The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-01-26

ing 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; I'll die
first p I yelled, rising little.
''Ah. I see-you didn't take quite
enough" he coolly remarked. "Well,
1 have provided for this"
He went to the buggy, procured ropes
and gag and knelt down beside me.
had but little strength yet, and he con-
uuered me in moment. Laying me on
my right side, looking toward the fence,
he tied my hands, and then forced the
gag into my mouth.
'"There, now, you see you are nicely
fixed up, and all because you acted like
a fool, instead of sensible young lawyer
soon to be admitted to the bar"
While he was speaking-indeed while
he was tying me = 1 had caught the sight
of the white face of little girl looking
at us between the rails of the fence. 1
could see her great blue eyes. There
were red stains around her mouth and
Cd the little hand resting on the rails,
and knew that she was some farmers
daughter searching for strawberries. l
could not warn her of her danger, and
feared she would be seen or heard.
While Raleigh was tying the last knot, L
winked at the girl as hard as l could,
hoping she would see me and move
away. But she did not go.
"Well, now for the money" said
Raleigh, and he began searching my
pockets. He went from one to the other
removing all the articles. and finally
passed his hard over my bosom and dis
covered the money.
"Ha there it is!'' he exclaimed draw
ing out the the packages, and he was
cool enough TO go at it and count out
the money. AS he commenced the girl
waved her hand to me. My heart went
humping, for I expected she would
utter word or shout; but she sank
down from sight, and caught glance
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 bust
ness as it should be transacted. Some
men would have shot or stabbed you,
but its only the apprentices who do such
work. All the gentlemen of our calling
do business as gentlemen should"
He drew off the other boot and placed
some fifties and twenties in it and then
continued
81 have it all planned how to deal with
you as soon as get this money disposed
of around my person. I shall lay you on
your back and pour the balance of this
wine down your throat. There's enough
of it to make you sleep till tomorrow
night and by that time shall be hun
dred miles away. As soon as l see that
the drug has taken 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 be most likely to meet
with some traveller. l want to use the
horse and buggy, otherwise would leave
them for you"
How coolly he talkedl He treated the
matter as if it was regular business
transaction in which fully acquiesced.
He had me n fast. prisoner, and felt
that he could do just as he pleased.
While l was thinking l saw the little
white face appear between the rails
again, but in a moment it fadded away
and its place was taken by the sun-burn-
ed phiz of farmer. He looked from me
to Raleigh and back again, and l winked
to him in q way which he readily under
stood. His face disappeared, and 1 felt
that should be saved.
mo, old Script won't get his tin to-
day." unused Raleigh, storing away the
bills in his pockets. "You will go back
to Law & Law, feeling put out and cut
up. But they shouldn't blame you-it
is not your way at all. True, had you
minded your business on the cars and
had 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"
Now. in Just about q minute we'll be
through with this business, he remarked,
trying to put the mouth OF the flask be-
tween my jaws.
rolled my head to one side and he
did not succeed, He was jamming the
flask against my teeth, when caught
sound Of . soft step. the crash Of a 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 I was free of ropes and gag, and we
had him nicely bound.
Over beyond the pasture farmer and
his hands were raking mp hay. Little
blue eyes," only 8 years old, had wan
dered off after straw berries, and had
fortunately witnessed part Of Raleigh's
proceeding. She had hurried back to