“Waal, I’ll be etarnally roasted, ef thet don’t beat all, for I were jist sayin’ ther trail were clear o’ varmints like you.”
“Silence! Hold on there, my pretty lady, for I’ll send a bullet through your brain as quickly as I would shoot Horseshoe Ned, if you attempt to show your claws,” sternly cried the highwayman.
This command was caused by seeing the action of Ruth, who had drawn toward her a small valise she had behind her upon the top of the coach, and in which she had a revolver, that had before rendered her good service. Not expecting a hold-up, she had not kept the weapon near her. There was something in the tone of the man that indicated his intention to be as good as his word, and Ruth raised her hand from the satchel.
“Say, robber, if yer don’t consider me rude, I’d like ter ask yer who yer be, for I thought ther old gang had been wiped out?”
“The old gang was, but I have come to hunt the trails, and I am here to stay. That lady is well fixed, as I happen to know, so I will trouble her for her money, and all else of value she may have with her. If she refuses, I will kill you, Horseshoe Ned, and hold her a captive until she pays far more than I can now rob her of. I hope you both understand the situation.”
“I understand you is a thief I’d like ter git a rope onto once,” growled the driver, while Ruth said:
“Yes, I understand the situation perfectly, Sir Robber. You have the power to rob me, and so I submit to your brute force only. I have with me considerable money, a thousand dollars perhaps, and some jewelry, as you have said, and I will give all if you demand it, but I would like to ask to keep a little money, and several trinkets, which, of little value to you, are most valuable to me from association. May I keep these and a hundred dollars in money?”
It would seem that few could resist this appeal, but the robber had the power and he meant to use it.
“No, not a dollar, or anything of value shall you keep. I risk my life to rob, and I demand all, so give it up, or I draw trigger on Horseshoe hied and you are my captive. Come, no nonsense, so hand over your wealth,” and the robber rode nearer to the coach.
The man moved nearer, riding into the stream to do so.