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Updated: May 25, 2025
"I do not doubt that, for one man would be a bold one to alone make an open attempt to hold up a coach with Dave Dockery on the box, and knowing that he had passengers with him."
A pall seemed to have fallen over Last Chance, in the death of Dave Dockery, and its life began to flag in gloom. Seeing this, and fearing that the hold-up of the coach might injure the mines, Landlord Larry decided to get up a scheme to attract outsiders to the mines, and so the rumor went out of a large find of gold in one of the cañons near the town.
And the day had been uncommonly troublous. Customers had been inordinately trying; the buyer in her department had scolded her roundly for letting her stock run down; her best friend, Mamie Tuthill, had snubbed her by going to lunch with that Dockery girl. The Girl from Sieber-Mason's was in that relaxed, softened mood that often comes to the independent feminine wage-earner.
Entering the cabin the doctor drew the blanket back from the form of Dave Dockery and revealed to the two couriers the honest, brave face of the driver. "Poor Dave! He is on his last trail now," he said softly, and seating himself at his table he hastily wrote two letters. One read: "DEAR LARRY: Dave died soon after reaching my cabin.
He had caught sight of the white slip of paper tied upon the bridle, and quickly securing it, read what was written thereon in the weak and wavering hand of the wounded driver, but which was recognized as the writing of Dave Dockery. It was as follows, for Landlord Larry read it aloud, as the miners quickly gathered about him: "Coach held up at Bud Benton's grave, and I fatally wounded.
Dave Dockery had hoped that he would have a stage-load of passengers upon the run to Last Chance, for he liked to have a crowd along, and then he felt that they were a safeguard as well, as in numbers there is strength.
"Unless, a poor man, and a hunted one, he turned road-agent and was the man who held up the coach, killing Dave Dockery." "No, Harding, I can hardly believe that of him, and then, too, the coach was just held up, and this man, with his pard, perished in the cave-in of their mine." "You are sure?"
The four coach-horses, still attached to the pole, stood where they had been left by their driver, while the wheel-horse shot by the road-agent lay where he had fallen. Near the coach, to one side, and not twenty paces from where Bud Benton had been killed, lay the form of Dave Dockery. Throwing himself from his saddle Doctor Dick bent over him and said quickly: "He still lives! Dave!
Let me see! the coach was due at Bud Benton's grave about two o'clock and it is now after three. Come, men, mount and follow me!" Dave Dockery was liked by all, and Landlord Larry was a very popular man; so, quickly, the miners obeyed the call to follow the one to the rescue of the other.
Addresses were made by Governor Dockery, who welcomed the governors and delegations from the various states and by Governor Odell of New York, who responded. His brilliant address, which was frequently punctuated by applause, follows: ADDRESS OF GOVERNOR ODELL
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