Year: 1871

sparsely settled frontier. In either loca.
ton, the chances of detection are lessened,
and scoundrels rotate from one to the
other, adopting that locality which seems
to offer the greater inducement to carry
on their nefarious schemes in violation of
law


Some years ago, before railroads were
80 numerous as now, the mail was carried
from st. Louis to many points in the in
terror ON coaches drawn by horses. 1t
was not often that these coaches were mo-
Tested, but occasionally the mail bag
proved wonderful temptation to many q
laWless villain who had no fear of God or
Devil, and who would as soon cut a throat
as eat meal


Not long since we met in Missouri an
old stage driver. Now, that his occupa,
ton was gone, he had little else to do but
look with Jealous eyes upon the encroach-
ments of the fleeter locomotive. We after
ward learned that his name was Hugh
Miller. 1t was winters evening, and
little knot of loungers were gathered
around the bar room stove of the village
Ian. Miller was in one of his talkative
moods, and, as I always liked to hear
stories, as well as write them, drew my
chair within the circle and soon became as
deeply interested as the others in his story,
and I shall endeavor to give it to the
reader as nearly as possible in the speakers
own words:


1t was misty afternoon in November.
18-, that I drove out Of St. Louis.
should have left in the morning, but
the coach was broken and had to be re-
paired, SO that it was one O'Clock in the
afternoon before we got away. There
the box beside me. Two of those inside
were middle-aged men, probably land
spectators, bound for the upper country,
the other two appeared to be bride and
groom. The fellow that rode beside me
was big double listed fellow, with sort
of hang-dog look that | didn't like, but
you know a stage-driver meets aud sees
all sorts of folks, and those he don't like
he must put up with. This mans name
was registered on the coach book as John
Smith.


Now,I know there are good many
John Smiths in this world, and good
many more who take that name when
their own gets burdensome. It's conven-
lent name to take, for nobody ever thinks
it worth while to ask you if you are kin to
the Smiths of his neighborhood, for if he
has lived in dozen places I'll warrant he
has found Smiths in every one, and,
strange to say, scarcely any of them re-
lated to each other. The relationship of
the Smith family is never traceable after
they scatter from the paternal roof


Now / didn't like this man, but I
thought maybe he was the black sheep of
some one of the Smith families. some
where on the face of the earth. As there
was light mist falling, I suggested to
Smith that it would be far more pleasant
for him inside the coach, but he made
some trifing excuse for riding on top. I
was usually glad to have company, but
such as Smith furnished / didn't ike-I
grew non-comr rnunicative, and attended
strictly to my team l had good revolver
tucked under the seat, and so did not
feel greatly alarmed. My stretch " only
reached from St. Louis to St. Charles, and
there would hand Smith over to my sue
ceszor, giving him my humble view of his
Character and standing


l had changed horses, and was now only
five miles from ST. Charles; but it had
grown dark, and the night was rendered
doubly black by the smoke or fog that
arose from the ground. Every inch of the
/. road was familiar to me, and there was no
ditch or gully into which I could drive
even if were disposed to do so. At the
place where we changed horses I had
taken the trouble to examine my revolver
on the sly, and, after cooking, replaced it
under the cushion


All OF sudden the horses stopped in
the middle of the road; l gave them a
smart cut with the whip, but they only
snorted and reared What could this
mean? They had never before refused to
go at my bidding. I asked my companion
II he would not get down and see what the
trouble was. "No, he would not" but
proposed to hold the lines if I chose to
get down and see for myself Just at that
I'd III -, l. l.
ct. There was no time to be lost. I gave
him hunch with my elbow that sent him
spfawllng TO the ground, and at the same
moment l drew. out my revolver, deter
mined to shoot him if he made any hostile
demonstration.


s, No sooner had he fallen to the ground
Than two men who seemed to come out of
the darkness sprang upon him. The lady
inside screamed and the doors were thrown
open aud two of the men sprang out and
: Joined in the melee. I could hear the
noise and family see the conflict that was
raging, but could not tell friend from foe.
Sometimes one party seemed to gain the
ascendency and then the other. did not
think knives were being used, but many a.
: hard blow with fists was given aud taken.
The horses were so restless that it was all
/ could do to restrain them from running
away


Al last one party succeeded in overcom
ing the other, but whether friends or foes
had conquered did not at that moment
know


IF the robbers had the best of the two
passengers then it would soon be my turr
to make an attempt to defend Uncle Sans
property. At last the men arose from
their work of tying the prisoners, and
conferred moment, then turned toward
me.


Hold where you are or I'll shoot" said
l, covering one of them with my pistol.


Oh, put up your old pepper-box," sale
= '"I11 show you whether it is an old pep
per-box or not if you come one steI
nearer"


"Fool, we are your friends; now holG
your team steady until we put these two
thieving scoundrels inside; but first le
this lady get up on the box with you, fol
these fellows are not good company for {
ladv."


My eyes began to open, for the voic'
that addressed me was the voice of Smith


The lady refused to get up on the box
unless her husband could get up there too
Perhaps she was afraid of losing him. Th
lady was assisted to her place, l sitting o.
one side and her husband on the other TIL
robbers were tumbled inside, and away W
went. The lady had to be held in he
place by her husband, as she seemed read
to faint. A half hours drive brought us
the Missouri River, and, crossing over o
theferry, drove up to the stage-office. Be
fore the men inside would alight they ser
for the Sheriff of st. Charles County
When he arrived they lifted the two me
out and bore them to the bar-room of tn
hotel. The man and his wife FOLLOWED
and as turned my team over 70 the hos
tier, went also. Having entered the Ii


tie room, Smith said:


lIr.l Sheriff, here are couple of de-


perate characters that we captured in a


attempt to rob the coach. We wish yo


to keep them safely until tomorrow"


The Sheriff smiled grimly and assure


them that his hotel was always in readine
to entertain such as he chose to receiv
just at that moment the lady gave screa