Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-06-18
my nands ana knees, Ieerng my way, ,

LILY uc1luS ctllu huSSS, 1Scllug way.
moved rapidly down the hill
After little l gained sufficient cour-
age to rise and walk, and presently
found myself at the bank of the stream.
Here | dropped again upon my hands
and crept across the log that spanned
the brook. On the other side I stopped
for moment and listened The fight
was still in progress. 1 could hear the
curses, the thrashing Of the leaves, the
cries Of rage and pain, then the sharp re-
port Of a pistol, and after that silence.
But in minute some one appeared to
be coming down the path as 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
SO heavy, and my eyes. accustomed again
to the darkness, were Of much service to
me. But | imagined that the robbers
were still following me. l 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 clambering rapidly as I was up the
steep hillside, it still seemed to me that
I was going at IL snails pace. I had had
the presence of mind to cling to the
package, ard l now thrust it into the
pocket Of my coat that [ might use both
hands in climbing, grasping roots, twigs,
sod, anything to accelerate my progress.
Finally | reached the top OF the hill,
and soon afterward the end of the path
where it met the highway. From here
on the road was level, and I ran. Behind
me l heard shouting, calling, a confu-
sion Of noises, but [ never turned. Down
through the village street l sped, past
the light in the houses, in at the open
door of the postoface, and stumbling at
the door sill, fell headlong upon the
floor
"They've robbed the mail!' cried to
the astonished assemblage. They've
robbed the mail-they're after mel
saved the mo-. =" And drawing the
package from l-Iy pocket | placed it in
the hands Of the clerk and sank exhaust
ed in a chair. For q few moments the
excitement ran high. Everybody ques-
toned me at the same time, but [ man
aged to make enough Of my story under
stood to give them y clew to the situa-
ton, and in a very short time party
started out in search of the robbers
Not fifty yards from the door they
met my father and neighbor, who had
gone out half an hour earlier to meet
me, and between them they supported
the dropping form of man. 1t was
Bill. He was covered with wounds and
exhausted from the loss of blood. 1t
seems that my father and his companion
had gone out to the turnpike by the
public road, and then finding that I was
already on my way home they had come
back by the path, hoping to overtake
me. Near the foot of the hill they had
come suddenly on the wounded robber,
the cut mail bag and the scattered let
tiers. Though greatly alarmed for my
safety, my father waited to gather up
the mail and to help the wounded rob
Der along; but I shall never forget his
look of relief when he saw me sitting
safe but exhausted in the big chair at
home, in the midst of an admiring and
sympathizing circle.
Bill recovered from his wounds, and
served term of years in prison for his
ofense, but Andy was never captured,
and even his identity was never known.
The mail package contained $500 in
crisp, new government bills.-Homer
Green in Philadelphia Press.