Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-01-01

When Maude got into Easton she
/ rode directly to. the bank, but was
/ unfortunate enough to find that it
twas already closed. After a few
monent's thought she resolved to try
sandI get the bill changed at the gro.
GERS or at some of the other stores,
land went Immediately to do SO. Fate
seemed against her, for no one had
small change enough to accommodate
Miss Henderson.
/ At one of the stores where she
stopped, a very gentlemanly-looking
person took out his pocket-book and
sad he thought he could change it
/ fot her, and she handed him the bill
bat he returned it saying, after all,
he had not so much small money.
/ He seemed to regret this, however,
sAsd even followed AMaude to the door
and assisted her to remount to her
lhorse.
She was forced to give up her er-
rand, as she did not like to run
among strangers, asking them to
change her a bill, especially as no
one seemed able to do so. She there
fore turned her horses head once
more towards home. Scarcely had
she passed the outskirts of the town
when she was overtaken by the stran-
ger who had spoken to her in the last
store, and who at first thought he
could change her bill. He was
mounted on fine looking bay horse,
and saluted her respectfully as he
came alongside.
"Did you get your bill changed?"
he asked.
"No; small bills seemed scarce"
she replied.
''Do you live near here?'
"About five miles off,"
"Quite ride
"Oh, we don't mind five miles in
the country
"You are an excellent rider
Il have ridden since | was six
years DID," she said "but my sister
Ellen is a mnch better rider than /
am
"You are generous to admit it,
said the stranger.
"Why, it is only the TRUTH" she
answered frankly.
After they had passed over two
miles, they came to a lonely place of
the road, quite removed from any
dwelling houses. Still as the stran-
ger appeared so polite, she had not
the least suspicion of any evil inten-
ton on his part.
Presently he said, suddenly, 81
will thank you for that BILL
| "What?" she said half smiling.
"Please TO give me that bill"
"What do you mean?' asked
Maude.
''Just what l say! !'' he replied sud-
denly.
81 snail do no such thing!" she
answered firmly.
81 am sorry to draw a pistol on a
lady," he continued, suiting the ac-
ton to the word, II must have that
hundred-dollar bill at once"
''Do you mean to rob me?"
II must have the money!"
1t was with difficulty that she
could believe that the man was in
earnest, but when he now cooked his
pistol and held it towards her with
one hand, while he extended the 9th
er for the bill, she was forced to
yield to the necessity of the situation.
She was a brave-hearted girl, and
even now did not turn pale nor trem-
BILE in the least, but saw that she
could not help herself and so made
the best of it.
Just as she held the bill to him, 8
sudden puff of wind blew it into the
road and carried it gently several
yards from them. The stranger alight-
ed to get it, quick as thought Maude
struck her horse smart blow in or
der to get out of the robbers power
The sorrel mare was spirited little
creature, and sprung in a smart gal
lop at once, while the strangers
horse, which had been left standing
beside her, also started off at full
speed in her company
Bang! went the robbers pisto
after them, having only the effect tt
increase the speed of the flying hor
ses, both of whom were now on tn,
dead run. Maude did not care how
fast she rode, the sorrel mare was a.
| easy as cradle at that speed, anC
in ten minutes she dashed into he
fathers yard followed by the rider
7 less horse.
Her story was soon told, and he
| father was with difficulty prevente'
from starting after the robber wit
his pistols and rifle, but he knew tha
the scoundrel would naturally take {,
e the woods, where he could not folloy
or find him.
4 ''Well, we've got his horse, at an
$ rate, said the farmer; ''and he
J, worth more than S100.
r ''Halloo said the man John VIII
had been taking the saddle-bags fror
g the strange horse.
l "What is it, John?''
e s.These bags are full of some
i thing"