The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-04-17
NUMBER 80.
know where he was.'

know where he was.'
"Well yOu needn't laugh ut mo
yasilissa," retorts her husband with
broad grin; "you kept on counting
the notes, yourself for an hour and
more, and never counted 'em right
after all ~ Aud the two laugh in lusty
chorus, "You may be sure, BARN." no
continues, to me.
"That wasn't long in. inviting my
friends to come and rejoice with me
over the good luck that God had sent;
and by O'Clock in the evening l had
all ready for 'em-the tea-urn boiling,
the black bread and bacon laid out, u
dish of salted cucumbers, and a half
gallon of vodka (corn- brandy into
the bargain. just rs I'd finished lay
ing out the table (my wife went out to
buy some sausage) there came knock
at the door. Thinks I, There are my
guests come already : and went out to
let 'em in. But when l opened the
door,, (heaven preserve us!) What
should 1 see but three men in black
masks, and the foremost of 'em with a
pistol in his hand-tliis very same pis-
tol that's lying on the table now"
sob! that pistols trophy taken
from the enemy them" remarked l.
"This begins to get interesting. Go
on, pray"
I'm not going to. say wasn't
frightened" pursues the starosta. 81
was frightened, and very badly fright
ened, too, l can tell you. But before [
could say a word, the foremost black
guard claps his hand on my shoulder,
and says to me, in voice. that sound
ed as if it came down a chimney,
Hand over that money You got this
morning; quick, or will send you
where you won't como back again >
and heard the pistol click as he cock
ed it. Well, as you know, when
needs must, there's no time for brew
ing beer SO 1 went to the big chest
yonder, and oRt with the bank notes;
but in handing them out, managed to
tuck two or three of them into my
sleeve. The rogue counted them twice
over, and shook his head.
"'This won't do says he, catching
me by the collar we. know exactly
how much you got this morning, and
we mean to have it all so out with
what you've hidden, or it'll be, tho
worse for YOU
"Then all at once thought came
into my head, just as if somebody had
whispered it to me-; and shook tho
bank-notes out of my sleeve on tho
floor, SO that they all flew this way and
that way. The rogue, fearing, no
doubt, that some of them might get
lost, pounced upon them to pick 'em
up, putting down his pistol, just as I
thought he would. But the minute he
loosed hold of it l snatched it up and
shot him dead on the spot"
My driver gave q hoarse, chuckling
laugh of intense enjoyment While the
starosta paused for moment in order
to l,ighten the effect of his last SEN
tence, handles the captured pistol with
a belligerent air.
'sWell, DONE" put in I; 'fbut what
did the other two fellows, do7 Ran
away, l suppose ?" f:z.. a..-
"You may say that replies the mar
rator, with a broader grin than ever;
they were gone almost before 1 could
turn around. Well, when 1 found my
self safe again and tho field clear, I
felt SO dazed that almost fainted; but
I knew there was moro to- be done yet,
SO dipped my head in pan of water,
to clear it bit, locked up the house,
put the key in my pocket, and away as
hard as 1 could go to the 1vartalni'
district police inspector.) But when
got there he was not at home. They
said he had gone out an hour before,
and hadn't come back yet; so there
was nothing for it but to go on to tho
next station, across the river yonder,
and tell the kvartalni there. The min
ute he heard what happened, he claps
on his coat, calls three or four of his
men, and away we all went back to my
hut, where we found the dead fellow
lying ON the floor just as / left sim.-
The kvartalni's men pulled off his
mask and who should be there but
the very police inspector l had been
looking for! And the other two rob-
bers, as found out afterwards, were
the village postmaster and the priest.
And now, BARN, here's you place ready
for you; and may Heaven send you q
good nights rest"'
N<<DS%