The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-08-12
A TIMID ROBBER.

A TIMID ROBBER.
In 1861 was mining near the head Of
Fall Greek, IN Nevada. / had claim
that was paying me over an ounce day,
and, for once IN my life, was quite con-
tent with my prospects. In July of the
year named I took .ot of about eighty
ounces Of gold dust, and went down to
Washington, on the South Yuba. Fail
Creek is tributary Of the South Yuba,
into which it empties but q few miles
above Washington, ct which town I gem
orally procured my provisions and other
supplies.
/ arrived at 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, az
1 was going to Nevada City in the NOM
ing. You see, shortly after my arrival, I
concluded not to sell my dust in Wash
\ ington. but go on to Nevada, some TWEEN
ty miles further down, and sell to the
dealers in that place; besides, desired
to pay short visit to some countrymen
Of mine, who were mining on Deer Creek,
near the town.
The next morning took an early start.
! had my dust strapped around my waist
in q buckskin belt, where it was out OF
sight. Though it was very heavy and In
convenient preferred carrying It in that
way to having it IN my pocket. I never
once thought of robbers, and in the way
OF weapons never even had knife with
me. Had / thought of going to Nevada
on leaving home, I would no doubt have
belted on my revolver.
had mahe an early start, and by
sunrise was up tie steep mountain trail
that leads from Washington. and was
passing through the mining town Of
Alpha Just as the breakfast bells were
ringing at the boarding houses. Soon I
was in the dense forest Of huge sugar
pines and frs, through which wagon
road leads, and which extends nearly all
the way to Nevada.
Not team was On the road, nor a
soul in sight. When alone in the forest
I am always overcome and awed by the
solemn stiffness, and IN spite of myself,
fell to musing upon the wonders and
mysteries Of the world and the creator
in way that quite carries me out Of
everyday life. became, indeed, IN
such situations, by insensible degrees,
quite absent-minded.
I was walking slowly along in the
deep shade OF the great forest, with my
eyes bert upon the ground, and thoughts
far away in some of the old forests I had
seen in Germany while serving as SOL
der, when there came q sharp, quick
cry;
lnstinctively Ihalted, hardly realizing
that Twas not still soldier, obeying
the command Of a superior officer. But
it was only for an instant for masked
man, armed with g double-barreled
shotgun, stepped from behind large
sugar-plne, and about ten feet from
where halted.
"Hold up your hsnds' cried the
masked man, and the shotgun was level
ed at my head.
I held up my hands.
The fellow seemed then not to know
what to do next. He stood for some mo-
ments without speaking, and as if coz.
sidering how to proceed.
"Take of your belt.''
"How can Itake of my belt if am te
hold up my nandss"
The man seemed nonplussed, and hest
tated again.
You have no pistolss'' he said. .
That is my business {,
! Again he hesitated and surveyed me.
Seeing no pistol outside my clothing, he
seemed assured, and said:
ssYou can put down your hand and take
off the belt you have about your waist
that dust is what I want. Be Quick
about it, too!'' and again he leveled the
gun.
took my own time, nevertheless, ane
as long time as possible, closely watch
ing the robber, who several times for ar
instant glanced neryously up and dowr
the road. I also observed that his hand!
trembled. Apparently he was great
deal more frightened than I was. Hav
ing passed through many battles anc
dangers of all kinds, did not feel at al
alarned at my situation. In momen,
I understood the whole business. knew
that the man only wanted to get all nv
dust, and did not want to kill me: If he
had not feared to commit murder he
would have shot me without speaking
would have taken no chances with me.
While slowly taking of my pouch O
gold dust my mind was not inactive.
saw that the robber was g trembling Eel
low, not atal fit for the buslners. A MAJ
that could have cowed and commanded
IN almost any situation, had we beel
placed on an equal footing.
When the belt was OF the highwayma,
said: