The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-12-23

forward.
Just at this moment my horses lum-
bered into deep snow drift, and | was
forced to get out and tread down the
snow in front of them, and lead them
through IL.
This took me all of fifteen minutes;
aud when got in again / pulled the
mailbag forward and got my feet upon
it. AS l was doing this, | saw the man
taking something from his lap, beneath
the buffalo, and put it into his breast
pocket. This l thought was a pistol
| had caught CLEAN of barrel In the
starlight, and when had time to reflect,
l knew ! could not be mistaken.
About this time 1 began to think
somewhat seriously. From what had
heard and seen, soon made up my
mind that the individual behind me not
only meant to rob me of my mail, but
he was prepared to rob me of my life.
If resisted him he would shoot me,
and perhaps he meant to perform that
delectable operation atany rate. While
L was pondering, the horses plunged
into another deep snow drift, and l was
again forced to get out and tread down
the snow before them. l asked my
passenger if he would help me, but he
didn't feel very well, and wouldn't try
SO | worked all alone, and was all of
quarter of an hour getting my team
through the drifts.
When got into the sleigh again, 1
began to feel for the mail. bag with my
feet. found it where had left it; but
when attempted to withdraw my foot,
l discovered it had become fast in some
thing-I thought it was the buffalo, and
tried to kick it clear; but the more |
kicked, the more closely was it held.
L reached down my hand, and after
feeling about few moments, 1 found
that my foot was in the il-bag l felt
again, and found my hand in among
the packages of letters and papers
ran my fingers over the edges of the
opening, and became assured that the
stout leather had been cut with a
knife
Here was discovery. began to wish
1 had taken a little more forethought
before leaving Danbury; but as knew
making such wishes was only waste
of time, quickly gave it up, and began
to consider what had best to do under
existing circumstances. / wasn't long
in making my mind upon few essen
tial points First, the man behind me
was villain; second, he had cut open
the mailbag and robbed it of some valu-
able matter-he must have known the
money letters by their size and shape
third, he meant to leave the stage on
first opportunity; and fourthly, he was
prepared to shoot me if / attempted
to arrest or detain him.
Irevolved these things over in my
mind, and pretty soon thought of a
course to pursue. 1 knew that to get
my hands safely upon the rascal nsust
take him wholly unawares, and this /
could not do while he was behind me,
for his eyes were upon me all the time
so must resort to stratagem. Only a
| little distance ahead was house, and
an old farmer named Lougee lived there;
and directly before it huge snow-bank
stretched across the road, through which
| track had been cleared with shovels.
AS we approached the cot, saw a
| light in the front room, as felt conf
dent should, for the old man generally
sat up until the stage went by. drove
on, and when nearly opposite the dwell.
ling, stood up, as had frequently done
when approaching difficult places. i
saw the snow-bank ahead, and could
distinguish the deep cut which had been
shoveled through it. urged my horses
to good speed, and when near the
bank forced them into it. One of the
runners mounted the edge of the bank,
after which the other ran into the cut
thus throwing the sleigh over about as
| quick as though lightning had struck it,
My passenger had not calculated on any
such movement, and wasn't prepared
for it; but / had calculated, and was
| prepared. He rolled out into the deer
snow with heavy buffalo robe about
him, while 1 alighted directly on top of
him. punched his head into the snow
and sung out for old Lougee. did moi
have to call second time, for the farm.
er had come to the window to see me
pass, and as soon as he saw my sleigh
overturned, he had lighted his lantern
and hurried out.
whats to pay ?'' asked the old man