Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-10-19

Ny passenger sat on The seat behind me.
and | turned toward him.
"IIerc is bag of some Kind slipped back 4
under my feet he said, giving it a kick, as /
though he'd shove II forward.
just at this moment my horses numbered
into deep snow drift, and was forced 10
ret out and tread down the snow ahead OF
them, and lead them throushit,
This took me- all Of fifteen minutes. and
whei got in again pulled the mailbag
forward and got my feet upon il. As was
doing this, saw the man take something
from Lis lap, beneath the buffalo, and put il
in his breast pocket. AZ this thought il
was pistol. had caught the CLEAN of
the barrel in the stailight, and when ! had
time to reflect, knew ] could not be mis-
taken.
I About this time began TO think some
what seriously. From what had heard
and seem soon made UP my mind that the
individual behind me not only meant TO rob
the mail, but he was PR pared TO rob me OF
my life. If resisted him he would shoot
me, and perhaps he meant TO perform that
delectablt operation at any rate. While
was pondering. the horses plunged into
another deep snow drift, and | was again
forced to Get out and tread down the snow
before them. asked my passenger II he
would hclp me- ut he said he didn't feel
very well, and wouldn't try so | worked
alone, and was all of a quarter of an hour
getting my team all through the drifts.
When ! cot into the sleigh again, began
tl feel for the mailbag with my feet.
found it where | had left it ; but. when ! at
tempted to withdraw my foot, discovered
that it had become entanged in something
i thought it the buffalo, and | tried to
kick il clear; but the more | kicked the
more closely was it held. reached down
my hand and after feeling about few mo-
ments. found that my foot was in the mail
bee felt again, and found my hand in
among the packages OF letters and papers +!
I ran my fingers over the edges ofthe open
ing. and became assured that the stout leath-
er had been cut with knife
Here was discovery. began to wish
had taken little more forethought before
leaving Daaburv but as knew that max
ing such wishes was only waste of time, !
quickly gave it up and began TO consider
what ] had best TO do under the existing cir
cnmstances. | wasn't long in making up
my mind upon few essential points. First,
the man behind me was villain; second, he
had cut open the mail bag, and robbed it of
some valuable matter. He must have
known the money letters by their size and
shape third. he meant to leave the stage on
the first opportunity and fourthly, he was
nreparrd Ia shoot me if attempted TO ar
rest or detain him.
reyolved these things over in my mind
and pretty soon ] thought of a course 10
pursue | knew ii could get my hands
safely upon the rascal, ] must take him
wholly unawares. and this could not do
while he was behind me- for his eyes were
upon me all the tme,-so must resort TO
. stratagem. Only a little distance ahead was
house, an old farmer named Lougee lived
6 there, and directly before which was huge
snow-hank stretched across the road
through which track for wagons had been
+ cleared with shoveles.
, As we approached the cot, saw a light
, in the front room, as felt confident should
for the old man generally sat up until the
stage went by. | drove on, and when near
ly opposite the dwelling, stood up as ! had
:. frequently done when approaching difficult
. places. ] saw the snow-bank ahead, and
could distinguish the deep cut which hat
been shoveled through it. j urged my
! horses to a good speed, ard when near the
bank forced them into it.
One of the runners mounted the edge o
:, the bank, after which the other run into thu
: cut. thus throwing the sleigh over about a
) quick as though lightning had struck it
: NV passenger had not calculated on an,
= such movement, and wasn't prepared for it
: but had calculated, and was prepared Il'
> rolled out into the deep snow, with heav,
: buffalo robe about him, while ! lighted up
9 on my feet directly on top of him. 1punch
, ed his head into the snow, and then san;
u out for old Lougee. / did not have TO cal
a second time, for the farmer bad come t
the window to see me pass. and as he say
e my sleigh overturned, he had lighted hi
e lantern and hurried out.
e whats to pay 7" asked the old man a
It he came up.
N LEAD the horses into the track, and the
$ come here" said |.
= As | spoke, partially loosened my hol
= upon the villains throat, and he drew pi'
:" tol from his bosom but ] saw il in season
and damned his head into the snow agaii
S and 90. tie weapon away from him. b
- this time Lougee had led the horses out an
: came back, and / explained the matter t
= him in as few words as possible. We hau
~ ed the rascal out in;o the road, and upon eS
" animation. we found about twenty package
g of letters which he had stGlen from the mai
!" bag. and slowed away in his pockets.
y !, lie sworc, and threatened, and prayed
- hut we paid no attention TO his blarneJ
W Loueee got some stout cord, and when W
had securely bound the villain, we tumble
: him into the pung. asked the old man
= he would accompany me TO Littleton, an
'e he said "of course" So he got his overcoa
>. and mufiler, and ere long We started an.
reached the end of my route with m
mail all safe, though not as snug as it migl
have been. and my mailbag little I'll
worse for the game that had been playe
upon it, However, the mail-robber va
y secure, and within a week he was i1eniiiie
/" by some officers from Concord as an old o.
:" fender and I'm rather inclined to the opiu
4, ion that he's in the States prison at th
:, present moment. At any rate, he wa
there the last heard of him.
y That's the only time ! ever had any ma
y troubled and think that under all cireun
stances came out Of il pretty well.