
gun had been knocked up. The quiz
little man covering in a corner SUI
denly seemed to explode, and the otl
err road agent, for that is what II
men without were, fell dead.
Miss Hildred at this point fainte
dead away. When she came to ne
{ self she was stretched out beside Il
a road, while six men stood about he
e The first idea that popped into ht
+ head was as to where were the thrt
a women passengers. One Of the me
pulled out flask and tried to Undue
= her to take drink, but she refuse
= Raising herself on her elbow In
o effort to get up. she saw two dead me
and tainted again. On coming to he
self a second time one of the men g
claimed:
4 "How in thunder did you get In
!. this gang?'
}. When later the coach rolled In
q Denver there was first class story
= be told. The express company, In
. der to entrap couple of road agen
. who had infested the road, permits
|