The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1868-10-06

D
mind that the individual behind me moi
only meant TO rob me OF the mail, but
he was prepared to rob me of my life.
If ! resisted him he would shoot me, and
perhaps hc meant 10 perform that deec-
table operation at any rate. While |
was ponierng, the horses plunged into
another 'leep snow drift, and | was again
forced to get out and tread down the
snow before them. asked my pas3en-
ger if he would help me, bu; he didn't feel
very well, and wouldn't try; so work ed
alone, aud was all of n quarter of an
hour getting my team all through the
drifts, When got into the sleigh again,
| began to feel for my mailbag with my
feet. found it where had left il ;
but when attempted to withdraw nv
foci, | discovered it had become cnlanc>
led in somcthing-l thought it was the
buffalo, ana tried TO kick it clear: but
the more kicked the more closely it was
held. | reached down my hand, and
after feeling about few minutes. | found
that my foot was in the mail>bap / felt
again, and found my hand in among
the packagcs Of letters and papers! ran
my fingers over The 9dge' Of the opening.
and became assured that the stout leather
had been cut with "a knife
Here WAS discovery. began to
wish had taken Il little more furethoucht
before leaving Danbury but as knew
that making such wishes was only waste
Of time, quiSily gave it up, aud began
TO consider what | had best to do un Ter
the existing circumstances. wasn't
long in making mp my mind upon few
es9eniiaI puints. First, tie man behind
me was villain; second, he had cut
open the mailbag and robbed it Of come
valuable matter. He must have known
the MONEY letters by their size aud shape;
third, he meant to leave the stare On the
first opportunity and fourlhy, he WAS
prepared to Shoot me Il attempted to ar
rest or deain him
! rr.olycd ihr-t lining, over in my
mini Hni prout soon lhunghi ui Il
cnu,7cto pureur knew If WouM Get
my hands safety npon the rasri, ! must
take him wholly mnawares, and this !
could not de- while hc wa4 behind me.
for his eyes were upon mo all the time
81 mus7 resort 10 straiagcm. OnIy Il
little distance ahead Wis Il lunen. and
an oil il"m r named I.nngcc lived there,
and directly before il II huge snow bank
stretched ac"no| tie road. Though which
i Track ir wd@un- had been cleared with
,hpyI,
As We approached the ct, saw
| ght III the tgoni room n, | felt confident
should, for the old man generally mt
up until the stage went ty. drove ON,
'w1 when nearly nppo>itc The dwelling,
stood nj ~ hal Frequently done when
dillicrl; places, saw the
snow bank ahead, and could distinguish
the deco cnt which had been shovrlrd
through it urged my horse. 10 a nool
speed, and when near the bank forced
them into il
One ot th, runners mouu,rd The cI,e
"i th" bank, after which the other run
into the cat, ihus throwing the sleigh
over about ~ quick rs though lightning
had struck it, My passenger had not
calculated on any such movement and
wasn't prepared for il; bat had cnlcn
lated, and was prepared He rolled ont
INTO the deep snow, with heavy buff.
a!o robe about him, while lighiod upon
my feet directly on top of him. Ipunch-
ed his head into the snow, and .nng out
for old Longer. did not have to call
second time, for the farmer had come TO
the window 10 sec ne pass, and as soon
Ms he saw my sleigh overturned, he had
lighted his lantern and hurried out.
whats to pay ?" asked the oil man
as he came up.
"Lead the horses into the track, and
then come here" said |.
AS spoke partially looSencd my hold
upon the william throat, and he drew
pistol from his bosom but | saw it in
season and jumped his head into the snow
again, and got the weapon away from
him, by this time Longee had led the
horses ont and came buck, and explained
the matter To him in as few words as pos.
sible. We hauled the rascal oul into the
road, and, upon examination, we found
about twenty packages of letters which he
had stolen from the mailbag, and slowed
away in his pockets.
He swore, and threatened and prayed;
hut we paid 10 attention to his blarney.
Lungec got some stout coid, and when
we had securely bound the william, we
tumbled him into the pung, asked the
old man if he would accompany me TO
Iittlcton, and h said, "Of course" So
he got his overcoat AMI mulller, and ere
long we started on.
reached the cnd of my route with my
mail all safe, though not as snug MS it
might have been, and the mailbag
little the worse of the game that had
been played upon it. However, the
mail'robber WAS secure, ani within a
week he was Identified 10y some officers
from Concord, ms IN old offender; and j
am rather inclined TO the opinion that
he's in the State Prison nj the present
moment. At any rate, he was there the
last heard of him.
That's the only time ever had any
mail trouble and think that under all