Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-08-21

DOn hAAA uC, uO SuSSOStOus WbS
only obeying orders, indeed / was.
sir"
Maybe you'd like to pray little?"
Pray? Good heavensi You're not
in earnest 2"
ooh, if you don't want to pray" said
/. cooking my pistol and examining the
cap.
He went down on his knees and
prayed quite fervently. just as he
finished heard the train coming back
at full speed.
"Ding'd if they amt backing down.
They've missed mel" he cried, spring
ing to his feet.
They'll never find you," said I.
Very easy" said he, "I1l wave my
hat"
Not at ALL" rejoined.
"Why not? I'll let you ride To-"
IT do not care to ride" he inter-
rupted; "let's take stroll into the
swamp.
What for?" he said trembling.
ooh, just to avoid being SEEM" re-
piled.
"For heavens sake!" he cried.
"Move aheadp I said, as I drove him
back into the thicket swamp o few
hundred yards.
snow you just open your mouth, I
remarked, as the train trundled slowly
past with lights hanging on every side,
"and I'll put ball down your throat"
He kept very quiet, and we could
plainly hear the excited voices of the
L.
were borne along at a constantly less
ening speed. Finally the train was
brought to stand-still half mile be-
low. After remaining there awhile it
came putting slowly back, the men
running along beside it, beating the
woods few yards in either direction.
Meanwhile I was not idle. / bound
the conductors hands and feet with his
suspenders and gagged him with my
handkerchief In this condition I sat
him down against the root of a large
pine-tree, and throwing my overcoat
across my arm, left him there AS
soon as I got out of sight of my pris-
oner, I took off my small coat and
turned it. 1t was a small flannel sack
made to be worn either side out. It
was black on one side and white on the
other. hastily put pine-knot in my
cap and threw it into pond near by,
| and put on a soft hat which / had been
carrying in my pocket. This hat was
white and very broad brimmed. now
fastened to the vicinity of the railroad
track, and as the train with its excited
attendants began to pass 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. ....
Hes sloped with the money" said a
putting fat man ON my left, "bet my
boots on that"
"That's my notion" said I.
Eyes, yes" continued the fat man APP
provingly, that's it 'xactly. know q
conductor out in Texas to do this very
same trick once"
"You didl"
"Yes, sir, and he never has been
found"
"Indeed"
$50, sure's the world, and they said
he had pile of money on hands,
| too"
Real sharp villain, wasn't he?"
"Was that, surel"
Hist, listen! Who's that?"
Help! help! helpp roared O voice
down in the swamp.
! Everybody halted to listen.
Help! help!"
cts the conductors voice." yelled a
brakeman, and forthwith everybody
rushed into the swamp. In very lit
| tie time we had found my man, who
had managed to spit out his gag.
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 fol-
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 if 'twasn'tl"
! Well, after everybody had congratu-
lated the conductor we all went back
to the train and got aboard. I took q
seat near the hindmost car.
Hoot! boot yelped the whistle, and
away we sped. leaned back in my
seat and soon fell asleep. Everybody
was excited and talking but me. Fact
is was exhausted.
Ticket, check ]"
Someone punched me in the ribs. ]
sprang wildly to my feet.
Ho, no; here, what ais your" said
the conductor, laughing.
rubbed my eyes and sat down.
Thought that fellow Of yours had
got me-" / muttered, coolly taking of
my hat, as if looking for my check.
Lost" said i; smust 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 one possessed. about one-half Of
you are minus your cheekss but ding j
[ amt monstrous glad you found me
/ Awful beating that fellow gave me
He'd a. killed me If the train hadn't q
come back just as it did, Bless my
life. yon ought to have seen his eyes
They had the devil in 'eml"
The conductor passed on. rode tt
Savannah, where found friend wht
furnished me the means to get home
| Such is the history of my first, last. ant
Il only HIGHWAY robbery