The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-12-13

He told me the Forty-eighth.
This staggered me l proceeded with
questions and 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, I knew
that the Forty-eighth Ohio was at Vicks-
burg, with Grant, while Gettysburg was
being fought.
And then L had heard the whole story
of Gettysburg from wounded officers who
had come from the field and this mans
story was not like the story they told me.
had made up my mind that the fellow
was Sucker" or "a "Sponge," when /
was interrupted in my meditations by a
sudden lurch of the wagon, one of the
wheels having dropped into slough-hole
upon that side on which the war-worn and
shattered hero sat. | expected, when l
had recovered my own balance, tosee him
pitched from his perch but not SO. 1
saw that bandaged leg, which first had
been useless as dead mans leg, sud-
denly Strengthened out and 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. The right leg so
carefully nursed, was as stout, and as
strong, and as free for use as my own.
Had the fellow taken all his trouble of
deception for the sole purpose of getting
ride. could not believe it. Had he
done it for the purpose of exciting sym
pathy that he might beg with better sue
cess He did not look like a man prone
to beg. Then why was it j?
| had been in my present position of
messenger nearly two years, and as ]
never went upon my route without more
or less money entrusted to my care, | had
learned to be suspicious man had
been present when Prindle gave me the
money package of three thousand dollars,
and problbly overheard the agents di-
rections. 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 war-worn vet
eran and hero, | discovered him to be an
ugly, repulsive looking person. And he
was powerful fellow to boot should
say, almost twice as heavy as myself
But was not to remain long in doubt.
We had entered a secluded part of
the deep wood upon my left hand, when
my companion drew a revolver from his
pocket and pointed the muzzle toward
me.
" Give me that pocket book of yours 7"
he commanded. "Don't make no words :
Give it up or die }! Quick"
My pocket-book, besides the three
thousand dollar package, contained full
two thousand dollars belonging to parties
in Norway. My instinct was born of
Office. Thought more of the property
entrusted to my care than of myself. Just
then heard wagon wheels in the dis
tance-something coming up behind us.
Should try and wait for the coming
team, or should l try and gain the next
house. just beyond was the brow of the
hill and at the foot of the hill farm
house | struck my horse with the whip,
and as he leaped from under the blow,
the ruffian caught the reins with one-hand
and 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 stopped my
breath, he let go the reins and made a
grasp for my pocket-book, thinking, no
doubt, to seize it, then leap from the wag
on 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 opponent let go the reins
/ had sense enough to catch one of them
the near rein-and gave it smart pull
which movement brought the horse 30
suddenly to the left that the wagon over
turned and we were split out into mud
dy ditch--I upon the top of the robber.
In the course of my struggles my cravat
gave way and | was for moment free
but the burly rascal caught me by the
| L. l.. k.o.,..bk tO thn aorfh