Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1872-06-04

A~N =" piNS' " 20 ~ NN ~
out" he said.
l remembered the package | had to
deliver on the same road, and told him
if he didn't mind riding around
through the village, l would take him
as far as the old Jordon Place. He
said that it would be great help to
him. So, with the assistance of the
station baggage master, | helped him
to the seat. He was large, heavy
man, and as he seemed unable to help
himself in by climbing, the labor of
hosting him up was not light one.
81 shall come down CASTER" he said,
laughing.
"All right" I replied, as took my
seat by his side.
l made quick work of delivering my
stuff in the village, and when we had
struck the old road beyond / asked
my companion his name. He said it
was John Smith. Then I led him to
tell me of his experience in the army,
and more particularly at Gettysburg.
He said he was Maine boy, but was
not in Maine regiment. He was in
Ohio when he enlisted, and Joined a
regiment in that State.
L asked him which one.
He told me the Forty-eight.
This staggered me; / proceeded
with my questions and ere long gained
from him all he knew of Gettysburg,
and more too.
don't like to be sold; but I had
been scld now, certainly. The man
by my side was humbug. In the
first place, l knew that the Forty
eighth 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 like the story they had told. i
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 1 had recovered my
own balance, to see him pitched from
his perch but not so. l saw that
bandaged leg, which at first had been
as useless as a dead mans leg, sud
denly Strengthened out; the swathed
foot was planted fatty and squarely
upon the board and with full pres
sure upon the disguised limb he held
himself, and regained his equilibrium.
1 pretended not to notice but 1
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 rido ? could
not believe it. Had he done it for
the purpose of exciting sympathy, that
he might beg with better success P
He did not look like man prone to
beg. Then why was it P?
/ 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 Mr..
Prindle gave me the money package
of three thousand dollars, and had
probably overheard the agents direc-
tions. He had meant to rob me for
he had come with me for that purpose.
l looked into his face, and now that
1 regarded him no more as war-worn
veteran and hero, | discovered him to
be an ugly and repulsive looking per-
son. Aud he was powerful fellow,
to boot. 1 should say, almost twice
as heavy as myself.
But was not long to remain in
doubt.
We had entered a secluded part Of
the road, with deep wood upon my
left hand, when my companion drew
revolver from his pocket and pointed
the muzzcl towards me.
"Give me that pocket-book Of yoursl"
he demanded. Don't make no words !
Give it up or die Quick ~
My pocket book, besides the three
thousand dollar package, contained
fully two thousand dollars belonging
to parties in Norway. Ny instinct
was born of Office l thought more
Of the property entrusted to my care
than of myself. just then / heard a
wagon in the distancc--somcthing com