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of curiosity at the new passenger； she seemed to take no more notice of
him； and Key began to wonder if he had not mistaken her previous
interrogating look。 Nor was it his only disturbing query； he was conscious
of the same disappointment now that he could examine her face more
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attentively； as in his first cursory glance。 She was certainly handsome； if
there was no longer the freshness of youth； there was still the indefinable
charm of the woman of thirty； and with it the delicate curves of matured
muliebrity and repose。 There were lines； particularly around the mouth
and fringed eyelids； that were deepened as by pain； and the chin； even in
its rounded fullness； had the angle of determination。 From what was
visible； below the brown linen duster that she wore； she appeared to be
tastefully although not richly dressed。
As the coach at last drove away from the station； a grizzled； farmer…
looking man seated beside her uttered a sigh of relief； so palpable as to
attract the general attention。 Turning to his fair neighbor with a smile of
uncouth but good…humored apology； he said in explanation：
〃You'll excuse me； miss！ I don't know ezactly how YOU'RE feelin'；
for judging from your looks and gin'ral gait； you're a stranger in these
parts；but ez for ME； I don't mind sayin' that I never feel ezactly safe
from these yer road agents and stage robbers ontil arter we pass Skinner's
station。 All along thet Galloper's Ridge it's jest tech and go like； the
woods is swarmin' with 'em。 But once past Skinner's； you're all right。
They never dare go below that。 So ef you don't mind； miss； for it's bein'
in your presence； I'll jest pull off my butes and ease my feet for a spell。〃
Neither the inconsequence of this singular request； nor the smile it
evoked on the faces of the other passengers； seemed to disturb the lady's
abstraction。 Scarcely lifting her eyes from her book； she bowed a grave
assent。
〃You see； miss；〃 he continued； 〃and you gents；〃 he added； taking the
whole coach into his confidence； 〃I've got over forty ounces of clean gold
dust in them butes； between the upper and lower sole； and it's mighty
tight packing for my feet。 Ye kin heft it；〃 he said； as he removed one
boot and held it up before them。 〃I put the dust there for safety
kalkilatin' that while these road gentry allus goes for a man's pockets and
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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IN A HOLLOW OF THE HILLS
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