Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-06-05
WITH a sIung-snot.

WITH sun g-SnOG-
BY. some good fortune, however, the in
strument missed the mark, and, ere If
could be hurled again, 10 proceeded to kick
and wriggle from his assaiant's hands.
The scales had now fallen from his eyes
The stranger had, in one of the many ways
practiced by men of his class, discovered
that 10 was possessed of large sum of
money, and the whole bold plan of robbery
flashed instantly through the boys mind as
he was seized.
How well the plan would have succeeded
if the slungshot blow had been successful
IS plain As it was, 10 began defending
himself in the most desperate manner.
He was 1.-THE and strong the physical
champion of his school-and recognizing his
terrible situation, that he was fighting not
alone for his money but perhaps for his life,
he struggled with all the energy of his nat
ure
He planted his heel in his enemy's face
with such good effect that he was enabled
to spring to his feet. He leaped backward
just in time to avoid again the robbers
weapon.
He had no weapon himself, and he could
not hope to overpower his foe barehanded
There was but one thing he could do, brave
though he was-run.
AS the man, with an imprecation at his
failure to annihilate the boy, over whom he
had doubtless contemplated an easy vic
tory sprung toward him again, 10 turned
and bounded down the alley with headlong
speed.
He would fain have run in the opposite di-
rection, but his enemy was between him and
the street.
AS he ran he gave wild cry for help,
but he felt that it was breath wasted, for
the sound of his voice went but little be-
yond the high walls of both sides of the
passage.
The robber closely pursued him, with his
slung-shot ready for blow. He.was de-
termined not to let his prey escape.
And although 10 was feet of foot, he be-
came aware that his pursuer was gaining
upon him.
He ran his best, but closer, closer, slowly
but steadily, came his foe.
Hope of escape began to leave him. He
could almost feel in advance the terrible
blow that would fell him to the ground.
Surely the robber must be near enough to
deliver it.
Still he ran on.
Suddenly an idea flashed through JOS
mind that strongly revived his falling hope
He acted upon it without an instant's DELAY
The loss of an instant may have been the
loss of his life.
He stopped-stopped stock still, with
suddenness almost inconceivable, and at
the same time bent forward nearly doubled.
and braced his feet firmly.
The result can be readily imagined.
1t Is useless TO say that the movement
was entirely unexpected by the pursuer. 1t
was wholly disastrous to his evil purpose.
he turned complete somersault over the
boys body, and fell TO the ground with
stunning force.
10 Strengthened up with long breath of
triumph, and started TO run back to the
street he had left. He knew not where the
alley led to ahead-he could see no lights;
but he saw that his enemy lay quite still.
and was incapable of following him fur
ther.
10 went up to him. His fall had knocked
the wind out of him; perhaps it had broken
some of his bones.
The movement which had saved the bov
was one he had learned at school and prac-
ticed on his mates often in fun, allowing
them TO run against him only hard enough
to give them tumble.
A new thought came to him as he contem
plated his victory. He would deliver the
W-oreaker into the bands of the police
Country boys generally have cords in their
pockets, and 10 luckily found one good and
strong, with which he bound the hands and
feet of the disabled thief.
Then he went back to the street from
which he had been thrown into the alley.
hunted up an officer, told his story and led
the way to the captive
BY this time the latter had regained con-
sciousness, and the officer marched him off
to the station-house
10 returned to the hotel, and the next
morning he learned that the prisoner was
one OF the most noted and desperate Grim
inals in the West, and that he himself was
the newspaper hero of the hour.
After placing his money safely in the
bank, 10 returned home, where he recited
his adventure to his father, who commended |
him highly.
The name of 10 Majors is now known in |
stock circles in half dozen Western States. |
u. Grissom, in Golden Days.