Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-07-06


ly to the efficacy of prayer, but in
imagination clasplng my hands,
could not clasp them in fact-I pour
ed forth prayer that would have
done credit to revivalist. / don't
know how long the men had slept,
probably three hours, perhaps not
mere than three minutes, when one
of them turned over and looked at
me. His face did not appear to be
SO ferocious as the faces of his COM
panions. He propped himself upon
his elbow, scanned my face closely
and said:
1.-THE boys sre putty sound asleep"
eyes," replied.
"They'Il give it to you when they
get up. II you've got anything to
say to your folks, jest say it, an af-
ter you air dead I'll write it down an
send it for you."
/ told him that ] had nothing to
say. There was much that | could
say, but would not entrust it to an
outlaw and murderer.
''Jest thought I'd ask you. Fellers
sometimes wants to send few words
home. We strung up good lookin'
feller luther week an I didn't think
he would quit talkin'. Tuck me about
two days to recolleck an write down
what he had said. Blamed if we
ough'tenter have one O. these short
han reporters.
''Look here, my friend, is there no
way to escape this horrible death? +?
Just think of it. How would you
like to be in my place?''
''Wouldn't like it so mighty much,
let me tell you."
"Well, then, assist me in getting
away from here
"Then who'd assist me in gettin'
away? If the boys wuster wake up
an find you gone they'd pitch onto
me-"
cit is awful to die here alone
"Oh, we won't let you die by your
self. Well stay with you. We nev-
er leave man while he is in dis
tress."
s'My friend. what would you take
to cut this roper"
"I'd take knife to cut it, | reck-
on"
81 mean how much money"
"You amt got money enough to
hire me to put myself in sich danger,
but let me tell you what I'll do. I'll
turn you aloose, just because l feel
sorry for you."
He arose, took out knife, cut the
cords that bound me and said:
| s'Go down this path to the river.
Tied to the bank you will find ca
noe. Hop in, pull around the bend,
and about half mile up the stream
you'll come to the government snag
boat"
I turned to thank him, but he had
sunk down upon the floor and was
giving a very good imitation of pro-
found sleep. I hurried from the house.
found the canoe. What if did
not find the snag boat? The water
was very swift, and having to pull
near the shore, momentarily expect
ed to feel the powerful grasp of the
man who had taken my pistol. Ea-
gerly | stretched my neck as round
ed the bend. The moon was shining
Thank heaven, | could see the snag
boat. With the excited play of every
muscle pulled against the current.
Atlast! oh, at last, l reached the
boat. A man who was walking the
deck came forward and assisted me
to climb on board. He noticed my
excitement, and asked me to explain.
s'Come up," said he, leading the
way.
/ followed him and entered neat
ly furnished room.
s'Now tell me what is the matter"
81 have just escaped horrible
DEATH" 1 replied.
"Ah! You must have engaged
board IN this neighborhood, and run
away without eating meal"
Before | could reply, loud laugh
made my hair stand on end. Sever
al men rushed into the room. A
pleasant-faced man, whose voice bore
close resemblance to the voice OF
"Jack," said:
"Allow me to introduce Colonel
Watson, known to you as 'old Pete.
He owns fifteen hundred acres of land
in this neighborhood, and is the Pres
ident of the White River Packet Com
pany. These other gentlemen are
employed on the snag boat, and I am
Captain Hinklin, at your service"
The whole thing was a joke, in
which the revenue collector was inter-
ested. Well, l had good time on
the snag boat, and, after all, the gov
ernment ost more than would have
been lost had I been hanged-Ar-
kansdaU Traveller.
WHAT is PRESENCE OF MIND AT
the closing of concert in Norris
town, while young man was strug-
Cling with his hat, cane, overcoat,
opera-glasses and his young lady's
fan, all of which he was trying to re-
tain on his lap, supicious looking
black bottle from his overcoat pocket
fell on the floor with a load thud,
"There,' he exclaimed to his COM