, 1860-11-02
A Hunt on the Highway.

robbed; and the people had their pockets picked.
All this happened in the region Of country be-
tween Sidney and LovstOne-not field Of vast
extent-and yet tho rObber or robbers could
not be found. Officers had searched in every
d rection, and several suspicious looking indi-
viduals had been apprehended; but the real
eulprit still remained at large. One day the
mail was robbed, and on the nexta man had his
pocket picked Of FIVE hundred pounds, while
rid ng in the stage coach-for my narrative dates
back to the old coaching days. The money had
been carried in his breast pocket, and he knew
it was stolen from him while he was enjoying
bit Of a doze on the road. nH
had been confined to my house by severe
cold for several days, and was not fit to go out
now but as this matter was becoming so seri.
Gus, felt it my duty to be on the move, and ac-
cordingly fortified my throat and breast with
warm flannel, and set forth. | had no settled
plan in my mind, for had not yet been upon
the road, and was not thoroughly "pOsted up"
A ride Of five miles in my own trap brought me
to Sidney, and thence meant to take coach TO
LowstOne, where Sam Stickney, one Of the
shrewdest Of men, lived. Stickney had already
been on the search, and wished to consult him
beiore making any decided movement Preached
Sidney at halEpast five in the morning, and the
coach left at six. LowstOne was sixty miles
distant, so had good ride before me. During
the early part Of the day ! rode upon the box
with the driver, and from him gained consid-
eiable information touching the various robbie
ries that had been committed. He was forced
to admit that several people had been robbed in
bis stage, though he declared that he couldn't
see into t. for he had not the most remote idea,
even, Of who the robber could be.
We reached BOnnvile at noon, where we
stopped to dine, and when We left this place l
was the only passenger. At the distance Of
twelve miles, at little village called Cawthorne,
we stopped to change horses, and hero another
passenger got up. l had been occupying the
forward seat, as that happened to be wider than
the others, and gave me better opportunity for
lying down; and when the new conner entered,
he took the back seat He was a young man,
| judged, and not very tall in stature but SO
completely bundled up was he in shawls and
muillers, that his size Of frame was not 80 easily
determined He was very pale, and conghed
badly and | At once made up my mind that he
was far less lit to travel than I was. After we
had got fairly on our way, remarked to him
that had been suffering from severe cold, and
that this was the first time had ventured out
for quite a number Of days. He looked at me
out Of pair of dark, bright eyes; and when
he seemed to have determine / what manner Of
man was, he said
He broke into a lit OF coughing, which lasted q
minute or so, and then added-"It won't be a
great while before shall take my last ride. .'
"You are eonsumptivcy" ! suggested. ll g %
Almost gone with il" he replied. Again be
was seized with spasn Of coughing, and when
he had recovered from il, he continued-"T The
disease is eating me up and shaking me Opieces
at the same time"
lie f~rther informed me tat he bad started
on tour for bis health, but that he had given it
up, and was now on his way home, which place
he was anxious to reach as soon as possible.
Another parOxysm seized him at this point and
he intimated that he was unaole to converse, as
the effort brought on his cJugh. l bad noticed
this, and had made up my mind to trouble Ihiul
no more, even before he had given me the hint.
After this he drew his outer shawl more
closely about his neck and face, and having Sc
cured an easy posture, he Closed his eyes, and
was not long in following his example. Towards
the middle Of the afternoon the coach stopped
at small village, where we changed horses
again, and where four passengers got up. This
broke up the arrangement Of my friend and sell
for rest, as he had to take one Of the passengers
on his seat, while took another upon mine, the
other two occupying the middle seat The new
corners soon brOached the subject Of the robbe-
ries which had been committed in that region,
and listened to gain information il possible
but they knew no more than every one else knew.
They bad heard all about it, aud were inflated
with wonder.
One-an old farmer-asked me IL | knew
anything Of the robber told him that knew
but little Of the affair in any way, having been
sick, and unable to be out among folks, Then
he asked my 90 isumptive friend If he knew
anything about It. The latter raised his head
from its reclining position, and was on the point
Of answering when be heard our driver. in quick
abrupt tones, ordering some one to got out ol
the road. linstinctiVely put my head out At the
window TO see what the trouble was, and my
eye was just quick enough to detect a load d
iagots in time TO dodge back and avoid them
The road was quite narrow at this point and Al
the fagots were loaded very widely, it was i'm
possible for the driver TO wholly avoid them
and the side Of the coach was swept by their
quite smartly. escaped without being touched
but not so my friend heard al exclamation
thought rather proiane one-lrom his lips
and on looking towards him ! saw that one o
the fagots had struck him over the left eye, max
ing quite mark upon the pa.c skin. VS.
"These fellows ought 10 be taken up for load
ing their Elgots out SO" said another Of the pas
sengers u ..a. t.-
Slt'u do very well to load bay out wide, ior
that won't hurt nobody il IL does hit en-; but
| fagots is different" observed another,
This turned the conversation from the subject
Of the robberies, aud it was not again alluded to
during the day.
We reached Lowstone shortly after dark, and
went at once to the residence of Mr.. Stickn y,
whom found at home. lie had been out all
day, and had made all sorts Of efforts TO obtain
some clue " the perpetrators Of the robberies
that were being committed, but without effect.
al can learn nothing, he said, upon which
s.L l.. has kaau
bed in this place, but not clue can ! gain 70
the perpetrators They must be oil birds"
Shave you seen GambliIi" asked. Gam
blit was the olIicer al OTtOO, tOwn twelve miles
distant.
"Not lately" replied Stickney.