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his body belt； they never thinks of his butes； or haven't time to go through
'em。〃 He looked around him with a smile of self…satisfaction。
The murmur of admiring comment was； however； broken by a burly…
bearded miner who sat in the middle seat。 〃Thet's pretty fair； as far as it
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goes；〃 he said smilingly； 〃but I reckon it wouldn't go far ef you started to
run。 I've got a simpler game than that； gentlemen； and ez we're all
friends here； and the danger's over； I don't mind tellin' ye。 The first thing
these yer road agents do； after they've covered the driver with their shot
guns； is to make the passengers get out and hold up their hands。 That；
ma'am；〃 explanatorily to the lady； who betrayed only a languid interest；
〃is to keep 'em from drawing their revolvers。 A revolver is the last thing
a road agent wants； either in a man's hand or in his holster。 So I sez to
myself； 'Ef a six…shooter ain't of no account； wet's the use of carryin' it？'
So I just put my shooting… iron in my valise when I travel； and fill my
holster with my gold dust； so！ It's a deuced sight heavier than a revolver；
but they don't feel its weight； and don't keer to come nigh it。 And I've
been 'held up' twice on t'other side of the Divide this year； and I passed
free every time！〃
The applause that followed this revelation and the exhibition of the
holster not only threw the farmer's exploits into the shade； but seemed to
excite an emulation among the passengers。 Other methods of securing
their property were freely discussed； but the excitement culminated in the
leaning forward of a passenger who had； up to that moment； maintained a
reserve almost equal to the fair unknown。 His dress and general
appearance were those of a professional man； his voice and manner
corroborated the presumption。
〃I don't think； gentlemen；〃 he began with a pleasant smile； 〃that any
man of us here would like to be called a coward； but in fighting with an
enemy who never attacks； or even appears； except with a deliberately
prepared advantage on his side； it is my opinion that a man is not only
justified in avoiding an unequal encounter with him； but in circumventing
by every means the object of his attack。 You have all been frank in
telling your methods。 I will be equally so in telling mine； even if I have
perhaps to confess to a little more than you have； for I have not only
availed myself of a well…known rule of the robbers who infest these
mountains； to exempt all women and children from their spoliation； a
rule which； of course； they perfectly understand gives them a sentimental
consideration with all Californians；but I have； I confess； also availed
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myself of the innocent kindness of one of that charming and justly
exempted sex。〃 He paused and bowed courteously to the fair unknown。
〃When I entered this coach I had with me a bulky parcel which was
manifestly too large for my pockets； yet as evidently too small and too
valuable to be intrusted to the ordinary luggage。 Seeing my difficulty；
our charming companion opposite； out of the very kindness and innocence
of her heart； offered to make a place for it in her satchel； which was not
full。 I accepted the offer joyfully。 When I state to you； gentlemen； that
that package contained valuable government bonds to a considerable
amount； I do so； not to claim your praise for any originality of my own；
but to make this public avowal to our fair fellow passenger for securing to
me this most perfect security and immunity from the road agent that has
been yet recorded。〃
With his eyes riveted on the lady's face； Key saw a faint color rise to
her otherwise impassive face； which might have been called out by the
enthusiastic praise that followed the lawyer's confession。 But he was
painfully conscious of what now seemed to him a monstrous situation！
Here was； he believed； the actual accomplice of the road agents calmly
receiving the complacent and puerile confessions of the men who were
seeking to outwit them。 Could he； in ordinary justice to them； to himself；
or the mission he conceived he was pursuing； refrain from exposing her； or
warning them privately？ But was he certain？ Was a vague
remembrance of a profile momentarily seenand； as he must even now
admit； inconsistent with the full face he was gazing atsufficient for such
an accusation？ More than that； was the protection she had apparently
afforded the lawyer consistent with the function of an accomplice！
〃Then if the danger's over；〃 said the lady gently； reaching down to
draw her satchel from under the seat； 〃I suppose I may return it to you。〃
〃By no means！ Don't trouble yourself！ Pray allow me to still
remain your debtor；at least as far as the next station；〃 said the lawyer
gallantly。
The lady uttered a languid sigh； sank back in her seat； and calmly
settled herself to the perusal of her book。 Key felt his cheeks beginning
to burn with the embarrassment and shame of his evident misconception。
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And here he was on his way to Marysville； to follow a woman for whom
he felt he no longer cared； and for whose pursuit he had no longer the
excuse of justice。
〃Then I understand that you have twice seen these road agents；〃 said
the professional man； turning to the miner。 〃Of course； you could be able
to identify them？〃
〃Nary a man！ You see they're all masked； and only one of 'em ever
speaks。〃
〃The leader or chief？〃
〃No； the orator。〃
〃The orator？〃 repeated the professional man in amazement。
〃Well； you see； I call him the orator； for he's mighty glib with his
tongue； and reels off all he has to say like as if he had it by heart。 He's
mighty rough on you； too； sometimes； for all his high… toned style。 Ef he
thinks a man is hidin' anything he jest scalps him with his tongue； and
blamed if I don't think he likes the chance of doin' it。 He's got a regular
set speech； and he's bound to go through it all； even if he makes
everything wait； and runs the risk of capture。 Yet he ain't the chief；and
even I've heard folks say ain't got any responsibility if he is took； for he
don't tech anybody or anybody's money； and couldn't be prosecuted。 I
reckon he's some sort of a broken…down lawyerd'ye see？〃
〃Not much of a lawyer； I imagine；〃 said the professional man； smiling；
〃for he'll find himself quite mistaken as to his share of responsibility。
But it's a rather clever way of concealing the identity of the real leader。〃
〃It's the smartest gang that was ever started in the Sierras。 They
fooled the sheriff of Sierra the other day。 They gave him a sort of idea
that they had a kind of hidin'…place in the woods whar they met and kept
their booty； and； by jinks！ he goes down thar with his hull posse；just
spilin' for a fight；and only lights upon a gang of innocent greenhorns；
who were boring for silver on the very spot where he allowed the robbers
had their den！ He ain't held up his head since。〃
Key cast a quick glance at the lady to see the effect of this revelation。
But her faceif the same profile he had seen at the windowbetrayed
neither concern nor curiosity。 He let his eyes drop to the smart boot that