Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-06-09

regiment. He was in Ohio when he en-
listed, and joined a regiment in that
State.
l asked him which one.
He told me the Forty eighth.
This staggered me; l proceeded with
nv oIestions aud ere long had gained
from him all he knew of Gettysburg. and
more too.
| don't like TO be sold: but had been
sold now, certainly. The man by my
side was humbug. In the first place +,
knew that tho Forty-e;gbt Ohio was at
Vicksburg, with Grant, while Gettysburg
was being fought. And then | had
heard the whole story Of Gettysburg from
wounded officers who had come from the
field; and this mans story was not. Ike
story they had told. l had made up my
mind that the fellow was a Sucker. or a
SPONGE when | was interrupted Esmy
mcditations by sudden lurch of lac
wagon, one of the wheels having drop
ped into slough hole upon that side on
which the war worn and shattered hero
sat. | expected, when | had recovered
my own balance. to see him pitched from
his perch: but not so. saw that ban
daged leg, which first had been as use
less as dead mans leg suddenly straight
eued out; the swathed foot was planted
fatty and squarely upon the board; and
with full pressure upon the disguised
limb he held himself, and regained his
equilibrium.
| pretended not TO notice; but had
noticed and reflected. That right leg, so
carefully nursed was as stout, and as
strong. and as free for use as my own /.
Had the fellow taken all this trouble of
deception for the sole purpose of getting
a ride / could not believe it. Had he
done it for the purpose of exciting SYM
pathy that he might beg with batter sue
cess? He did not look like man prone
TO beg. They why was it?
l had been in my present position of
messenger nearly two years, and as L
never went upon my route without more
or less money entrusted TO my care, | had
learned TO be suspicious. This man had
been present when Prindle gave me the
money package of three thousand dollars,
and had probably overheard the agents
directions. He meant to rob me, or he
had come with me for that purpose.
looked into his face; and now that | re
garded him no more as a war-worn vete-
ran and hero, discovered him to be an
ugly and repulsive looking person. And
he was powerful fellow, to boot
should say, almost twice as heavy as my
self But was not to remain long in
doubt.
We had entered a secluded pait of the
road. with deep wood upon my left
hand, when my companion drew revol
yer from his pocket and pointed the muz-
zle towards me.
Give me that pocket book of yours!
he commanded. Don't make no words
Give it up or die! Quick!'
My pocket book, beside the three thou
sand dollar package, contained full two
thousand dollars belonging to parties in
Norway. My instinct was born of office.
| thought fore of the property entrust-
ed to my care than of myself Just
then | heard wagon wheels in the dis.
understanding coming up behind us q.
Should l try and wait for the coming
team, or should | try and gain the next
house. Jus! beyond was the brow of
the bill and ut the foot of the bill a
farm house. / struck my horse with the
whip, aud as he leaped from under the
blow the ruffian caught the reins with
one hand grasped my throat with the
other. the pistol falling upon the foot
board as he did so. As soon as he had
given my cravat twist or two that stop
ped my breath, he let 60 the reins and
made a grasp for my pocket book, think
ing, no doubt, to seize it, then leap from
the wagon and make for the woods
And this he might have done but for an
accident, for he was & perfect Hercules in
comparison with me.
When my assailant let 90 the reins l
had serse enough to catch one Of them
the near REMAND gave it smart
pull, which movement brought the horse
so suddenly to the left that the wagon
overturned. and we split out into mud
dy ditch-I upon the top of the robber.
In the course of my struggles nv cravat
gave way. and / was for moment free ;
but the burIy rascal caught me by the
leg, and had brought me to the earth,
when the team that had followed us
drove up, and l recognized Sumner
Burnham and his son-two of the best
detective officers in the State.
Nv friend had not thought of the ap.
preaching wagon; but he saw it now,
and when he observed it had stopped, he
would have leaped away; but now 1t
was my turn to try the leg game; and |
caught him by the ankle and tripped
him up; and before he could regain his
feet Ohio was upon him, and very short
ly afterward old Sumner himself, with
bis two hundred and eighty pounds of
compact, leviathan corporosity, laid his
huge hand upon the villains shoulder.
'Well, well. my boy said Burrham,
when be looked into my hero's face
I'm afraid I've interrupted another of
your little games. What were you up
10 here? As he spoke he snapped a
pair of handouts upon my war worn
veterans wrists.
The latter gave one more look into the