Morris tribune., 1880-08-12
A TIMID ROBBER.

A TIMID ROBBER.
In 1851 was mining near the head of
Fall Creek, IN Nevada. had claim
that was paving me over an ounce a day,
and, for once IN my life, was quite con-
tent With my prospects. In July of the
year named took ,ot of about eighty
ounces of gold dust, and went down to
Washington, on the South Yuba. Fall
Greek is tributary of the South Yuba,
into which it empties but few miles
above Washington, at which town gen.
orally procured my provisions and other
supplies.
i arrived a: Washington late in the
evening. and going to the hotel got my
supper, and soon after went TO bed, tell
ing the landlord to wake me up early, as
/ was going to Nevada City in the morn
i ing You see, shortly after my arrival, l
concluded not to sell my dust in Wash
ington, but go on to Nevada, some TWEEN
~ miles further down, and sell to the
dealers in that place; besides, desired
TO paw short visit to some countrymen
of mine, who were mining on Deer Creek
near the town.
The next morning took an early start
1'had my dust strapped around my waist
IN buckskin belt, where 1t was out OF
sight. Though it was very heavy and In
convenient Ipreferred carrying 1t in that
way to having it IN my pocket. l never
once thought of robbers, and in the way
of weapons never even had knife with
me. Had l thought of going to Nevada
on leaving home, would no doubt have
belted on my revolver.
had mahe an early start, and BY
sunrise was up the steep mountain trai
that leads from Washington. and was
passing through the mining town o.
Abba lust as the breakfast bells were
ringing at the boarding houses. Soon
was, in the dense forest of huge sugar
pines and frs, through which wager
road leads, and which extends nearly al
the way to Nevada. -
IL Not a team was on the road, nor {
soul in sight. When alone in the fores
am always overcome and awed by the
solemn stiffness, and IN spite of myself
fell to musing upon the wonders anG
mysteries of the world and the creato
in way that quite carries me out o.
everyday life. 1 became, indeed, IL
such situations, by insensible degrees
quite absent-minded.
was walking slowly along in tn
deep shade OF the great forest, with m!
eyes bert 1pon the ground, and thought
far away in some of the old forests ha'
seen in Germany while serving as sol
der, when there came a sharp, quicl
cry g.
"Haltr'
Instinctively HALTED, hardly realizing
that l was not still a soldier, obeyinl
the command of superior officer. BIZ
it was only for an instant for a maske'
man, armed with a double barrele
shotgun, stepped from behind a larg
sugar pine, and about ten feet froI
where I halted.
z N f1@Hold up your hands!' cried tn
masked man, and the shotgun was leve
ed at my head.
/ held up my hands.
The fellow seemed then not to kno7
what to do next. He stood for some me-
ments without speaking, and as if cor
sidering how to proceed.
''Take OFF your belt"
Chow can take off my belt if I am I
hold up my hands?"
The man seemed nonplussed, and hes
tated again.
You have no pistolss' he said.
'sThat is my business
Again he hesitated and surveyed mi
Seeing no pistol outside my clothing, b
seemed assured, and said:
You can put down your hand and tax
off the belt you have about your waist
that dust is what / want. Be quiC
about It, tooP' and again he leveled Il
gun.
= / took my own time, nevertheless, an
as long time as possible, closely watcl
ing the robber, who several times for q
instant glanced nervOusly up and. dow
the road II also observed that his hand
trembled. Apparently he was gre
deal more frightened than I was. Ha
Q ing passed Through many battles an
dangers of all kinds, / did not feel at a
alarmed at my situation. In a momel
z A nnaastood the whole business. I kne
that the man only wanted to get all m
dust, and did not want to kill me; If /
had not feared to commit murder b
would nave shot me without speaking
would have taken no chances with me.
III While elewly taking off my pouch
- gold dust my mind was not inactive.
saw that the robber was trembling fe
low, not atal fit for the buslners. A ms
that / could have cowed and commando
in almost any situation, had we be-
placed on an equal footing.
When the belt was off the .highwaym;
sAid:Dil / DIS $3El-iS /
sLay it down and be off,
Il LAID 1t down and turned as though
Eg0 &Way, but as the fellow picked up Il
dust I turned about and said:
"Do you know who am-who you q
playing this trick upon2''
mo, nor dol want to know. Go ava
said kheAman.A q ~ - Y ~
Ibid you ever hear of big George,
SiskiWens the stage rObber9'' said mo
ing toward HIM.
.ansHe made.no reply, but stood tremblil
and evidently quite -bewildered. ---
"Poors soul, how nervous you arei" cri
AWhI am quite ashamed Of you
aman in your business. There's no,
bit OF style about you."
q OEwaB nowgqultel close wponThimy a1
9 siddenfy and sternlysald: = = ~ : =
MHand me that gun, you trembling a
and I'll show you how to do things in
way that win make You credit to I
profession" - 15ats 1i~s \
The demand came so unexpected
that had the gun in my hands bett
g <tIsesman knew what he was about.
05A Drop the belt, )" cried !, leveling I
gun atlhzs head. q z III
He let it fall to the ground.
asst JseTake Of that mask ~
he hesitated moment, and then to