Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-05-16

CnanSeQ nlS TllnQ anu WAlK0O on, CnlnkluS the idea foolish, as tho theater was so near and tho route on such prominent street.
 The young man continued his interesting recital Of the plays merits, arousing moro and more the boys curiosity and eagerness, so that he did not notice that they turned into side street, which was not so we'll lighted or so much travelled as the one on which the hotel was situated. -..a.e-
 All at once the young man stopped in front of a dark alleyway, glanced hastily up and down the street, to see if he was ob- seized the boy stock-dealer and hurled him headlong into the dark passage, at the same moment aiming a heavy blow at his head with 8 slung shot.
 By some good fortune, however, the in- strument missed the mark, and, ere 1t could be hurled again, Jo proceeded to kick and wriggle from his assailant'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 Jo was possessed of a 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 slung-shot blow had been successful, is plain. As it was Jo 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, Jo 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 8 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 c loosely pursued him, with his slung- shot ready for a blow. He was de- termined not to let his prey escape.
 And although Jo was fleet 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 failing hope He acted upon it without an instant's delay The loss of an instant may have been tht loss of his life.
 He stopped-stopped stock still, with ( audiences almost inconceivable, and al the same time bent forward nearly doubled and braced his feet firmly.
 The result can be readily imagined.
 It is useless to say that the movement was entirely unexpected by the pursuer. | was wholly disastrous to his evil purpose
 He turned a complete somersault over tho boys body, and fell to the ground witt stunning force. ..
 Jo strengthened up with long breath O. triumph, and started to run back to thu street he had left. He knew not where tn, 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.
 Jo went up to him. His fall had knocked the wind out of him; perhaps it had broker some of his bones.
 The movement which had saved the boy was one he had learned at school and prac ticed on his mates often in fun, allowing them to run against him only hard enougl to give them a tumble.
 1 A new thought came to him as he contem l plated his victory. He would deliver tn, law-breaker into the bands of the police. Country boys generally have cords in thei pockets, and Jo luckily found one good an, strong, with which he bound the hands ant feet of the disabled thief. [ Then he went back to the street iron
 which he had been thrown into the alley [ hunted up an officer, told his story and le, the way to the captive. By this time the latter had regained con sciousness, and the officer marched him ot to the station-house.
 Jo returned to the hotel, and the nex
 morning he learned that the prisoner wa one of the most noted and desperate crinl
 inals in the West, and that he himself wa 3 the newspaper hero of the hour. 3 After placing his money safely in tn bank, Jo returned home, where he recite ) his adventure to his father, who commende 3 him highly.
 The name of Jo Majors is now know il
 stock circles in a half dozen Western States
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