Year: 1871

to offer the greater inducement 10 carry
on their nefarious schemes in violation OF
law


Some years ago, before railroads were
so 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-
lested, but occasionally the mail bag
proved wonderful temptation to many a
lawless villain who had no fear of God or
DevtI, and who would as soon cut throat
as Eat a 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 afte--
ward learned that his name was Hugh
Miller. 1t was winters evening, and a
little knot of loungers were gathered
around the bar.room stove of the village
inn. Miller was in one of his talSative
moods, and, as l always liked to hear
stories, as well as write them, l drew my
chair within the circle and soon became as
deeply interested as the others in his story,
and 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 l drove out of St. Louis. l
should have left in the morning, but
the coach was broken and had to be re-
paired, so that 1t was one o'clock In the
afternoon before we got away. There
were four passengers inside and one on
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 f. How that rode beside me
was big double listed fellow, with sort
of hang-dog look that l 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, / know there are good many
John Smiths in this world, and a good
many more who take that name when
their own gets burdensome. It's a conven-
tent name to take, for nobody ever thinks
it worth while to ask you if you are kin to
the Smiths of his neiShborhood, for if he
has lived in dozen places Ill 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 1 didn't like this man, but l
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, suggested to
Smith that it would be far more pleasant
for him inside the coach, but he made
some trifling excuse for riding on top. l
was usually glad to have company, but
such as Smith furnished didn't like-I
grew non-communicative, and attended
stric ly to my team. had good revolver
tucked under the seat, and so l did not
feel greatly alarmed. My stretch" only
reached from ST. Louis to st Charles, and
there would hand Smith over to my sue
cessor, giving him my humble view Of his
character and standing.


/ 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 nc
ditch or gully into which / could drive
even if were disposed to do so. At the
place where we changed horses l had
taken the trouble to examine my revolver
on the sly, and, after cooking, replaced il
under the cushion.


All or a sudden the horses stopped in
the middle of the road; | gave ITEM q
smart cut with the whip. but they only
snorted and reared What could this
meanP They had never before refused to
go at my bidding. l asked my companion
If he would not get down and see what the
trouble was. "No, he would not" but
proposed to hold the lines if | chose Il
get down aud see for myself just at that
moment heard pistol click in his peck
ct There was no time to be lost. | gave
him hunch with my elbow that sent hiu
sprawling 10 the ground, and at the same
moment / drew out my revolver, deter
mined to shoot him ii he made any hostile
demonstration.


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 anC
joined in the melee. l could hear tn,
noise and family see the conflict that was
raging, but could not tell friend from foe
Sometimes one party seemed to gain thu
ascendency and then the other. | did no
think knives were bring used, but many q
hard blow with fists was given aud taken
The horses were so restless that it was al
could do to restrain them from running
away.


a last one party succeeded in overcom
ing the other but whether friends or foe
had conquered did not at that momen
know.


If the robbers had the best of the tw,
passengers then it would soon be my tuTl
to make all attempt to defend Uncle Sam
property. At last the men arose from
their work of tying the prisoners, ant
conferred moment, then turned towart
me.


a IIoI1 ~ go ,,.,, 80 - IiII ,boo4 ~ On;
/, covering one OF them with my pistol


"0h, put up your old pepper-box," sail
one


an show you whether it is an old pep
per-box OF not if you come one ste]
nearer"


Fool, we are your friends; now holt
your team steady until we put these tw
thieving scOundrels inside but first le
this lady get up on the box with you, fd
these fellows are not good company for
lady"


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


The lady refused to get up on the boz
unless her husband could get up there toe
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. Tn
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 I
the Missouri River, and, crossing over o
the ferry, drove up to the stage.ottice. Be
fore the men inside would alight thsy ser
for the Sheriff of st. Charles County
When he arrived they lifted the two me
mt and bore them TO the bar.room of tb


otel. The man and his wife FOLLOWED


d as I turned my team over TO the hoi


~ assltRlso. Having entered the II


siith said


hggMr.. Bheriff, here are couple OF de-
Derate characters that we captured In a


tempt TO rob the coach. We wish yo


keep them safely unlil tomorrow"


The Sheriff smiled grimly and assure


en- that his hotel was always in readine


entertain such as he chose TO receiv


ast at that moment the lady gave a screai


81 t. E..okaxIfa