The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-03-27
WHOLE NO 9J1

hats bad scar you nave over your fighL
eve, M. Merkle" said the land officer mo
rnent afterwards, as the stranger in the cloak
unwarily took off his hat to wipe his face with
his handkerchief for show OF ease.
9 Yes sir, said Mr.. Merkle, who felt that
he had a right to adopt little gentle deception
10 conceal the fact that it had been cut With
hand-cuff by prison keeper IN endeavoring to
stem a revolt, OF which he had been the ring-
leader, q I got it about three years ago by
fall from horse"
Ware those two front teeth on the left side
knocked ont at the same time ? " pursued the
Receiver blandly, with consciousness that he
was getting compensation for his own uDeasi-
ness out Of the uneasness OF the stranger
- No cir. lost those by the blow OF a stone
at a blast near Gslena.' was the reply OF Nh.
NIerkle.
Having now accomplished his purpose, and
the conversation taking retaliatory course Of
! inquiry, Mr.. Merkle thought it prudent TO with
draw. and. after remark that lie would cali in
again. he drew lis hat down, and wrapping his
cloak about him left the Office.
Here George exclaimed the Recover, az
soon az the shadow OF the stranger had lett the
door, to a knotty legged clerk az the aesa, fol
low that gentleman at once and see where he
goes. BE quick now, and LOOK that yon &c not
lose sihgt Of him
The clerk to whom this direction vac ad-
dressed made two or three frantic circuits about
the room for his hat, and after having tlmbied
over chair or two pitched out Of the door to
obey the order. But his clumsiness had de-
feated his object, and he returned after Tire
lapse Of a few minutes with the word that the
stranger with the cloak had disappeared
The Receiver mused FOR few mnates OD Lis
disappointment, and soon went out himself 70
institute an inquiry about the town a 20 what
had become OF AIr. Merke, or where Mr.
Nerlie had put up. But no tdngs OF Mr.
Merkle could be had nobody in the place had
seen him. and the Receiver was LET a. tbs close
OF the day to muse more seriously than ever
on the appariuon IN the cloak and scar
On the afternoon Of the 9th Of that month,
according to the statement be had given Mr.
Merkle Of his intentions, the Receiver was
riding with another passenger in the Dixon
stage towards Chicago. Towards the close OF
the day the sky commenced 20 thicken for a
storm, and ct nightEall few feathery fakes
began to descend as a precursor Of a fall of
snow. soon the storm increased, and the
stage began to labor in the increasing drifts
About nine O'Clock, when the vehicle wac plung-
ing heavIlyiand noiselessly IN the feathery bill
lows like 4 ship at sea. It was brought Suddenly
to stand-still, and the coach door was swung
open By man mufled TO the throat, who held
lantern in one hand and pistol in the other,
winch latter article he presented inside Of the
stage with the polite demand OF 90 foar money
or your life!
The Receiver commenced to fun e Tor hs
pistol among bis world OF clothes, Int being
checked by threatening motion of ,he gentle
man Of the door and percelvns tia, another
gentleman in pea coat vas perform og sim
liar piece Of coursesy at the head o; '..e driver,
he desisted. and after the driver had suffered
himself to be bound be- for reasons @. rs owp,
submitted very contentedIy to tue SANS ref-
formance on the part OF himself aud fellow
passenger. When the inmates OF .ae stage
were thus made secure. the searching OF their
pockets and the rlfing OF the stage was soon
accomplished with the aid OF a third laGIYidua'
who had stood all this while at tie Aor-es
heads, and IN whom the Receiver thousut he
recognized the gentleman OF the cloas and
scar. Finally after the three robbers had Cue-
engaged a very heavy trunk. which they recog
nized with great satisfaction to lie Tie Hecelv-
er's. and set 1t in the road they bglG.el the
bound driver in the stage with his passeagers,
shut the door, a. the spokesman sad, 20 keep
them warm and comfortable, bound tie reins
to the foot-boarG, gave the horses a CO. with
the whip, and followed them an irou.cs' good
night as the animals started. They then bore
their plunder in the woods, while tie stage
went plunging on its way under tie direction
of the horses who seemed 70 think thoT guardi-
an OF the reins was still holding them IN hand.
The robbers. whom our readers have doubt
less already recognized az Long and Lis com
rades, Fox and Baker, Lore their booty 20
wagon that was stationed short dist&Gce from
the road, and commenced to open tie Hecey-
er's trunk with great slacnty. But what was
their chagrn. after an effort of some quarter
OF an hour, to find that their wtolo booty
amounted to but three hundred dollars and
profuse stock of clothes. The wary Receiver,
justly alarmed by the demeanor ard magical
disappearance OF the gentleman in the cloak,
had dispatched his government funds 10 advance
of him on the very day after Mr. Meikle's
visit, and had loaded his trunk with stones to
mislead the anticipated freebooters.
Long and Fox cursed bitterly at Their disap-
pointment, but rejecting the proposition OF
Baker to pursue and overhaul the stage. sgain,
loaded up ntbe wagon and took different
direction.
When Fox and Long found themselves -iGe
by side in the vehicle. az Baker Grove, the
former leaned to the ear Of bis gloomy comrade
and whispered the complaint " "Ibisjccmes OF
employing second rates to do first ra,es busi-
ness. Baker has bungled this JOB. The Re-
cever has smelled out our intention aud fooled
us ont of the swag.' We must not he caught
this way again.
The following resolutions were passed by
public meeting held in Kalamazoo last week:
WHEREAS. The township of Kalamazoo ~
owing certain railway bonds and accrued in
terest thereon. which the said township has
not been able TO pay in consequence Of the de
cision of the Supreme Court OF Michigan, IN
the Salem case. declaring the laws under which