The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-02-25
Select Story.
THE HUNT ON THE HIGHWAY.

where. The farm houses were robbed
shops were robbed the tills at the bars
of the wayside inns were robbed, and
The people had their pockets picked. All
this happened in the region between
Sidney and Lowstone-nota a field of vast
extent-and yet the robber or robbers
could not be found. Officers had search
ed in every direction, and several sus-
picious looking individuals had been APP
pretended; but the real culprit remained
at large One day the mail was robbed,
and on the next a man had his pocket
picked of five hundred pounds,while rid
ing in the stage coach-for my narrative
dates back to the old coaching days.
The money had been carried in his breast
pocket, and he knew it was stolen from
him while he was enjoyinga doze on the
road.
l had been confined to my house by a
severe cold for several days. and was not
fit to 90 out now; but as this matter was
becoming serious, felt it my duty to be
on the move, and accordingly | fortified
my throat and breast with warm flannel,
and set forth. | had no settled plan in
my mind, for had not yet been upon
the road, and was not thoroughly posted
up. A ride of FIVE miles brought us to
Sidney, and thence | meant to take a
coach to Lowstone, where Sam Stickney,
one of the most shrewdest of men lived.
Stickney had already been on the search,
and wanted to consult him, before max
ing any decided movements. / reached
Sidney at half past five in the morning
and the coach left at six. Lowstone
was sixty miles distant, so had a good
ride before me. During the early part
of the day | rode upon the box with 4
driver, and from him gained consider
able information touching on the various
robberies that had been committed. lie
was forced to admit that several people
had been robbed in his stage, though
he declared he couldn't see intoit, for he
had not the remotest idea even of whom
it could be.
We reached Bouniville at noon, where
we stopped to dine, and when we left
his place l was the only passenger. AT
the distance of twelve miles at little
village called Cawthorne, we stopped to
change horses, and here another passen-
ger got up. had been occupying the
forward seat, as that happened to be wi
der than the others, and gave me a bet
ter opportunity for lying down and
| when the newcomer entered, he took the
back seat. He was young man, |
Judge. and not very tall in stature, but
so completely was he bundled up in
shawls and muhl"rs, that his size of frame
was not easily determined. He was very
pale and coughed badly and l at once
made up my mind that he was far less fit
to travel than was. After we had got
fairly on our way, remarked to him
that | had been suffering from severe
cold and that this was the first time that
| had ventured out for quite large
number of days He looked at me out
of pair of dark bright eyes ; and
when he seemed to have determined
what manner of man | was, he said
Il have something worse than cold,
sir He broke into a fit of coughing,
which lasted minute or so, and then
added "It won't be a great while be-
fore shall take my last ride
Again he was seized with spasm OF
coughing, and when he recovered from
it he continued, 'the disease is eating
me up and shaking me to pieces at the
same time. He further informed me
that he had started on a tour for his
health, and that he had given it up, anG
was now on his way home, which place
he was anxious to reach as soon as pos
sible. Another paroxysm seized him a
this point, and intimated that he was un
able to converse, as the effort brought OF
the cough. | had noticed this, and haC
made up my mind to trouble him M
more, even before he had given me th'
hint.
After this he drew his outer shaw
about his neck and face; he closed hi
eyes and | was not long following hi
example. Toward the middle of tn,
forenoon the coach stopped at a small
village, where we changed horses again
and where four passengers got in. Thi
broke up the arrangement of my frieno
and self for rest, as he had to take ont
of the strangers on his seat The new
comers soon broached the subjec of tn
robbeiies, which had been committed il
that region, and listened to gain infor
nation, if possible; but they knew n
more than any one else knew. They ha,
, heard all about it and were inflated witt
5 wonder.
e One, an old farmer, asked me if
knew anything of the robbery. / tol,
him that knew but little of the affai
anyway, having been sick and unabl
to be out among folks. Then he aske,
my consumpted friend if he knew any
e thing about it. The latter raised hi
y head from its nclining position, and wa
on the point of answering, when W
heard our driver, in quick, abrupt tone,
ordering some one to get out of the roaC
- | instinctively put my head out of tn
y window to see what the trouble wa
/ and my eyes was just quick enough I
= detect load of fagots, in time to dodg
n back and escape them. The road wa
quite narrow at this point, and as III
fagots were loaded very widely, il va