Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-03-03

not like to have everybody know that
had five hundred dollars in my pock-
et.'
"You see that Ben knew Jeemes was
awful timorsome, and said it to tease
him.
"'Well,' says Jeemes, straightenin'
up, and lookin' as grand as if he thought
himself equal to a gin'ral, there isn't
an individual critter on the face of the
airth that I'm afeared to meet single
handed, neither robber nor wild Indian,
let it be in a place ever so lonesome
Thank fortin, Pm no coward, nor never
was.'
"I want to ask you one or two ques-
tons, Jeemes,' putin on long, seri-
Gus face.
"'You may ask me dozen, if you're
amind to; only want you to be quick
about it, says Jeemes.
"'Well, then, did you call at Prin-
giles tavern, as you came along?' says
Ben.
eyes, I jest run in a minute, to get
a few cigars
"'And did you, while you was there,
say that you were goin' over to Cap
ting billiards. to buy horse?'
"I shouldn't wonder if mentioned
it, says Jeemes.
"Well, if there were no strangers
there, twas all well enough
"'But there were a number; and /
remember now that, when I took out
my pocket-book, and told Pringle l
hadn't cent of change, and should be
obleeged to get him to take his pay for
the cigars out of ten dollar bill, one
of 'em eyed me purity sharp
''Ben shook his head, but didn't say
anything.
":P'r'aps,' says Jeemes, I'D better
not 60 over to the Capting's, this eve
nin' What's your advice, Ben?'
eff Sam Peters was in your place,
and had asked me the same question:
says Ben, lookin' towards a young man
six foot high, that everybody knew had
the courage of lion, Il don't know as
| should try to discourage him from 60
in. On the whole, / should advise him
to, by all means. What do you say,
Lucy?'
"'The same as you do,' was Lucy's
answer.
4 guess says Jeemes, 'I've got as
much courage and fortitude as Sam
Peters has, any day; so the advice that
will do for him will do for me-
Upon that, he Lit another cigar, but
toned up his great-coat, and tellin' Lrl-
cy that ne should be back by the time
supper was ready, he sot off for Cap
ting Hilliard's.
"'l on were too bad, Ben,' says Lu-
cy, arter Jeemes was gone you know
he's always skeered at his own shadder,
and won't take mite of comfort till he
gets back agin.'
" He no need to be al'ays and etar-
nally boastin' Of his courage, then,' says
Ben. lie only makes himself an object
OF radicule by doin' it, and whoever
can fix on some plan to cure him, will,
III my opinion, do him arightdown good
turn
In minute or two, a parcel more of
the young men arrived; so we got to
talkin' about other things, and thought
no more about Jeemes, when all at once
Sam Peters speaks up, and says he, If
I'm not mistaken, Jeemes Brown is
comm back
" 1T isn't time for him to be back
yet says Ben; 'he hasn't been gone
more'n ten Or fifteen minutes
wv ell, says Sam, Il can hear bells,
and L can tell the ring Of his, from any
other i'll the place.
Twas scarce a minute afterwards,
atore he came drivin' up the door, Jehu-
like. The next breath, he rushed into
the house, with eyes wide as they were
long, and with lips as white as cloth.
Nv hats the matter, Jeemes?' spoke
up halt dozen voices all at once.
Matter enough,' says he; I've
barely 'scaped with my life, and that's
"'Did your horse run away with
you?' says Lucy.
"Worse than that! worse than thatr
says he. 'The fact is, my friends and
teller-c -citizens'-TJeemes. YOU see. was
- POi'i1tdl1eT, anu UndU tuc
way he aPays begun when he made a
speech my friends and feller-citizens.
says he, I've been through a solemn
and tryin' scene, one of the most SOL
emnest, and the most tryin'est, twas
ever my fortin to pass through
"'Let us hear what it was,' says Sam
Peters.
'Sumthin that ill larn me not to
slight good advice, for the futur.'
"'Come, out with it; what has hap
pened?' says Ben Palmer.
"1,ve been robbed; my five hun
dred dollars are gone,' saws Jeemes.
: you don't say so,' saws Sam.
"'It is the solemn truth, nv friends
and feller-citizens. But [ don't vally
the loss of the money, more than if the
bank bills had been so many bits of
brown paper, as long as my life is
spared
"'Have you any idee who the robber
was? p says Sam Peters
; '''I guess l have; 1 knew him the
minute [ sot my eyes on him,
/ "'Who was it? Do tell us y saws
, Lucy Mayland.