The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-30
But the other only frightened his grip and
muttered the one word:

But the other only frightened his grip ans
muttered the one word:
'.Divide!''
For moment there was silence. Tn
two men stood there glazing into eacl
others eyes, and ], with the candle tipping
in my hand and the melted tallow burning
my fingers. stared at them in stupid fright
sound Of sharp blow, and the next In.
slant the two men were writhing in eacl
Others arms.
The package over which they fought wa
hurled from Andy's grasp, struck the candl.
in my hand and both package and candle
fell at my feet. Invoiuntarily stoopel
and picked the treasure mp, and even as
did 80 the candle spluttered On the damn
ground and went out. The darkness wal
intense.
But the fight went on. Curses. blows, thu
tearing Of garments, all sounds Of q hand
to-hand contest, told that the men were
still fercely engaged.
In that moment I gathered my wits to-
Rether long enough to escape. Starting out
along the path, crawling ON my hands and
knees, feeling my way. ! moved rapidly
down the hill.
After little I gained sufficient courage
to rise and walk. and presently found my
self at the bank of the stream. Here ]
across the log that SPAWNED the brook. On
the other side stopped for 9 moment and
listened. The fight was still in progress.
Icould hear the curses, the threshinR Of the
leaves. the cries OF rage and pain, then the
sharp report ola pistol and, after that, 81
lence. Bnt in minute some on appeared
TO be coming down the path AZ had come.
/ thought they were giving chase to me,
and turned and scrambled up the hill.
The way was long and steep, but the woods
on this side of the brook were not 90 heavy,
and my eyes, accustomed again to the
darkness were Of much service TO me. But
! imagined that the robbers were still fol-
lowing me. thought heard the crashing
Of the underbrush, and once ! was sure
they called out to me to stop. Familiar
with every foot of the path, and Chamber
ing rapidly as / was up the steep hillside, it
still seemed to me that was going at q
snail's pace. had had the presence Of
mind to cling to the package, and now
thrust it into the pocket Of my coat. that I
might use both hands in climbing, grasp
ing roots. twigs, sod, anything to accelerate
my progress.
Finally, Preached the top Of the hill. and
soon afterwards, the end Of the path whore
IL met the highway. From here on the
road was level, and ] ran. Behind me
heard shouting, calling, confusion Of
noises, but never turned. Down through
tuo V1u68O 1tIecs Hc0. VoDs S10 1Jxut IN the
houses, in at the open door Of the postofice,
and stumbling at the door-si:l, fell headIonr
upon the floor.
They've robbed the mail!'' cried to the
astonished assemblaee. They've robbed
the mail-they're after mel saved the
money! And drawing the package from
my pocket placed it in the hands Of the
clerk and sank exhausted in chair. For
few moments the excitement ran hioh.
Everybody questioned me at the same time.
But ! managed to make enough of my
story UNDERWOOD to give them a clew
70 the sit:ation, and, in very short
the robbers. Not fifty yards from the door
they met my father and neighbor, Who
had zone out half an hour earlier to meet
me, and between them they supported the
dropping form Of man. II was Bill. IA
vas covered with wounds and oxhausted
from the loss Of blood. Il seems my father
and his companion had gone out to the
turnpike by the public road, and then. ind
ing that was already ON my way home.
they had come back By the path. hoping e
thew had come suddenly ON the wounded ou ds.i
the he's scattered letters. Though greatly sIy
alarmed for my safety my father
waited to gather mp tbs mail and 70 help
tho wounded r0bber along; but / shall
never forget his look Of relief when he saw
me sitting safe bat exhausted in the big
chair at home, in the midst Of an admirino
and sympathetic circle.
Bill recovered from his wounds and
served term Of years IN prison for his Of
fence; but Andy vas never captured, and
even his identity was nsvsr hosn.
The mail paokaees containod 500 in our
nav eoyonHa1nnf bjlla.