Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-09-01
The Mail Robber.

F0urteen years ago, QrOFe from
Danbury to Littleton, a distance of
forty-two miles, and as | had to await
the arrival of two or three coaches,
and did not start until after dinuer, |
very often had a good distance to
drive after dark. 1t was in the dead
OF winter, and the season had been
tough one. A great deal Of snow had
fallen and the drifts were plenty and
deep. The mail that'I carried was
not due at Littleton, by the contract,
until one o'clock in the morning, but
that winter the postmaster was very
often obliged to sit up little later
than that hour for me.
One day in January, when | drove
up for my mail at Danbury, the post
master called me into his Office.
"Pete," said he, with an important,
serious look, "there's some pretty
heavy money packages in that bag"
and he pointed to the bag as he spoke
He said the money was from Boston
to some land agents up near the Can
ada line. Then he asked me if I'd
got any passengers going through to
Littleton. | told him [ did not know,
but suppose | have not? says l.
"Why," says he, "the agent of the
lower route came in to-day, aud he
says that there have been two suspi-
cious characters on the stage that
came up last night, and he suspects
that they have an eye upon this mail
50 that it will stand you in hand to
be a little careful
He said the agent had described
one of them as a short, thick-set fel-
low, about 40 years Of age, with long
hair, and a thick, heavy clump Of
beard under the chin, but none on
the side of his face. He did not know
anything about the other. | told the
old fellow l guessed there wasn't
much danger.
"Oh, no, not if you have got pas
sengers through; but | only told you
of this so that you might look out
sharp when you change horses"
| answered that | should do so, and
then took the bag under my arm and
left the office. | slowed the mail uu-
der my seat a little more carefully
than usual, placing it so that | could
keep my feet against it; but beyond
that | did not feel any concerned. 1t
was past one when | started, and |
had four passengers, two of whom
rode only to my first stopping place.
l reached Gowan's Mills at dark.
when we stopped for supper, and
where my other two passengers con
cIuded to stop for the night.
AUUuJ . CIUCh IN uno rvCutu- L
left Gowan's Mills alone, having two
horses and an open pung.
| had seventeen miles and a hard
seventeen it was, too. The night
was quite clear, but the wind was
sharp and cold, the loose snow flying
in all directions, while the drifts were
deep and closely packed. 1t was
slow tedious work, and my horses
soon became leg-weary, and gestiye.
| At the distance of six miles | came to
little settlement called Bulls cor
Iuer. where | took fresh horses. Id
been two hours going that distance
/ AS | was going to start q man came
up and asked me if | was going thr0
to Littleton. | told him | should gC
through if the thing could possibly be
done. He said he was very anxious
to 90, and as he had no baggage !
told him to jump in and make himself
as comfortable as possible. | was
getting up my lines when the OstleT
came out and asked me if | knew that
one of my horses had cut himself bad
/ ly. | jumped out and went with him
and found that one of the animals had
got a deep cork-cut on the off fore
foot. | gave such directions as | con
Sidered necessary and was about tc
turn away, when the ostler remarked
that he thought | came alone. | tolG
him did.
Then where did you get that pas
Senger?" ?" said he.
He lust cot in" | answered.
"Got in from where p
81 don't know"
"WeII, now" said the ostler, that,
kind ocurious. There amt been nc
such man at the house, and | know
there amt been none at the neigh
bors."
Lets have look at his face sale
|. "We can get that much at any
rate. Do you 90 back with me, anC
when | get into the pung, just holC
your lantern so that the light vii
shine into his face"
He did as | wished and as | step
ped into the pung | got a fair viev
Of such portions of my passenger
face as were not muf1ed up. say
a short, thick frame; full, hard fea
lures, and I could almost see tia
there was a heavy beard under th
chin. I thought of the man whor
the postmaster had described to ME
but | didn't think seriously upon
until | had started. Perhaps | ha
gone half mile, when | noticed tha
the mail bag wasn't in its old plac
under my feet,
"Hallow says |, holding up m
horses a little. "Where's my mail ?
My passenger sat on a seat benin
u me, and | turned toward him.
+ Here is a bag of some kind slippe
e back under my feet" he said, givin