The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-12-01
"Bob, for reply, mounted bis horse

"Bobf for reply. mounted his horse
and sac behind the mailbag.
"Your life is in danger" warned
the robber. 81 intend to have those
lettersand life isn't worth much to
me. I'm in earnest; no fooling !"
and in took deliberate aim at Bob
Lovies breast.
Boz was unarmed, and he loved life
dearly, but he was no coward. 1t was
usele$ TO try to overcome the robber.
He haH only his fists-rather useless
weapons under the circumstances
but hea sshowed fight" and as the
robEPr's anger kindled, he fred. The
aim was good. The little oall of lead
lodged IN Bob's coat, just where his
heaH should have been, and Bob
staagered.
ZIP was shocked rather than hurt,
and ils '.atmoment of excitement he
| reneHJerel naving heard thatit was
often so in mortal injuries. Probably
lie had received his death wound and
the robber would walk off with the
mailabag, where Bob we'll knew re-
posed money which energetic Dick
NDorr had sent to take his poor moth
er from the aims house; and other
trusts were in that leather bag-the
humble hopes and dreams of those
who wrote the letters tWined around
them.
The doctor and his infidel tract had
done Bob Lovic little good but he
was honest and kindly yet.
"I'll fight while 1 have a drop of
blood LETT" he said to himself. land
help may come and the mail bag be
saved, even if die"
He leaped from his horse and
sprang upon the highwayman with
such yigor that the man tumbled
from his saddle. Then Bob strug-
gled for the pistol, and. gaining it,
knocked the ruffian senseIess with
the but end, and sat down on his bo-
som to keep guard, expecting to die
every moment, but praying that help
might come before the robber recoy-
cred consciousness.
About that time, a party of young
men, who were out on a coon hunt,
came up with haring torches and
score of dogs at their heels. They all
knew Bob we'll, and the most Jealous
were for dispatching the robber; but
the voice of the majority was for
binding and carrying him to the city
to meet his reward at the hands of
justite, and with this party, Bob
agreed.
He felt weak and his breast ached,
and he expected every moment to
feel the faintness of death stealing
over him, for there was the round
holejust over his heart. and the bull
let must be somewhere. A few uu-
pleasant misgivings. which proved
that his opinions of the future We're
not so fixed as they might have been,
troubled him, and he sighed little
as the newcomers questioned him.
"The bullet went in here" he said,
touching the hole, ST don't feel any
pain, and must be bleeding inward
ly. if at all. think"
He unbuttoned his coat cautiously.
and out dropped Annie Wesley's BIZ
BILE, with the bullet deeply imbedded
In its cover.
The tears came to BoRs eyes, and
the others stared, for ne had been in
the habit of boasting of his infdel
opinions and it was odd enough that
he should wear Bible next to his
heart. But every one was too glad
to find him unhurt to care for much
else, and SO they gave three cheers,
and started towards the city with
their prisoner.
Bob followed, leading his horse, ,and
keeping his eye on the mailbag, and
on the way he thought what he
thought may be divined from the
fact that six months after Annie Wes-
ley found her lover by her side at
church, and heard from his own lips
that he had not half so high an opin-
ion of his own smartness and that of
his doctor friend as formerly, and he
believed she was right after all.
And so they were married /; and
for many years have been living very
contentedly in their little cottage on
the outskirts of Madison,
n0n't CniII tho Mill