The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-08-08

oh, just to avoid being seen," ! re-
piled.
sFor heavens sake!" he cried.
sMove aheadl" / said, as I drove him
back into the thicket swamp . lew
hundred yards.
snow you just open your mouth" I
remarked, as the train trundled slowly
past with lights hanging on every side,
aand I'll put o ball down your throat!"
He kept very quiet. and we could
plainly hear the excited voices of the
passengers and train-hands as they
were borne along at q constantly less
ening speed. Finally the train was
brought to . stand-still half a mile be-
low. After remaining there awhile it
came putting slowly back, the men
running along beside it, beating the
woods q few yards in either direction.
Meanwhile I was not idle. bound
the conductors hands and feet with his
s%uspenders and gagged him with my
handkerchief. In this condition I sat
him down against the root Of o large
pine-tree, and throwing my overcoat
across my arm, left him there. As
soon IS I got out Of sight Of my pris-
oner, I took off my small coat and
turned it Il was o small flannel sack
made to be worn either side out. It
was black on one side and white on the
other. 1 hastily put apine-knot in my
cap and threw Il into q pond neal byy,
and put on q soft hat which I had been
carrying in my pocket. This hat was
white and very broad-brimmed. Inow
hastened to the vicinity of the railroad
track, and rs the train with its excited
attendants began to pass I coolly joined
the crowd Of persons who walked beside
the cars.
singular what's become OF him." I
remarked to the man nearest me.
"Tarnation queer, indeed" was the
reply.
sHe's sloped with the money" said q
putting fat man on my left. sbet my
boots on that"
"That's my notion" said ].
ayes, yes" continued the fat man APP
provingly, "that's it 'xactly. I know o
conductor out in Texas to do this very
same trick once"
"You did!"
"Yes. sir, and lie never has been
found"
1uU00UI
$50, sure's the world, and they said
he had a pile of money on hands,
too"
Real sharp villain, wasn't he?"
WAS that, surel"
"Hist, listeni Who's that?"
Help! help! helpl" reared voice
down in the swamp.
Everybody halted to listen.
Help! helpl"
Its the conductors voice." yelloi a
brakeman, and forthwith everybody
rushed into the swamp. In o very lit
tie time we had found my man, who
had managed to spit out his gag. I
helped to unite him.
"How the dickens came you in this
fix?" said I in an assumed voice. help
ing him to his feet.
"Ding if I can tell you; must 'a' been
the devil. Great big black fellow sit
ting on hind platform. Asked him for
ticket; said had none. Asked him for
money, said had none either. Stopped.
the train and went to kick him off.
; Ding scamp pulled the bell-rope and
clutched me like blazes. Took me
down in the swamp and tied me. Pistol
two feet long. Ding il 'twasn'tl"
Well, after everybody had congratu-
lated the conductor we all went back
to the train and got aboard. I took a
seat neat the hindmost car.
Hoot! boot! yelped the whistle, and
away we sped. I leaned back in my
seat and soon fell asleep. Everybody
was excited and talking but me. Fact
ia I woa ovhouo&o1
"Ticket, check!"
Someone punched me in the ribs. !
sprang wildly to my feet.
"Ho. no; here, what ails you?" said
the conductor. laughing.
rubbed my eyes and sat down.
Thought that fellow Of yours had
got me- I muttered, coolly taking off
my hat, as IL looking for my check.
Lost" said I; must have fallen out
when that internal brush dragged my
hat off"
The conductor rubbed the knots on
his head, made by my fist, and said,
smiling painfully:
you fellows must have torn about
like n possessed, about one-half Of
you are minus your checks; but ding IL
I ant monstrous glad you found mel
Awful beating that fellow gave mi.
He'd q killed me IL the train hadn't o.
come back just as it did, Bless my
life. yon ought to have cen his eyes.
They had the devil in 'eml"
The conductor passed on, rode to
Savannah, where I found Q friend who
furnished me the means to get home.
Such i the history Of my first, last. and
only highway robbery.
PHILIP HENSON. . painter, livingnear
/ Cofinth. Mias.. n halfavad Ia aninv The