Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1880-12-15

His face looked natural again, and the load
was off my tongue. l also felt that could
move my fingers little.
"George Raleigh! are you going to rob
ms?" l asked, finding my voice ct last.
Well, some folks might call it robbing,
but we dress up the term little by cal.
ling it the only correct financial way of
equalizing the floating currency, SO that
each one is provided for, and no one left
out"
You shan't have the money; will die
first p yelled, raising little.
"Ah, l see-didn't take quite enough"
he coolly remarked. DWELL, l have bro.
vided fer this"
He went to the buggy procured ropes
and gag, and kneeled down beside me.
l had but little strength yet, and he con.
quered nae in moment. Lying me down
on my right side looking toward the fence,
he tied my hands beyond me, and then
forced the gag into my mouth.
"Thore now! You see you are nicely
fixed up, and all because you acted like
fool, instead of sensible young lawyer
soon to be admitted to the bar"
While he was spsaking-indeed while
he was tying me, l saw little girl
looking at US from between the rails of the
fence. could see her great blue ewes.
and knew that she was frightened. There
were red stains around her mouth and on
the little hand resting on the rail, and
knew that she was some farmers darling
searching for Strawberries. l could not
warn her of her danger, and feared that
she would be seen or heard. While Raj.
eigh was&sing the last knot l winked at
the little girl as hard AS | could, hoping
that she would move away, but she did not
go.
Well, now for the money" said Raj
elgh, and he began searching nv pockets
lie went from one to another, removing all
the articles, felt down my bootleg, and then
finally pressed his hand over nv bosom
and found the money.
Ha here it isr' he exclaimed draw.
ing out the package 81 don't believe
that old Grip will see any of this to-day"
he sat down near my head, undid the
packages, and was cool enough to 90 at it
to count the money. AS he commenced
the little girl waved her hand at me. Nv
heart went humping, for expected that
she would utter word or shout, but she
sank down from sight and caught CLEAN
OF her frock as she passed through the
grass.
You see, my young FRIEND" remarked
Raleigh, as he drew off one of his boots
and deposited some of the bills in it.
there's nothing like transacting business
as 1T should be transacted. Some men
would have shot or stabbed you, but it is
only apprentices who do such work. All
the real gentlemen of our calling do bust.
ness as gentlemen should"
He drew off the other boot and placed
some "fifties" and "twenties'' in it. and
then continued =
/ have 1T all planned out how to deal
with you as soon as get this money dis.
posed of around my person. l shall Law
you on your back and pour the balance of
the wine down your throat. There's
enough of it to make you sleep until to.
morrow night, and by that time shall be
hundreds of miles away. As soon as I see
the drug take effect l shall unite your
hands and remove the gag. When YOU
come out of your sleep-if you ever do
you had better crawl out to the, road,
where you will most likely meet some
traveller soon. want to use the horse and
buggy, otherwise would leav them for
you"
How eooily he talked. He treated the
matter as if it were regular transaction
in which 1 fully acquiesced. He had me n
fast prisoner, and felt that he could do
just as he pleased. While was thinking I
saw the little white face appear between
the rails again, but in a moment it faded
away and its place was taken by the sun
burned phiz of farmer. He looked from
me to Raleigh and back again, and l
wlnked at him in way which he readily
understood. His face disappeared, and l
felt l should be saved.
No, old Grip won't get his tin today"
unused Raleigh, storing away the bills in
his pockets. You will 60 back to Law &
Law feeling put up and cut up, but they
couldn't blame you: it is not your fault at
all. True, had you minded your business
on the car and not been SO free with
stranger, this would not have happened.
was on my way to Milwaukee, and had no
thought of such rich pickings here.
saw nothing of the farmer. Raleigh
finished his counting and l made up my
mind that the farmer was afraid to inter.
fere and had run away. My heart went
down as Raleigh got up, for 1 saw that he
was about to carry out his plan for further
drugging me. He turned mo on my back,
sat down astride of me, and then pulled
out the flask.
"Now, in just about q minute we'll be
through with the business" he remarked,
trying to put the mouth of flask between
my jaws.
rolled my head to one side, and he did
not succeed. He was jamming the flask
against my teeth, when l caught the sound
! of a soft step, the crash of club, and
Raleigh rolled off my body. He tried to
leap up, but three or four farmers struck
him down, and one Of the blows rendered
him senseless. Before he came to, was
free of ropes and gags, and we had him