Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1880-09-23

| the OH lOOC. gave suCH utIcCtlOHo
as l considered necessary, and was
about to turn away when the host
Ter remarked that fe thought I
came alore. I told him | did,,
"Then where did you get that
passenger p said he.
"He yust got in," I answered.
ssGot in from where %
81 don't know"
SWELL, now,' eaid the hostfer,
"that's kind of curious. There amt
been no such man at the house,
and l know there amt been none
at any of the neighbors." i"
"Let's have a look at his face,''
said l, "we can get that much at
any rate. Do you go back with
me, and when / get into the ping
Just hold your lantern SO the light
will shine into his face"
He did as T wished, and rs I
stepped into the pnng I got fair
view of such portions of my pas
senger's face as were not mntfted
up. l saw a short; thick frame,
full, hard features and / couid
almost see that there was a heavy
beard unGcr the chin. / thought
of the man whom the postmaster
had ,:escribcd 70 me ; but | diI not
think seriously upon it until Ia6
started. Perhaps l had gone half
a mile when l noticed that the mail
bag wasn't in its place under my
I feet.
"Halloo !" says I, holding mp my
horses little, "where's my mail q
My passenger sat on scat be
hind me, and | turned towards him.
"Here is bag of some kind that
slipped back under my feet" he
said giving it kick as though ne
would shove it forward.
just at this moment my horses
numbered into deep snow-drift,
and | WAS forced to get out and
tread down the snow in front OF
them, and lead them through it.
This took me all OF fifteen
minutes and when got in again
| pulled the mail bag forward an6
got my feet upon it. AS | was
doing this | saw the man taking
something from his lap, beneath
the buffalo, and put it into his
breast pocket. This l though was
pistol. l had caught glem cf a
barrel in the starlight, ahd when |
had time to reflect [ knew | could
not be mistaken.
About this time | began to think
somewhat seriously. From what
/ had heard and seen, / soon made
up my mind that the individual
behind me not only wanted to rob
me of my mail, Int was prepared
to rob me Of my lite. II resisted
him he would shoot me, and per
haps he meant to perform that de-
lectatle operation at any rate
While l was pondering the horses
plunged into another deep snow
drift, and [ was again forced 10 get
out and tread down the snow be-
fore them. asked my passenger
if he wouldn't help me, but he
didn't feel very we'll, and wouldn't
try; SO worked al! alone, and was
all of a quarter of AN honr getting
my team through the drifts.
When [ got into the sleigh again,
heSan to feel for the mail bag with
my feet. l found it where | had
left it; but when l attempted 20
withdraw my foot | discovered il
had become fast in soulethiHg--I
thought it was the buffalo, ard
tried to kick it clear; but the more
closely it held. | reached down
my hand, and after feeling about II
few moments, | tonnd that my foo,
was in the mail bag. I felt again.
and fonnd my hand in among the
packages of letters and uapers. ]
ran my fingers owe: the edges OF
the opening, and became assured
that the stcnt leather had been cut
with knife
Here was discovery. I began
to wish l had taken a little more
forethongbt before leaving Dan
bury but knew making suct
wishes was only waste OF time,
quickly gave it up. and began t.
consider what l had better do un-
der existing circumstances. l WASH
long III making up my mind upor
a few essential points. First, tn.
man behind me was villain
second, he had cut open the mai
bag and robbed it of some valuable
matter-he mnst have known the
money letters by their size ant
shape third, he meant to leave tho
stage on the first opportunity /; an,
fourthly, he was prepared to shoe
me it | attempted to arrest or detail,
him.
/ resolved these things in IN,
mind, and pretty soon thought of {
course TO nnrsue. Erew that r.