Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-02-26
A THRILLIRg ADVENTURE

not start tn after dhper; so very often
Ind a,Rood distance 10 drive after dark
Ii was in the dead OF winter, and the seas
on had been a tough one A great deal Of
snow had fallen. aud the drifts we're ploughed
deed The msil | carried was not due at
EIittleton, By the contract, upul one o'clock n
but that winter the postmaster was very
1 often obliged TO SIT up little later Than
that for me ~l itt 4'l
one day in January, when drove up for
my mail at Danbury the postmaster called
me into his office.
Pete, said he, with an important serious
| look, "there's some pretty heavy money pack
ages in that bag aud he pointed to the bag
as he spoke lie said the money was from
Boston TO some land agents up near the Can
adan line. Then he asked me il | had got
any passengers who we're going through TO
Littleton. ! told him did not know; "but
suppose hayen'tf said l.
"Why," said he, "the agent OF the lower
route came in to day. and he says that there
have been two suspicious characters on the
stage that came up last night and he sus-
poets that they have an eye upon the mail,
so that It will stand you in hand to be q little
careful"
He said the agent had described one ofthem
4 as a short thich-set fellow about forty years
of age with long hair, and thick, heavy
cump of beard on the chin but none on the
side of his face He did not know anything
about the other told the old fellow
guessed there wasn much danger.
ooh, no, not if you have got passengers
through But only told yon this so that You
might look ont for your mail, and look out
when you change horses
answered that ! should do so, aud then
took the,bag under my arm and left the Of
fee | slowed the mail under my seat a lit
tie more carefully than usual, placing 1t so
that could keep my feet against II but
beyond this, did not feel any concern. 1t
was past one when started, and had four
passengers, two Of whom rode to my FIRST
stopping PLACE. reached Gowans Mills at
dark, where we stopped for supper, aud where
my other two passengers concluded to stop for
the night
About6 o clock in the evening, left Gowan' 3
Mills alone, having two horses and an open
] pnng, d,
| had seventeen milesto go, and q hard
seventeen miles it was, too The night was
quite cold, but the wind was sharp and cold,
! the loose snow flying in all directions, while
the drifts we're deep and closely packed 1t
> was slow, tedious work, and my horses soon
became leg-weary and restive. Atthe distance
of six miles came 10 a little settlement call.
, ed Bulls Corners, where took fresh horses.
I'd been two hours going that distance. Just
as | was going to start, q man came up and
asked me il was going through to Littleton
| told him should go through il the thing
\ could be possibly done He said he was very
: anxious to 90, and as he had no baggage,
told him to jump in aud make himself us com
+ Portable as pOssible i was gathering mp my
n lines, when the hosller came up and askeC
me il | knew that one of my horses had cut
u himself badly. jumped out and went will
e him, and found that one of the horses hat
20 got IL deep cork cut on the of fore foot
gave such direction as | considered necessary
', aud was about to turn away, when the hostile
s. remarked that he thought ! came alone,
- told him did.
= "Then where did that passenger com
Sc from y said he.
"IIe has just got in" | answered.
''Ciot in from whereY
u 81 don't know'
re 'Well, now, said the hosler, that's kin
o curious There amt no such man been @
. the house, and know that there amt bee
e. none at the neighbors'."
,f LET us have a look at his face, said
1--WE can get that much at any rate Do 20
!" 90 back with me, and when get into the pun
ld Just hold your lantern SO that the light shin
% will into his face"
o He did as | wished, and as | stepped int
nj the pung got fair view OF such portions
IT. my passenger face AS was not mufled u
!. | saw short thick frame, full, hardy feature
''' and | could see that there was heavy beal
nd under the chin. thought OF the man who
the postmaster had described TO me, but
didn't think seriously upon it until we he
20, started Perhaps hadn't got half q mi
.pt when | noticed that the mailbag wasn't in
a cid place under my feet
!" YHallolN says holding up my horses
ie- little, where's my mad 2
3? My passenger sat on the seat behind N
and turned toward him
Here is a bag of some kind, slipped ba
ri under my feet" he said, giving it a kick,
though he d shove II forward.
9TH Just at this moment my horses lumber
into deep snoW-drift, and vas forced to 3
I'D out and tread down the snow ahead Of the
ea- and lead them through it
phe This took me all Of fifteen minutes,
un- when got in again pulled the mailbag f
res ward and got my feet upon il and as | v
her doing this | saw the man take sometht
ear from his lap beneath the buffalo, and put il
is bis breast pocket At this | thought il v
aid pistol. | had caught CLEAN of the bar
The in the starlight, and when had time TO
the feet Iknew ] could not be mistaken
About this time began to think somewl
Il seriously From what had heard and Sc
b L soon made up my mind that the indvd
TO behind me not only meant TO rob the mail
has he was prepared to rob melof my life.
$ n resisted him, he would shoot me, and perh
has be meant 70 perform that delicate Job at