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ipft' HWi ft HOrK ' /H ■ ■ oco :
vW Oil
AWA tfjM
XIX.
SI,OOO in Christmas Presents.
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WHT
“Good-bye, little boy; kiss papa good-bye,”
Baid my husband, as he held our ten-months
old child aloft in his strong hands, kissed his
fair face, and rings of silky hair, while baby
cooed and clenched his small fingers in his
thick brown beard.
“Take good care of mamma till papa comes
back.” This, as he laid the little fellow back
in my arms, and giving me a parting kiss,
eprang lightly to the seat of a huge covered
wagcn that stood at the door.
The span of powerful horses started off at a
brisk trot, as he picked up the lines and
whistled to them, the cumberous vehicle rat
tling at their heels over the green sward for,
ns yet, there was only a trail across the prairie
to the settlement, twenty miles away, whither
he was going to procure supplies for our
winter’s use.
With baby crowing in my arms I stood and
watched the wagon’s white top till it grew a
lessening speck on the broad breast of the
prairie and was lost in its billowy grass and
trilling shadows.
Three months previous to the late October
morning of which I write, we left our home in
a sleepy seaport of the old bay state and turned
our faces westward.
From Omaha, the then terminus of western
railroad travel, we performed a tedious and
perilous wagon journey to the great plains
that stretch away unbroken except by occas
ional belts of timber to the foot of me Black
Hills.
Just within the edge of one of these timber
bolts, throifgh which a noisy creek tumbled
along its rocky bottom, my husband, with
e true New England thrift and foresight, de
termined to “locate.” Here was an abundant
forest growth, mighty oaks and beeches, a fine
water power, miles and miles of fertile soil,
and eastern capitalists becoming excited over
the project of a railroad through this region.
Already in our dreams we saw arise the sciiool
‘house walls, the church spire, the nucleus of a
fair city.
While our cabin was building we had’ sub
sisted on stores we brought with us and game
with which the woods and prairie abounded;
but now it became necessary io make some
preparation for the long drear}' mouths of
winter, and while my husband made this very
heedful journey, I must stay alone for at least
two days.
Up to this time, since the completion of our
<eabin, we had not si en the face of white men
or Indians, and 1 hail not greatly dreaded his
absence, but when I had watched the white
topped wagon otit of sh'it, and turned t> my
empty cabin and missed the cheery pees; neo of
its master, I realized as I had never before the
solitude of my situation, the vastness and
wildness of theregion roundabout, and thought
with a shudder of the hours of approaching
darkness.
Late in the afternoon of that long day I was
'iittiug in the open doorway, with sewing on
jny lap, while baby, and Brownie —a small dog
wo had brought from tie cast—roiled on the
Bhoit, soft grass at my ■ et. For some hours a
flmoky haze had steadily i rent over the land
scape. hiding familiar points and gradually
dimming the light of the sun, which. dnJl and
.lurid, sank slowly to its prairie bed. Some
times, as the wind freshened, I fancied it
brougi t on its wing a rimed of lire, but on the
unbr >i. n horizon no banner of smoke ar-sse to
War i as of impendin'.: d::n:;r:r.
Suddenly, as I raised my eyes a moment
from my work, my gaze became fixed on a
small object, a mere speck in the far distance;
soon other forms a; p sred, and steadily gr. w
on the sight. 1 ran for it p werful field gla-s,
and soon made them out to be a party oi horse
men. traveling slowiy, their horses’ heads
'drooping as though very tired. Evidently
they had made a long march.
’ The level rays of tiie sun were in my face:
every moment the l.ize deepened, and i could
not determine whether their rider, were white
.men or Indians. In either case there was
Tnueh to fear. My heart rose in my thi o: t end
mv hands trembled so I could hardly steady
the glass.
Within a mile of us they halted and draw
(together as if in consul tar ion. One < f their
num'” r, turning in i. ss . ir-, H. '.; .1 l.i .gl
in our direction. With a cry, I r ■ rli: my
.wondering babe in my arms, lied into the.
Cabin and carefully f ibened both door and
. windows. Through a Icop-hole 1 v a. :hed th’ in
Still.
Again they moved forward; bat instead of
■coming straight along the trail, l. my relief
ifchey diverged to their left and disapnean I in
the' timber. Carefully I oxamin I the fastt n
ings of the door, drew heavy shnttr; a r s
each window, screened them'with shawls and
blankets that no ray of ii ht p t ho seen
from without, and soon a lire cm •■ ■’ up the
chimney, filling the rude npannieiit v.ith a
cheerful glow; but as night ci.me <;n a deep
sense of loneliness settled dor.:. i:,on my
spirit'’, a realisation of uf't- ln.lpb s'uc s
should danger threaten in any form. With my
babe asleep in his cra< • and B.i.wme treich
ed comfortably before the tii 1 at .1 list
ened with shivers of ucivou- dread to the
rising wind and the • r of <irj lent < - as they
were borne along on tl. v.i'.e.
\\ th strained ear I listened to every sound,
fancying at time-that 1 ~ nd hoar-" shouts
borne i n the gu ,ts. l.nt cr.lim dmy i . with
the 11. might tha’ it ’■ m■■ only the i.'.-’.int ry of
a i.oy itc or the howl of a wolf. Tim c: v of
tiie'"* animals is alv. ■ a sv. <et lullabv to the I
lonely se tiler or tri. : ron Um j Jam ' f. ■ io |
know- as long a- lie. ' bowki." am ids •
Other i.nm.in prow ■ ..’m vicinity . F. ~y i
regiil <1 with their m from Stm tlUKar :
B’in: :;thatldid !.'■,■ t ”, i no v v.,:h '
ceit’itT.y was r.n : • ■ n,..i cause of anxiety ■
ami .. ■! I n ■•
1! I ”
• wi'” d 1 ting '■■■
Again the sound <■ of a ' .u.d’pa’-s d ■
( b?At'about’tlm dm..'? 7iui.h’ .i. < '
ieet, every hair bii tH .g along his :.,.luc a..1
faced the door with glaring eyes; with smoth
ered growls ho flew from door to windows as
though we were surrounded by enemies. A
light rap now sounded on the.'door, followed
by a volley of barks and growls from the dog
that made baby spring in his cradle. I hushed
him, and waited with bated breath for the
next move. Not long was I kept in suspense.
A thundering blow was delivered on the dour,
and a rough v oice shouted:
“Hello! the house! Open the door and be
quick about it.”
This order was followed by a violent shaking
and pounding of the door, and another voice
shouted: “Oho! you needn’t play ’possum!
Open the door!” Then in a tone meant to be
reassuring: “We only want suthin’ to eat;
then we’ll go along.”
Above us was a loft, to which we ascended
by means of rude steps made from unshaven
boards. Taking my sleeping child in my arms,
I flew to these stairs as the first blow from
some heavy missile fell upon the door. Hastily
drawing the steps up after me, I placed them
across the ipertiu’e, and rolled a barrel half
filled with something heavy upon them. At
the same moment, the door cracking and splint
ering, under terrific blows, gave way,' and
several men with shouts, and coarse laughter,
pressed into the room. They were evidently
surprised at finding it vacant, and for a mo
ment stood silent, then a glance at the open
ing, and my preparations for defense, revealed
my hiding place.
“Come down old woman,” called one, “and
get us some supper.”
“We met your old man ont’n the parary,#
yelled another, “and we’ve only come to call
on ye.”
This sally was received with a burst of
laughter from the bandits, for such I doubted
not they were. A horrible thought seized me.
They had met my husband, murdered him,
and come here 'to complete their dreadful
work.
One of their number mounting a chair caught
hold of the ladder.
Standing near me was a shot gun. whether
loaded or not I did not know. With hands
that no longer trembled, I thrust the muzzle
in his face, ordering him to “leave, or I
would site!” Ho darted quickly aside and a
whispered consultation was heard below. Then
one said : “if ye won’t come down, old woman,
toll us wharto find yer grub.”
I directed them where to find food, and soon
the contents of my small larder was spread be
ing as they devoured my white loaves, sample
preserves, and such tid-bits as the cupboard
contained, and a more vicious, wild looking
company I never saw before, and hope never
to meet, again. Sun-browned, roughly dressed,
pants thrust into their boot-tops, wide belts
filled with pistols, and ugly looking knives,
which were used by some in hewing oil their
portion of food. A hardened, villainous lot of
fellows, that I felt certain would not hesitate
at any crime.
Tiie one addressed as “cap’n” was a small,
wiry built man, quick, nervous in manner,
with close curling, yellowish-brown hair,
slightly gray about the temples, eyes gray,
keen, restless and cruel, that seemed'to follow
every movemiut of his followers. His mous
tache of a reddish color, the long, pointed ends
swept back aerpss his cheeks, gave 1 look
so like a tiger iha?, with a shiifhlqAT with
drew my eyes and covered them with my hands.
“My husband’s murderer and my own!’’ £
groaned, while my heart grew sick with fear.
“Madam,” spoke a smooth, even tone that I
knew belonged to him with the tigerish face,
“have you anything good to drink in tiie house?
We would be glad to pledge your health.”
“And his’n out’n the parary!” yelled
another, followed by a peal of uproarious
laughter.
“Yes,” I answered; “you will find a small
flask where you found food.”
A rush was made to the cupboard, the bottle
soon found, and passed among them, eliciting
numerous witty comments on tiie qualities of
Yankee nun.
I remembered at this moment that in a med
icine chest in the loft where I crouched at bay
were two bottles of home-made wine, brought
from the east and intended only for sickness.
In order to gain time, and possibly some
thing of their good will, I resolved to pass this
down to them. Softly creeping to the box in
which it was kept, I raised the lid and took
out tiie bottles.
As I raised them a small bottle with a dark
liquid fell over with a crash that made the vil
lains below cease talking and listen attentive
ly. liaising this to put it in place I read
“Laudanum” on its label.
With the sight of that word came an inspira
tion—a wild hope that set my heart beating
tumuliuously. Would it succeed? Mine was
a dequ-rate ci.se; it was worth trying.
Quickly I poured off a little of the wine,
turned half the laudanum into each bottle,
shook them vigorously, replaced the stoppers,
covered them with the labels, drew up the
wires, am! creeping to the stairway, said :
“Here are two bottles of blackberry wine, if
you would like to have them.”
There w:.s a rush to the opening.
“Sti-nd back!” I commanded, presenting
the of the gun. .
“Plucky, by Jove!” growled one as they
hastily made a retrograde movement.
The leader camo forward ami I carefully
passed them down to him. I waited in an
agony <-f terror, lest at the first taste the drug
would be detected.
“Ta ■ a lee;!e queer, don’t it?” queried
one, smacking his lips.
“Oil, that’s nothing.” replied his mate;
“home-made, you know.”
Gia .s were brought, and round tlio bottles
were passed, the noise as the wine flowed
growing more fast and furious; coarse jokes,
snatches of song, and allusions to deeds that
made my flesh creep.
At last, to mv great joy, the drug began to
tell.
“ Infernally hot here,” remarked one, “makes
a f”l!ow sleepy as the devil.”
By degrees all became quiet: some folded
their arms on the table and laid their hea l
upon them. The captain dropped his head
comfortably on the back of my willow rocker;
another threw himself at full length on the
bed, and soon their sonorous breathing told
they were sleeping heavily.
Kneeling in the semi-darkness, I thanked
God for present safety, and implored His fur
ther guidance and ‘protection. Ilai-ing my
eyes I was startled at seeing a glare of red
light on the wall before me. In awe, not un
mingled with fear. I gazed on this flaming
beacon. Now paling, now glowing, again
burning with a steady light.
I crept to the solitary pane that composed
the window, at ti e farther end of the loft, ami
looked out upon the night. Around us the
tree ; were bending before the blast, which had
now increased alm< st to the violcm e of a hur
ricane. Afar, the sky was illumined with a
fierce glare that grew each moment higher
and brighter. The prairie va, on fire, and the
conflagration sweeping down upon us with re
sistless fury.
There was no time to lose! It mattered not
now whither the ruffians below awoke or not.
Quickly the ladder was thrown into place, and '
clasping iny child, now beginning to waken
and cry, to my breast, I t iambereil down.
Hushing to the di or I flung it wide open. |
Tin’ tire was i crceptibly imari r the air filled I
witii smoko and c : n;l , and I could plan !y
see the leaping, r<’ar.flumes. I pam d on .
the threshold. Should 1 lea.'- these im n to I
iierish, or give then, acbani cfor their lives? |
Mercy won. Springing to the side of the i
nearest man, I shook him with all my might, |
“i i"•! fire! the prairie is burning! Fly for I
lb- Sj rng to hi feet, glaring r -und in a
be v il.lered m n.et. ’1 ' no time to do I
more. I rushed out into .h . ;.n Irm for
my life—no! aw y • n tl.e 1/ .•■,.} flames but
directly toward tiiraii.
Out on the praiiie.; t cyou l the jaitcltiuap I
ATLANTA, GA., TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18,1887
of scrub-oaks, was a piece of plowed ground, a
half acre or so; only the day before had my
husband turned over the long lines of black
mold. Could I reach this spot, we would be
saved. Several times was I compelled to
change my course to avoid patches of flame
kindled by the cinders that fell in a fiery
shower around us. The thickening smoke hid
from my sight the spot of bare earth—our
haven of safety. I could only guide my living
feet by the position of the above mentioned
trees, and when I struck its edge and felt its
rough clods beneath mv feet, the tiro was half
way down on either side. Into this furna'e I
plunged and threw myself prone up< t the
earth in its center.
On swept tiie mighty whirlwind of Qre;
volumes of smoke roiled over our heads, ’bug
tongues of flame leapt toward us, but hai med
us not. Baby, wailing, threw up his little
hands and gasped for breath.
A yell of mortal agony and fear, thru
another, told that two of tlio band had fallen
victims of the fire fiend’s breath. In a few mo
ments the wind had blown away the smoke,
and by the light of our blazing home I looked
abroad over the blackened plain. The logs of
which our cabin was built were comparatively
green, and did not burn as freely as an older
structure would have done, and till nearmorn
ing I sat with my babe on my lap, watching
the play of flames among the fallen* timbers;
then placing the grassy side of a clod for a
pillow, I slept and forgot both danger and
sorrow.
I was awakened by the whining of the dog
and his cold nose touching my cheek. I rose
to my knees and gazed wildly in every direc
tion, for nis action told plainly of some new
danger.
Away across the fire-scorched prairie against
the red light of the rising sun, biack objects
were moving. They came nearer and nearer,
grew larger and larger upon the sight. Then
a horrible fear assailed my heart. Oh, God!
they were Indians! Had I escaped two dread
ful perils only to fall into their merciless
hands?
Between me and the still smoking ruins of
my Imine stood the blackened stump and f sllen
trunk of a tree. Crawling on handsand kiiecs—
for I dared not rise for fear of being seen—l
crept behind them, lying prostrate upon tiie
ground, soothing my child as best I could.
Calling the dog to me, I grasped him firmly
by his collar, bidding him be quiet, lest he
should betray my hiding place. •
On came the cavalcade and halted within a
few yards of us. With a wild yelp the dog
broke from my detaining hand, and with joy
ful barks bounded toward them.
I rose to my feet, and saw, indeed, a band of
Indians, and in their midst, with blanched
cheek and compressed lips, my husband. The
next mom mt I lay fainting in his arms.
In the settlement he had seen the fire and
knew his home was in its path. Well mount
ed, and accompanied by a friend, lie rode all
night guided by the light of Ins burning home.
Near morning they camo upon the camp of
friendly Indians, and they witii fresher horses
were the first to dawn on my startled vision.
A few rods from the house tiie charr*.l, bodies
of two mon were found, and among tfe ruins
'bo feenca of their comrades. Aft n *.J>t. was
aeawtuined that these, men were of
noted desperadoes, whdhad long been i.t terroi
to tiie frontier, and to their door was many
a foul murder and deed ol violence.
A few days of quiet with our good friends
in the settlement quite restored mysliakcn
nerves, .".nd soon the white-topped wagon again
sheltered us while the logs were being hewn
and fashioned for another cabin, and before
tiie first blizzard swept down from the Rockies
we were snug and warm in our new home.
Rolling years have brought mighty changes.
The railroad came; the city rising around us
is fairer than the city of our dreams. Long
ago we left the log cabin for a handsome adobe
mansion. In the peace, plenty and brightness
of the present, the dangers and privations of
pioneer life are remembered only as “waters
that pass away;” but when bright-eyed chil
dren gather about my knee to listen to talcs of
that early time I often tell them the story of
my Night of Peril.
ONLY A DREAM.
The Graphic Story Told by Colonel Frank
Flynt, and What Led to It.
From the Griffin, Ga., Sun.
It will be remembered that onrcolt reporter,
Colonel Frank Flynt, was down with the rheu
matism several month last winter, and during
that period time pressed heavily upon him.
It was during the early part of hi- sickness
that the little incident occurred which wo are
now about to relate. We have the story from
Colonel Flynt’s own lips, and can vouch for it,
every word.
“During the early part of my sickness,”
says the colonel, “I took great quantities of
quinine and dovers powders to break up my
cold. In a short while my head began to ache
and throb, together with n'ocaselcss roaring like
the echoes of distant artillery or the eruption
of some volcano, all of whicii tended to make
mcabout ns miserable abeingas one would care
to look upon. Every noise ■'■i.’i nicd to magnify
ten fold, while the passing of vehicles outside
would send their echoes fox-chasingcach other
through my brain in such rapid succession as
to make the whole tiling seem a veritable in
ferno. On the afternoon of the third dav,
when this pandemonium was at its height,
and just as I had resolved to do something
desperate, sweet sleep came to my aid. Just
how long I slept I don’t know, but I remem
ber 1” anng someone say: ‘Well, Ifncle Tom,
don't Jail to bring me that rabbit, as.
promised.’ I tell you, it was as pl in as life.
Visions of rabbit stew and fry floated before
my vision, mid it seemed that'c,on then my
nostrils wero greet! <1 by the savory smell."
Here Coli.no! Flynt stooped to 'i : plain that
Uncle Tom Harper was a noted rabbit cab I.er
in this section, mid that he generally sujqJii d
the town in season. Continuing with ids
fcto.yr, the colonel said :
“Afti r that I dropped back to siauul sleep
again, but how long I slept I don’t know. 1
was awakened by the opening of a gato, and
looking around T found myself in an unfa
miliar place. '£h'- one was beautiful beyond
description, and I had just begun to think that
I had been transported to sonic fairy land when
1 hi ard a voice i ay, ‘Enter, Um ie Tom. and
welcome,’ and looking around 1 b-held my
old friend, Tom Harper. With his face
wreath'd in smiles he was just about to
enter the pearly gates wlien a rabbit
jumped from its hiding place and skipped
down the pathway. Forgetful of his mission,
Uncle Tom started in hot pursuit of the rabbit,
but whether he caught him or not I could not
tell. The gates were closed witii a bang, a
baud rudely pla' cii on my shoulder and a -oice
said: ‘Come, Frank, old follow, take tbit
quinine capsule—there’s only ten mon- left.’
For the first time I realized that I had not
been to heaven, but had only been in dream
land.”
+
The Dogs of War.
From the New York Tribune.
One of the latest freaks of military science
Is th'.-training of watch dogs for sentry duty. The
Frcn’eh va minister has given 0.-d-ri that dugs
nt.-: taught tota k at the npp.oieb of a 1 '.‘iieuiy < : I
Etra:i L er. - --ul l. ■-out , and if
they jkovc ir-nfi.d arc to b(j tvta'- 1 -< 1 ‘on’] the line
f<:, .in d -ruboned double
po-.'iii'C.-. t. h ..vc a liteml well os u metaphorical
Johnny’s Memory*
From the Ej ocdi.
“( an you and Johnny mo to the grocer’s for
me, J in tiß. and rejnernber to ask for three pounds
Ol < oCfl .'
“V e.i, I lw # T < a iTcrnembcr three pouruh,” on
swer- d .-u-r J-in ik. deliberately, if Jyhuny will
rcmemlx i cocoa. '
AMEWpraiUIIE
From Youth’s Companion.
Mr. Edgar Wood had two thousand silvo r
dollars in ten dollar rolls nicely packed in a
valise with a few toilet articles, and twelve
thousand dollars in bank notes and bills of ex
change snugly sewed into a thin belt worn
about Iris person. In an outside belt, elegant
ly embroidered, he wore a superbly jewelled
revoh er,warranted to be useful as a wcanon at
long range in the hands of a self-collectd man
resting under safe shelter.
As to other personal furniture, his comforta
ble figure was adorned with a fine gold watch
possessing a national reputation for beauty and
throughout the republic of Mexico, and a hat
covered witii gold lace and bangles that made
it the envy of all the beaux in town.
Under these conditions Mr. Edgar Wood en
tered the ten-mule stage, that stood in the patio
of the Hotel Iturbide. for a trip down the
country to pay off three thousand laborers a
ninth’s wages.
The stage started out amid the usual hub
bub. The driver gathered up his lines, shouted
at all the mules together and at each mule
by name. The a sistant driver seized tiie
whip and added its resounding crack to his vo
ciferous entreaties and denunciations. Tiie
two outriders ran along the sides of the team,
shouted and swore ami pelted the mules with
stones, while ton bows of cow bells suspended
above the ten collars added tlmir clangor to <hc
confusion, ami tiie whole cortege rolled over tho
roughest cobble-stone pavement on the Ameri
can continent, awakening an angry city from
its comfortable slumbers.
The wealthy contractor was alone that morn*-
ing. and he occupied every corner of the stage in
such rapid succession and varied positions that,
if the City of Mexico hail bi » n twice us broad as
it was, he must have been a disagreeable jelly
before reaching the suburbs. As it was, how
ever, the grand exhibition of style and enter
prise was soon over, and the team settled down
t<» the comfortable habit of the country, a very
slow trot on rather soft roads, while the pas
senger settled himself in the corner, lighted a
Vera Cruz cigar and began to indulge in tho
pleasures of imagination.
“This month,” he considered, “will cost me
twenty tbousad dollars, for which outlaj* the
government j ays mo one hundred thousand
dollars, whicii is eighty thoa.-and dear g. in.
In two more I shall be in good trim, and then
1 shall ask old Juarez for bhnilia. 1 think sb<-
admired me last night when 1 said my adien
anil ho looked at his pistol, h'S line watch and
elegant hat and—a rille-ball whistled through
the coach-window, followed by a command of
“jrararse'” (halt.)
There is no discussing such an order given
under such circumstniie.es.
It was not possible for Mr, Wood to say just
how Jic looked, but he, felt veiy pale, when a
at the window in-
“llave t the honor of addressing-fcjenor
K-iigaro Wood ?”
“That is my r.anip, sir.”
“ Ah, Don I'dgaro, T am so scMy tn have to
molest you in your journey, but Won't you do
Lie the favor to alight for a moment?”
Now, if there was one quality on which that
gentle man prided himself more than on anoth
er, it was the superiority of manners. He was
known as the polite. American of Mexico, and
so, when addressed a simple request in such
courteous, terms he was fain to comply.
He therefore alighted and tried to do so
promptly, but his motions wore not so graceful
as usual; there seemed a tremulous ex<.dt<‘-
ment, almost a stagger, in his movements,
when he looked about him.
Four men armed with cutlasses, rilles and
revolvers stood ready to receive him. The up
per half of each face was covered with a black
mask. They were evidently natives save one,
whoso head Lroadcr than t he others at the tem
ples and ruddy face below the mask ending in
a thin, frouzly, tow-colored goalee seemed to
indicate an Englishman. Mr. Wood, noting
him carefully, thoAighthe had seen him before,
but failed in every attempt to place him.
“Senor Wood,” said the sj>okesman advanc
ing, “J am |»leascd to meet, you and regret that
.you are not able to reciprocate the, cordial sen
timents I entertain for yon. J must say,
Amiguillo, you wear a charming hat, and such
things are so common to you that I am sure
there will be no obstacle to an exchange. See
what a poor thing I wear, and so unsuited to
my years and position in society! it fits well,
too. Ami also. Senor Wood, you are said to
possess an excellent watch ; that, sir, would be
an extreim ly convenient article to have in my
profession t hat 1 may bo prompt in meeting
the stage and thus avoid tiros* me watching. 1
will accept it with permission.”
Mr. Wood was rapidly learning to adapt him
self to circuinstanceE. He knew be must sub
mit to being stripped, so, handing over the
watch with the best grace possible he said,
with :: amilc and a bow. “.May J pre« nty<m
with a pistol, as good as there is in the repub
lic, except your own.”
“Ah, Senor! now you flatter mo; I accept
it in your name, Amiguillo.”
“And al o, Senor, 1 admire your coat; lot
us exchange. Your trousers, too, will fit me
nicely, and your boots, cv< n if a little large,
will be bettortban those. Have the goodtm-s
to be seated on my old coat and we will assist
you in removing them; we arc experienced
valets.”
To have observed the face of .Mr. Edgar Wood
now you wood have thought he was engaged
in i frolic. J have beard him say, in ti lling
this story, that he, Pdt. all through the perform
ance. as ii lie were being joked by a friend.
“And now,” continued the ladron, “we will
trouble you, Senor Wo -d, to pa s out your va
lise, if .you will be so obliging.”
Mr. Wood hesitated for the first time and
looked around, but tin re was no mercy; the
muzzle: of three pieces looked ipto his eyes,
while he r- plied, “Very well, gentlemen, if you
insist.” He handed out the heavy valise, whicii
was taken aside by the Mexicans, while tin,
EnglisJi looking thief kept guard at the stage
door. Wlicii tin- precious cargo was removed
to a short distance from it > owner, the sentinel
muttered to him in English, “If you will give
me two thousand dollars unseen, from your
belt, you ran save the rest; otherwise, I’ll fix
every dollar you’ve got.”
Mr. Wood felt sure he had somewhere Bern
the fare, of which the mouth and chin were
exposed, butif he suspected the truth, he kept,
it to lf, and quietly handed over the
momy to the man.
Jn a few rninntes, the nearly empty valise
was rrturned, and the party hade the traveler
adic and wished him a »f" journey. In his
disa. r' cable fix be could only ride till he met
the return stage, and go with it to the capital,
under the shelter of a Jiawl lent him by a sym
pathetic lady among the passengers, with
♦ bom, at noon, hr < nt< i» d the patio, from
wbirh be bad so • xultmgly -a!li‘ d in the early
morning. The idle populftcc, as usual, rushed
in with the stage, and witnrs.ed the discomfit
ure of the American, as be darted across the
pavement to the nearest r ntrance of the hotel,
and made his way to his room.
When Mr. Wood rim rpl therefrom, ho
made his way to tin English bank, to deposit
the papers gaved in his belt , ami there cnconn
tered the second surprise of the day. 'Fir-. t<d- j
Jcr, who received and ci edited him with the
amount, was the countmpart of the English
robber of the morning; bet ho had no beard,
nor could Wood recall that he had overseen
him adorned with that symptom of manhood,
ft M'as impossible that he should be a ladron •
his position in tbe bank, his easy, seif-nofisg‘sse<l
manner, not brazen, but natural and innocent.
No, it was a mistake.
The next day, there being several Mexican
merchants to start for Vera Cruz, Mr. Henry
Yorke, of Wood & Co., was dispatched with
them in the morning stage. Ho wont well
armed, and had tho name of being a lighting
man. But as yet no crowd of Mexican passen
gers has frightened a band of robbers from its
enterprise, at sunrise, Yorke discovered
two small squads of horsemen bearing down
on the stage from opposite directions.
“There are six of them,” he said, “and wo
are nine men, with only one woman. Are we
to light, gentlemen, or shall wo surrender?”
“Mexicans never surrender,” cried one of
them, “We will tight to tho last drop of blood.”
“Yes, always,” answered the other eight.
“I shall be killed; oh, I shall bo killed!”
shrieked tbe frightened woman.
“We shall defend you, Sonora,” they de
clared. The horsemen drew near. All were
masked and armed. One party passed tho
coach, wheeled and instantly returned. Mean
while. Yorke sprang from the stage, which had
been stopped, and calling to his fellow-passen
gers to join him. tired his rifle at the nearest
ol the gang and killed him. Ho then began
discharging his revolver, as they closed in on
him, and looking about for his companions,
discovered them all in their scats, pallid spec
tator of his recklessness. In another instant
a pistol-ball struck him down.
Evidentlly, tho ladronos had only contempt
for tho Mexican pa sengers, for they rode direct
ly forward to the fallen American, whose body
they mercilessly hacked in poices with their
sabres, for a warning to all those who resisted
their ioh bevies.
'The entire treasure of Wood & Co. was ta
ken from tho person of Yorke and his valise;
and the pisscmgcrs, the lady not excepted,
were robbed of every article they possessed,
even to their outer clothing. When the la
drones left, their captain o| emul an embroider
ed jacket, revealing the form of a woman, and
cried out with a sneer, “You arc men. Adios.”
When the stage, returning, entered the patio
of the Hotel Iturbid, with the body of Mr.
Yorke, it was mot by Mr. Wood, to whom tho
lady passenger declared that his part net had
born killed by an Englishman of tbe
I and, whose lower face was ruddy, narrow anti
thin, ending in a little shadowy beard: that ho
had reached into the coach, and shot Yorke in
the back, through the open doorway of the op
posite side, as ho was tiring rapidly at the gang,
and that, as he withdrew his head, his beard
dropped from his chin, and she had secured it.
At ten o’clock that morning be went to the
English bank with the woman, and presented
a chock fur payment. As the idler laid down
tho money, he saw the little wad of board on
the counter, picked it up and looking at it cu
riously, said, “\V hat is this?” At. tho game
moment Mr. Wood discovered that liis com
panion trembled violently and was becoming
alarmingly pale, and lost no time in leaving
the bank.
Thewomanwassr.ro of tho identity of tho
man, and would listen to no possibilly of her
mistake. As for Mr. Edgar Wood he was con
founded, but. he did the customary thing, and
set.-an English detective on the track of Mr.
Carlo» Watfils, the teller of the English bank
of Mexico.
The next payment wont to th6 line In charge
of a paymaster and a mounted guard, of whom
the cliicf was ohcl<H the most successful la
drones ol Mexico; and who gave safe conduct
to the treasure, for which he was well paid.
Twc months passed. No outward sign indi
cated any depravity on t he part of Mr. Watfils.
Ho lived modestly, and seemed a retiring, rath
er studious man. His sole dissipation was his
horseback ride each morning and night.
Tiie time had come for another payment to
the men of the contractor, and again no deter
mined to go in person with the money, and by
si age. This time, lie selected a day when a fair
complement of Mpxican men, having commer
cial relations with Vera Cruz, would travel,
and went accompanied also by two Americans
armed with rilles and revolvers.
Tho English detective with a companion,
both well armed, rode out in the same direc
tion a half hour after the stage, left . The road
had not been so infested of late, but the Amer
icans understood the, danger to which they
were exposed in the transportation of treasure,
snd made their disposition accordingly. Mr.
Wood and one companion < ccupied tho front
scat of tbe coach looking to the rear; the third
man of the party sat with the driver, as being
aci jck shot with a W r inch stcr rifle.
W’hen they stopped for coffee, at eight
oclcck, no one had appeared to molest 1 he stage
or ci' ate suspicion. As they left the little inn
the detective ap|>cared in sight, but tho stage
made no delay, and the party were again on
their way.
Suddenly the inside passengers detected the
effort it the driver to stop his cumbrous
t am, and heard tho, \ui<o ol the American by
his side shout to him, “If you stop, I’ll kill
you ; drive on and drive hard.” Then a rifle
shot ami another shout as he passed down his
rifle, and called for a fresh one, which he re
ceived :»f once.
Air. \V< od and his comjianions, looking fnmi
tho co; * h, saw they w< r.; pursued by eight
hor cm n, who were now within two hundred
yards at the rear. Leaning from the coach
window he cried out to the driver, “If those
fcl'ow >c d« b us, you are a de;ul men!”
threat told wonderfully on tho speed of the
team,
Menawhile the l end approached, and tho
three. Americans tired together, throwing the
ladrones into confusion and forcing a halt;
but they rallied nt once and six horsemen of
the vigl.i were drawing near when the driver’s
companion by another shot brought a man to
the ground. At this moment the detective
and j,;. guard appeared in the rear of the hand
and Mr. Wood ordered the driver toslowdown.
The robb<r.i di-woven d the trick, for turning
I hey sa w the roinforecmunt in their rear and
lost no time in leaving tiie road and making
off across the, valley towards the mountains.
The stage met no further adventure, and .’Jr.
Wood was able to return to Mexico in a we»:k.
'J’he afternoon of his arrival he accompanied
the English bank malinger and the deieciive
to the hospital of (laiidalupe and found there,
to the, .tirpi' <• ol the mn.tgir alone, the teller.
Mr. Carlos Watfils, suffering from a shattcreu
leg.
It is not my int' ntion’to mystify the render
nor to prolong uncertain conditions in this
little sketch. I may therefore say, without
more ado,that Mr. Watfils’ character had been
known to the detective who had followed him
to Mexico to get possession of his person, if
possible, for uttering counterfeit Bank of Eng
land notes. And nowan opportunity offered by
which the Mexican government eotild ria
itself of a rogue, ami do a courteous act toward
a nation whose good will it desired, although
diplomatic n iations between the two countries
were suspended.
If Watfils w< re tried in Mexico it was by no
mean >< < j ';>.;n that a conviction could be se
cured under those laws. It was, indeed, a
< banco ii the Americans might not be made to
suffer for killing men who had not attacked
them. In this view of the case Mr. Watfils
was sent acro'S the water with the English of
fieef, and having been convicted in London of
the crime of counterfeiting, was sentenced to
twenty years’ penal servitude.
Cholera hi Chili.
From the New York Times.
The reappearance of Asiatic cholera in three
Chief- of chili hn« e i ;S7-1 ft revival of the rigid quur
antlne regulations by which other South American
countries o.q the west coast excluded the disease last
winter. Although the mortality in Chili was large
during the j.n vulem eof tho f:r.-1 epidemic, tho d!s
oi-e was W' ll handled by the government and tl e
health authorities, am! it probable that tl e expt r
cneo then gained will be effectively used in sup
pressing the plague now without > rie .61 mos life.
Ownpan/on? One of the “country week”
gfrls exclaimed upon sc.dng a watermelon growing:
“My! 1 always s a. d watermelons grew lu the
water.”
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
By Elize Beattie.
“When Rob comes back from camp, Eliso,
ami it it is pretty, fair,” said Captain Boaltie.i
one morning, “ho shall take you and Mabel on*
Mount Washington.”
Rob is my uncle's nephew and book-keeper,:
just returned from Eastman college with hi«
diploma under his arm, and into whoso erudite
parchment Mabel is very much afraid the
moths will enter. So we watched with assidu
ous eyes tiie cloudy sky, and tho road to Gran
by, for that is where Rob is, in that mysterious
lumber camp about which I have been hear-,,
ing all summer till 1 can almost see tiie great
piles of spruce logs being hauled through the
snowdrifts, and the burly Frenchmen chatter-,
ing their patois.
Rob camo before tho fail weather; but final
ly. on the morning of Thursday, tho 6th >f Oc
tober, wo dared to venture out, both early and
dark, for the hour was half-past six, and th*
Pilot Rango was swathed in gloom. A pleas
ant ride of twenty miles brought us to tho
Wing toad, whcie we changed cars for Fabys
an. All along this road tho scenery is very
line, a foretaste of what we are scon to have.
We reached the Fubyan House at half-paat
eight , and betook ourselves to tho large office
and sitting hall combined. At otic end of the
long room, a great, big wood fire burning in a
great, big old fashioned lire place, threw iW
warmth and radiance upon the people.
At 1!) o’clock, wo took our seats in a wide,
open car, filled with chairs, and very soon also
with people, and wore borne along’swiftly to
the base of the mighty granite bridge. Hi re w«
entered tiie Mount Washington railway train,
and were soon on our way up an ascent that
seemed al-most straight, am! there seemed to
be no way for us but to bo dashed backward to
death.
All tho others, however, appeared'calm aud
contented, and so. after a little, I, too, teased
to watch that dizzy plane with : nch fascinated
eyes, and looked off to tho gloomy forests
about us.
Tho clouds that, once gave promise of break
ing away, now only gatlicred f.r iter in volume
end blackness, anil bent sombrely over the dull
green of tho stunted hemlock and the pale,
fluttering yellow of the brick. Just such a day
as tliis must Poo have seen when he wrote:
"The skies they were ashen and sober,
Tiie leaves they were crisped mid sere,
Tiie leaves lay wee nllUertng mid sere,
'Twas n diiy In the lonesome ' tetoher.
of mv mo t immemorial year;
It was Ih.t I by the. dim lake of 'Auber,
In tbe misty mkVregtotr ol Weir,
It was i!or, n by the liark turn of Auber,
In the ghoul-haunted woodland of Wolr.'*
And surely ’twas just here in thia shadowy
gloom that tiie poor lovers saw Astarte, treach
erous and fair, float to them the mist,
"To io’nt them the path to the vkluj,
To the letlieau ponce of tl.o skiiur
Cinne sip throwvhth6 !alr of th"-lfrvn,
With love in bur luminous eyes.”
And still on and up we went, and it seemed
u : if we ought to gs*t out and walk avid help
the poor, little broken-backed engine as with
labored breaih it pushed us un among the
clouds. Wo have passed the place where we
can put our hands mid touch tho top of the
dead pines; mid now if we wanted to touch
the growth on Mount Washington, we should
have to bow upon our knees, for the stately
spume of tho valleys has here become :v low
bush, but a sow inches from tlio ground. For
some little time I had taken note of little bit*
of foams between the rocks, and thought they
wore the eddies from some swift mountain
stream, wlien Mabel leaned over and said, “Se«
the snow."
“See the what,” I cried, turning on hpr in
horror.
“Why, Iho snow; don't you see it?” she and
Roll both answered with a laugh.
And sure cnogh, in a little while they did not
need to tell me off ii, for there it lay before us,
a great, white carpet over the. barren rocks.
About fl) rods Irem the summit an irregular
cairn of rock marks tho spot where Miss
Bourne of Kennebunk, Maine, perished on tlio
■lth of September, 1K55, in sight of warmth and
shelter.
A’’few more pants, a fe.w more efforts, and
the dear little engine landed us on tho highest
mountain top cast of tiie rocky mountains.
Rut the monarch had done, as monarchs
often do, hidden himself from the view
of common mortals, ami a veil of mist envel
oped his august face. We did not relish stand
ing iu the .snow, mid nt every stop wo took
the New Hampshire breezes fanned our faces
pretty roughly.
Some id the gentlemen forced mi entrance
Into the closed summit house, mid we followed
in great, delight. A more dreary room can
hardly bo imagined, but it gave us cover
ing; and it gave mo three good laughs. The
first was a notice stu -k up on the 'Jerk's desk,
reading, “Arrival-, will please ask for their
mail," ami I thought it nr t bo litters from
Boiens to the Snowking that were, delivered on
Mmmt \V'.' liinij si that day. Ami a second
was win n I naw a woman wrapped in a huge,
r d plai'i shaw l, with a veil tied over her head,
imbistrhiusly penning postal cards.
“Tim awfulness of it,” Mild Mabel, “when
wo could not keep our lingers decently warm!’'
And t he last was the sight of a straw hat quiet
ly reposing on a shelf, where the owner had
doubtless hurled it when lie “wqnt for” hi*
furs.
As w* w< re making the descent, I heard the
guide telling of atmospheric, phenomena.
“Very seldom,” said he,‘ have I known it
to ruin above Mount Wm.liington. I have seen
the lightning Hash, ami beard the thunder
roar, mid behold the rain fall in torrents in tho
valleys below, while up here it would tx»
bright., star light.”
And so I saw we could mount above the
Storms of life, am! ■■:iin for our souls tho star
light of I eaven’s peace, if wo only climbed
high enough.
“The little birds sang ea; i, and ti e little birds saug
v.e t.
And I -rnlled to think God's greatness
Flowed mom: I our i.u osipleleness.
Hound our restb. .lie-. . Hisn t. ’
' -
Phenomena) Precocity,
Tld Bits.
“O George.”* cried young Mrs. Merry, run
ning to bn i ’ her hu’-banil t -.he door. 'I ve Burna
tl Itbe best t ) tell you.”
“No?” bald George. “What i» it?”
“Why, don't you ihlnk-the baby can talk! Yet,
eir, actually talk! H Bald ever and ever '■o many
things. Come right, into tiie nursery r,n ll ca him.*
George went in.
• Now, baby,” said mamma, persuasively, “talk
Borne for papa. Hay, ‘Bow do you do, papa?' ”
“Goo, goo, goo, goo,” say i baby.
“Bear him!” says maurum, c statically. “Wasn't
that as plain »s plain can be ”
George laya it is and tries to think so too.
“Now ‘l'm glad to see you, papa.’ ”
“Da, da, b jo, I ce, boc,”
“Did you ever?" crle I mamma. “He can just say
everythin;.! Now you precious little honey bunny
boy, s.iy, ‘Arc you well, yaDa” ”
“800, bade, goo, goo.”
“'j, re ft Is,” sai l mamma. ‘ f'l 1 you ever know
a child of his age who could really talk ns ho doew
He can Just say anything be wants to: can’t you,
you, you own dear little darling precious you?”
“G'-o, goo, fl'.e, di, to< ’
“Hear that’ H. ‘Of course I can,’ just m
plainly as anybody c »ul l say it. Oh, George, 1
really worries me to have him so phenomenally'
bi/-Lt. These very brilliant babies nearly aulwx
die young."
