The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-05-11

sOh, excuse me J" he exclaimed, after we
we had passed a mile beyond the village, and
were among the farm-houses. Il should
have offered you this before
He drew from his pocket q small flask of
wine and handed it to me. Now, | was tenn
perate in regard to drinks. In fact, [ detested
the sight and smell of anything intoxicating.
But had not the moral courage to tell him
SO and hand back the flask undisturbed. I
feared to offend him, and SO | drank, per-
haps, three good swallows. He called my
attention to the woods on the left as he re-
ceived back the flask, and when I looked
around again he was just removing it from
his mouth, as If he had just drank heartily.
In about five minutes | began to feel queer.
The fences along the road seemed to grow
anger; something came to my ears SO that
he rattle Of the buggy sounded a long way
off.
elbow strange! Why, I believe I am going
to be SICK" I exclaimed, holding on to the
seat with all my might.
"You do look strange" be replied, a snaky
smile stealing over his face; II shouldn't
wonder if it was apoplexy."
did not suspect the game he had played,
his words were like an echo, and his face
seemed twice as large as it was. Ny head
began to spin, and my brain began to snap
and crack, and I was greatly frightened.
"You are badly off, (" be. continued, looking
into my face. II will drive as fast as pos
sible and get 8 doctor"
My tongue was so heavy that | could not
reply. I clutched the seat, shut my eyes, and
he put the horse at his best pace. We met a
farmers team, and I can remember that one
of the occupants Of the wagon called out to
know what allied that man. Raleigh did not
reply, but urged his horse forward.
About three miles from Grafton was a long
stretch Of forest, and this was soon reached.
The pain in my head was not so violent, and
[ was not so badly affected when opening my
eyes. Ihad settled into q sort Of dumb stu
| por, with a brain so benumbed that | had to
say to myself: "This is a tree, that is q
| stump ETC., before I could make sure that I
| was not wrong. Half q mile down the road
| we struck the forest, and then Raleigh turned
the horse into a blind road leading back into
the woods. I could not understand what he
intended. I tried to grapple with the question
but could not solve it.
sWell, here we are!" exclaimed Raleigh.
when he had reached a point forty rods from
the main road.
He stopped the horse, got out and hitched
him, and then came round to the wheel.
"You don't feel just right, but / guess you
will be better soon" he remarked. "Come,
let me help you down."
He reached up his arms, and I let go The
seat and fell into them. 1t seemed to me as
though I weighed a ton, but he carried me
along without an effort, and laid me down
within a rod Of the fence which ran along on
one side of an old pasture. Just now I be-
gan to get better. The effects Of the drug
were wearing off, and ] got q faint suspicion
that something unusual had happened. But
I was powerless to move a limb; the sensa-
ton was like that when your foot goes to
sleep.
Cant you speak?' inquired Raleigh,
bending over me; t'because if you can, il
will save me some trouble. Iwant to know
Just where you have slowed that money? ?"
Now I began to realize my situation. His
face looked natural again, and the load was
off my tongue. I aso felt that / could move
my fingers a little.
George Raleigh! are you going to rot
me ~ I asked, finding my voice at last.
"Well, some folks might call it robbine
but we dress up the term a little by calling il
the only correct financial way Of equalizine
the floating currency, so that each one is pro.
vided for, and no one left out"
"You shan't have the money, ! will dig
first I yelled, rising a little.
"Ah, Isee-didn't take quite enough" be
coolly remarked. "Well, I have provided
for this
He went to the buggy, procured ropes ano
a gag, and kneeled down besides me. had
but little strength left, and he conquered mt
in a moment. Lying on my right side, look
ing toward the fence, he tied my hands be
hind me, and then forced the gag into my
mouth.
HThere now, you see you are nicely hxet