The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1889-09-07
and wriggle from his assailant's hands.
The scales had now fallen from his ev,

and wriggle from his assailant's hands.
The scales had now fallen from his eyes.
The stranger mad, 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 siung-shot blow had been successful,
is plain. AS IL was, 10 began defending
himself in the most desperate manner.
He was 1.-the and strong physical
champion o. 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 placted 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 impre cation 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 n wild cry for help,
but. he felt thatit 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 loosely pursued him, with his
slung-shot ready for blow. He was de-
ternlned 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. ~aaa asses'"s'-
Suddenly an idea flashed through JOS
mind that strongly revived his failing 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 a
suddenness almost inconceivable, and at
the same time bent forward nearly doubled,
and braced his feet firmly.
The result can be readily imagined. w
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
Their.
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 bow
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
law-breaker into the hands 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-
seriousness, 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.
Arthur q. Grissom, in Golden Days.