Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-06-18
open the Dag,

''but we must not open it on the public
highway; some evil minded passer by
might seek to appropriate the contents
thereof, which would be crime against
the government, indeed an unpardon-
able offense. Suppose we retire to some
secluded woodland dell, and there study
the situation. Young man. he added,
addressing me, you are cordially in
vited to accompany Us"
''I-Td rather not co. replied, be-
ginning for the first time to fully realize
my position. eff it's all the same to
you," added, III go on home"
tFWell, my dear young friend and fell
low worker" began the man, but his
gruff voiced companion interrupted him:
sob, let up on that, Andy! We amt
got any time to lose. Come along,
young fellow!"
And before [ had time to protest
was seized by one arm, hurried to the
roadside, across the ditch and in among
the trees. believe began to cry and
beg; it would have been strange if I had
not done so; but, in language more force
full than elegant, was ordered to hold
my peace. In the mean time the first
robber was threading his way carefully
through the thin underbrush among the
hemlocks in thick darkness, and we
were following him. It seemed to NE
very long time that we journeyed thus.
In reality it must have been only few
minutes. When we stopped the leader
said:
"Here's kind of an open place; let's
hold up here. Bill, where's that can
dle?'
Presently | heard the swapping of a
match, and s@w Bill lighting a piece of
candle which he had unrolled from bit
of newspaper. Looking around me, by
the light of this candle was not slow
to recognize the place. We were in tn
path Of which have spoken, on little
plateau just above the brook. Indeed
the soft ripple of waters could be heard
at no great distance from US.
[ now for the first time recognized the
two men as those whom had seen step
from the stage coach at the crossing, and
knew instinctively that they had follow
ed me for the very purpose of robbing
the mail. The one addressed as Amy
had already laid the mail pouch fat on
the ground, and with an open jackknife
poised in one hand was passing the
thumb and forefnger of the other hand
carefully along the leather surface, as if
considering the proper point for the
blade to penetrate. had seen butchers
do the same thing before cutting up
side of beef, and the similarity of move
ment now was very suggestive.
''Here goesw he said finally, pushing
the knife point firmly into the leather;
then, with strong, dexterous sweep, he
drew the blade down lengthwise of the
bag, and laid it open nearly from top to
| bottom.
"Give the candle to the boy, Bill" he
said, land you help me sort this stuff
over. Here, you," he added, addressing
me, "hold it here, here where l can see.
If you move it an inch Tll-I'n excom-
municate your
With trembling hand, teeth chatter
ing in my head and too greatly overcome
with establishment and fear to speak, l
sat and held the faring candle while he
spread wide the gap in the ruined mail
bag and poured the contents Of it to the
ground. The packages Of papers were
quickly cast aside and the bundle Of let
ters taken up.
In those days each separate bunch of
letters was carefully folded in brown
paper, and the postodice address placed
on the outside before intrusting it to the
mail bag. These wrappers We're pulled
hastily off by the robbers, and the letters
inclosed in them were looked over rapid
ly, many of them being torn open before
they were thrown down. Nearly the en-
tire contents of the mail bag were gone
over in this way before any money was
found, and both men began to look dis
appointed and angry. At last Andy
came upon thick envelope of brown
manila paper, with seal in red wax on
the back.
''Here it ISL he said, holding it up
triumphantly for Bill to see. Il knew
couldn't be mistaken about its being
here. Bob told me, you know, and Bob
always tells the truth.
He had risen to his feet in the mean
time, scattering the remainder of the
letters from him disdainfuily, had
opened his coat, and was about to put
the package into an inner breast pocket.
"Hold onr' exclaimed his companion,
rising also. open it up, Andy; let's
see how much they is in it, anyway"
ooh, that's all right!' was the reply.
Il know how much there is in it. Well
open it when we get to safer place.
Come, let's fix the boy and get out O.
this"
l trembled till the candle nearly
dropped from my hand. What did he
mean by fixing the boy? I presume l
should have begun to cry and beg again
had not Bill spoken up somewhat threat
eningly:
Look here, Andy! That's the trick
you played the last time, You pocketed
the swag an held off an spent it, till it
turned out didn't get moren half my
fair share. That's played out. l want
a divvy on this, and [ want it now"
Andy looked at him coolly minute
before replying.
You had your fair share of every
thing that wasn't spent in common" he
replied at last. Now, don't be fool,
Bill. I'll l-eep the money, an when we
set to a safe place you'll get what be-
longs to you" He made again as if to
put the package in his pocket, but be-
fore he co;:,l Go so Bill had seized his
;,,-,i2. ''DiYidc!' lie exclaimed. gruffly.
i SAL divide. an do it now.
Even by the dim light Of the far g
candle I could see the red and white