The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-05-01

pistol, stuck it ostentatiously in the
outside breast pocket OF his great coat;
and with stately step, marched off 18th
the heavy money bag in his hand. l
put the whip to the horse, and trotted
merrily forward, thinking nothing what
even of robbery or danger, in spite of
momentary conversation of Tom Rud-
die. Our first customer resided at the
outskirts Of the village-a farmer who
required q considerable amount of gold.
I pulled up at the narrow dark entrance
up the lane with my golden treasure. I
delivered it into the hands of its owner,
and m~anfullv resisting all his hospitable
invitations, I took my leave and walked
rapidly toward the gig.
AS l drew nea l perceived in the
clear starlight a man mounted on the
step and cropping under the seat. l
ran forward, and the man, alarmed ut
my approach, rapidly raised himself
from his STOPPING position, and, pre-
senting a pistol, fred it so close to my
eyes that the flash blinded me for q mo-
ment; the action was SO sudden and
the surprise so great, that for q short
time, too, / was bewilderd, and scarcely
knew whether l was alive or dead.
The old horse never started at the re-
port, and / rested my hand on the rim
Of the wheel, while I endeavored to
gather my scattered thoughts. The
first thing [ ascertained was that the
man had DISAPPEARED. 1 then hurriedly
examined under the seat, and, to my in
tense relief, perceived the remaining
money bag still in its place.
There was a slit in it, however, near
the top, as if made by o knife-the rob-
Der probably resolving merely to pos
ses himself of the coin, without the
dangerous accompaniment Of the leath-
ern sack, by which he might have been
traced.
"Tell We what" said a voice close be-
side me, as I concluded my scrutiny, II
don't like practical jokes like that-fr-
ing off pistols to frighten folks. You'll
alarm the whole village"
"Tom," l said, "Now's the time to
show your courage. A man has robbed
the gig-or tried to do it-and has fired
at mo within a yard Of my face"
Tom grew perceptibly pale at this in
formation. WAS there only one?
Then the accomplices are near. What's
to be done? Shall we arouse Farmer
Mains and get his men to help?"
"Not for the world" said. would
rather face a dozen shots than have my
carelessness known at the bank. 1t
would ruin me for life. Let us count
the money in this bag, quickly deliver
it if it be right, and then follow the
robbers course" 1t was only a hun
dred-guinea bag, that one, but the
counting was nervous work. Wefound
three guineas wanting. We We're
luckily able to supply them
from u own pockets, having just
received our quarters salaries, and ]
left Tom there, delivered the bag to its
destination very nea ut hand, without a
word of the robbery, and went back tc
him. "Now which way did he go?'
said Tom, resuming a little of his for
mer air, clutching his pistol like the
chief of a chorus of banditti in a melo
drama. I told him 1 had been so con
fused that 1 had not observed which
way he had retreated.
Tom was an old hand at poachlng-
though he was a clergyman's son, ant
ought to have set q better example.
81 have heard q hare stir u hundred
yards" he said, and laid his ear close
to the frosty ground.
Ii he's within a quarter of a mile
shall hear him move" | also lay dow
on the ground. We heard nothing
but our breathing and the breathing
of the horse. Hush" said Tom o
last. "He has come out Of his hiding
l hear a mans step far away to the left
bring your pistol and let us follow"
I took the pistol and found the film
down on the pan. The man had fire,
at me with my own weapon, and n,
wonder lie had fred so suddenly, TO
Tom nov acknowledged to his belle
that he had forgotten to uncock it
Never mind" said Tom; 9TH blow hi
brains out with mine and you can spill
his skull with the butte end of yours
Tell We what! It's of no use to prepar
those malefactors. I'll fire the momen
I see him."
"Not until I tell you whether he is til
robber or not"
Should you know him do you think !?
Gin the flash of the powder / saw
pair of haggard and amazed eyes whicl
1 shall never forget" ooh, them" sal,
Tom, "well have a G20O reward, and Sc
the rascal hanged besides" We set of
slowly and nolselessly in the direction
pointed out. Occasionally he applie'
his ear to the ground. and always nut
!, tering: 1--WE have him! we have him!
proceeded in the same careful name
as before. Suddenly Tom said: He
doubling. He has been leading us O.
the wrong scent all this time; he la
turned toward the village" "Then GU
plan," 1 said, Should be to get there be
fore him. If we intercept him in tina
way he can't escape, and | feel sure
could Identity him if I saw him by can,
delight" "Tell We what-that's tn
plan" replied my companion. "We'
watch at the end Of the village and al
rest him the moment he comes n"
We crept through an opening of tn
hedge and got once more in the straigh
, lane that led to the village. TWAS no,
very late and the cold was so intens
that it kept every person within doors
for we heard no sound in the Who'll
[ hamlet, except, high UP in the clea
} air, the ticking of the church clock, an
the loud jangles Of the quarters tbs
seemed like peals of artillery in the eS
cited state of u minds and sense:
Close to the church-which appeare
to guard the entrance of the village
with its low, buttressed walls and il
! watch-tower of a steeple-there was
wretched. ruined looking cottage, whic
projected so far INTO the lane tbs
the space between it and the churc
| was not more than eight or nine fee
] 1t struck us both at the same mt
nicat that if we could find q lods
ment L.ra it would be impossible IL
the man to sil.; into the village witho,
our observation. After listening for
: while at the windows aDl doors of I'll