Butte record., 1854-12-30

I Vui "oS NAS'NOo VIZ
speed of the motion, the dignitp of our
responsible office, and pair of horse
pistols which lay across the apron
"Tell We what l' said Tom, taking up
one of the pistols and las 1 afterwards
found) fully cooking it, Il should rather
like to meet few robbers. | would
serve tht m as l did those three disband-
ed snldiers'
How was that -
"Oh it's as WELL" said Tom preten-
ding to crow very rious, ''to say moth
ing about these unfortunate accidents.
Blood is frighfful thing on the con-
science, and a bullet through fellows
head is disagreeable sight but tell We
what, I'd do it again. Fellows who
risk their lives must take their chance,
my boy.'
And hese Tom put the other pistol on
full cock, and 10. ked aud ciously on
both sides Of the road, as if daring the
lurking murking murderers to come
forth, and receive the reward Of their
crimes. As to the story of the soldiers,
and the fearful insinuations of bloody
decd executed on one or all, it was a
prodigious rhodomontad, for Tom was
such a tender hearted Individual that if
lie had shot a kitten it would have made
him unhappy for week. But, to hear
him talk, you would have taken him for
a civic r chard the Third, one who had
"neither pity, love, nor fear" His
whiskers also, were very ferocious, and
sug uggestive Of battle, murder and ruin.
So, he went on, playing with his pistol,
and giving hims If out for an Implying
executor # 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 carry one the
bags to its de-tinalion Tom undertook
this task. As the village at which the
remaining parcels were to lie delivered
was o:ly mile further on, he deter
mined to walk across the fields and join
me after he had executed his commits
sion. He looked carefully at the prim-
ing of his pistol, stuck it ostentat ously
in the outside breast-pocket of bis great
coat; and, with stately step, marched
off with the heavy money bag in his
hand. l put the whip to the horse and
mefrily forward, thinking nothing what
ever of robbery or danger, in spite of
The monitory conversation of Tom Rud-
die.
Our first customer reside at the oul
skirt Of the village-a farmer who re-
quired a considerable amount in gold. |
pulled up at the narrow, dark entrance
of the lane that led up TO his house and
as my absence couldn't be for more than
a few minutes, l left the gig and pro-
ceeded up the lane with my golden
treasure. | delivered it into the hands
of its owner and manfully resisting all
his hospitable invitations, I took my
leave, and walked rapidly towards the
gig. As | drew nesr, 1 perceived in the
clear starlight a man mounted on the
step, and cropping under the seat. Iran
forward, and the man alarmed by nv
approach, rapidly raised himself from
his STOPPING position and presenting a
pistol, fired it so close TO my eyes that
the fash blinded me for a moment-the
action was so sudden and my surprise so
great that for short time | was bewil-
dered, and scarcely knew whether l was
alive or d. ad.
The old horse never started at the re-
port, and | rested my hand on the rim of
the wheel, while | endeavored to recover
my scattered thoughts The first thing
| ascertained was that the man had dis
appeared. l then hurriedly examined
under the seat /; and to my intense re-
lief, perceived the remaining money bag
still in its place There was slit in it,
however, near the top, as if made by
knlfe-the robber probably resolving
merely to possess himself the coin, with
out the dangerous accompaniment Of the
leathern sack, by which he might have
been traced
T'Tell ye what % said voice close
beside me, as l concluded my scrutiny,
Il don't Ike practical jokes like that
firing of pistols to frighten folks. You'll
alarm the whole village"
"Tom," said |, ,."now's the time to