The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-06-06

down my hand, and after feeling about a few moments found that my foot was in the mailbag. felt again, and found my hand in among the packages of let- ters and papers, ran my fingers over the edges of the opening, and became assured that the stout leather had been cut with knife.
 Here was a discovery. 1 began to wish had taken little more forethought befote leaving Danbury but as knew making such wishes was only waste of time, l quickly gave it up, and began to consider what had better do under ex. isting circumstances. l wasn't long in making up my mind upon a few essen- tfal points. First, the man behind me was william scond, he had cut open the mailbag and robbed it of some valuable matter--he must have knewn the money letters by their size and shape; third, he meant to leave the stage the first oppor- tunity and fourthly, he was prepared to shoot me if l attempted to arrest or de- tain him.
 revolved these things in my mind, and pretty soon thought of course to pursue; knew that to get my hands sately On the rascal must take him wholly unawares, and this could not do while he was behind me, for his eyes were upon me all the time-so must re. sort to stratagem. Only little distance ahead of us was house, and an old farmer named Lougee lived there; and directly before it huge snow-bank was stretched across the road, through which track had been cleared with shovels.
 As Se approached the cut saw light in the front room, as felt confident should, for the old man generally sat up till the stage went by. drove on, and when nearly opposite the dwelling, stood up, as had frequently done when ap. preaching difficult places. saw the snow. bank ahead, and could distinguish the deep cut which had been shovelled through it. urged my horses to good speed, and when near the bank forced them right into it. One of the runners mounted the edge of the bank, after which the other ran into the cut, thus throwing the sleigh over about as quick as though lightning had struck 1t. My passenger had not calculated on any such movement, and was not prepared for 1t but had calculated, and was pre- pared. He rolled out into deep snow with heavy buffalo robe about him, while l alighted directly on the top of him. punched his head into the snow, and sung out for old Lougee. did not have to call a second time. The farmer had come to the window to see me pass, and as soon as he saw my sleigh over turned he had lighted his lantern and hurried out.
 "What's to payp asked the old man, as he came up.
 Lead the horses into the track, and then come here," said.
 AS spoke partially loosened my hold upon the villains throat, and he drew pistol from his bosom, but saw it in season, and damned his head into the snow again, and got away from him.
 By this time Lougee had led the horses out and come back, and then explained the matter to him in 6 few words as possible.
 We hauled the rascal out into the yaId, and upon examination we found abou, twenty packages of letters, which he had stolen from the mailbag and slowed away in his pockets.
 He swore, threatened, and prayed but we paid no attention to his blarney Lougee get ssme stout cord, and when we had securely bound the villain we tumbled him into the sleigh. asked the old man if he would accompany me to Littleton, and he said, "of course"
 So he got his avercoat and muff1er, and ere long we started on.
 l reached the end of my route with my mail all safe, though not as snug as might have been, and my mail-bags a little the worse for the game that had been played upon them. However, the mail. robber was secure, and within a week he was identified by some officers from Concord as an old offender, and am rather in- clined to the opinion that he is in the state prison at the present time. At any rate he was there the last heard of him
 That's the only time ever had any mail trouble, and think, under all the circumstances 1 came ouf of if nyettv ,vell