Litchfield enquirer., 1853-03-17

Ruddle-who stood at ever vacancy for county and borough. and passed hiS whole life between the elections. in can vassing for himself or friends. Tom Puddle was my fellow clerk, and gener, ally the companion of my drives in charge of treasure. t ....ar a...r .:ts. i,E.,- 1 What would you do.' I said to Tom, in case we are attacked ?
 Tell ye what. said Tom. with whom that was favorite way of beginning almost every sentence, Tell ye waat I'll shoot 'em through the head
 Then you expect there will be more than one?' @ '.a
 | Il should think so,' said Tom eff there was only one. I'd jump out of the gig and give him precious licking.-- Tell ye what! 'Twould be a proper punishment for his impertinence.'
 a' And if half dozen should try it :?
 : Shoot 'em all! ..1 a...
 Never was there such determine d custodier as the gallnnt Tom Puddle. One cold December evening we were suddenly sent ( fin charge of three bags of c"in. to be delivered into customers hands within ten or twelve miles of the town. The clear frosty sky was exhilw ra'ing, our courage was excited by the speed of the motion, the dignity of our responsible office. and a pair of horse> pistols which lay across the apron.
 Tell ye what r said Tom, taking up one one of the pistols and Gas after> wards found) full cooking it, I should rather like to meet few robbers. would serve them as 1 did those three disbanded soldiers.'
 How was that 2
 'Oh ?il's as well.' said Tom, pretend. ing to grow very serious. to say nothing about these unfortunate accidents. Blood is frigh,ful thing on the conscience. and bullet through fellows Lead is a disagreeable sight; but-tell ye what l! Id do it again. Fellows who risk thelr lives must take their chance, my boy.'
 And here Tom put the other pistol on Full cock, and looked audaciously on both sides of the road, ss if daring the lurking mu' 6erers to come forth and receive the reward of their crimes. As to the story of the soldiers, and the fearful insinuations of bloody deed executed on one or for
 all. it was prodigious rhodomoniade- Tom was such tender-hea, ted individ> ual, that if he had shot kitten it would have made him unhappy for week. But 10 hear him talk. you would have taken him for a civic Richard the Third, one who had neither pity. love. nor fear His whiskers also were very ferocious. and suggestive of battle. murder, and ,uin. So. he went on playing with his pistol. and giving himself out for an un' pit ying executioner of vengeance on the guilty, until we reached the small town where one of our customers resided. and it was necessary for one of us to car " one of the bags to its destination. - Tom undertook this task. As the village at which lhe remaining parcels were to be delivered was only mile further on, he determined to walk across the fields. and join me after he had executed his commission. He looked carefully at the priming of his pistol, stuck it osten> taliously in inc outside breast pocket of his great coat; and, with stately step. marched off with the heavy money. bag in his hand put the whip to the horse. and trotted merrily forward, thinking nothing whatever of robbery or danger. in spite of the monitory conversation ol Tom Ruddle. la-- -......... 1 Our first customer resided at the out. ski,ls of the village-a farmer who re- ] quired considerable amount in gold pulled up at the narrow da'k en> trance of the lane that led uplo his house and. as my absence couldn't b. for mere than few minutes, l left the | gig, and proceeded up the lane with my Suiden treasure. Idelivered it into the khauds of its owner; and. manfully re- ] sisting all his hcspitable invitations. l took my leave, and walked rapidly to- wards the gig. As drew near. per- ce,ved in the clear starlight man mounted on the step. and groping under the seat. ran forward. and the man alarmed bv my approach. rapidly raised himself from bis stepping position. and prese nting pistol. fred it to close U my eyes that lhe the flash blinded me for Il moment; the action was so sudden and my surprise so great. that for shor lime too was bewildered. and scarcely knew whether I was alive or dead.
 The old horse never started at the re- | mort. and rested my hand on the rim Ol the wheel. ~hile endeavorsd to rscov CT my scattered thoughts. The 6sst thing asceriained was that the man had disappeared. l then hurriedly ex- amined under the seal and. to my in tense relief, perceived the remaining money-bag still in its place. There was slit in 1t. however near the top. as it made by a knife-the Tobbsr probably resolving merely to possess himself oi the coin. without the dangerous ac mpaniament of the leaIhern sack. by