Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-03-28

not, said the host.
The men, like myself, were not par
ticular as to beds, so remained for
the night. They were rather talka-
tive, and overheard them ask the
landlord my name and business. My
suspicious were easily aroused, and |
noticed that they seemed interested
in me and the holsters J guarded so
closely. As we left the dining-room
one of themsaid: Mighty keerIul of
yer holsters, stranger, YOU must
have struck trich in the diggin' So"
| made some evasive reply. Dur
ing the evening Bill, the half-breed,
came into the bar-room two or three
times, and the last time | noticed
that he secretly beckoned to me to
30 out OF doors. Waiting till he
LETT the room, | managed to follow
him without attracting attention.
On reaching the middle of the wide,
dusty road he stopped, approached
me closely, and, said: you see two
pen come on horseback"
l nodded in reply.
He continued: Zone bad man; he
rob stage and go TO prison. Now he
come back.
"A stage robber2' Iechoed.
"Ies, was the answer; Five years
ago he rob the stage, and sent to
prison. Maybe he think no one
know him. remember. l tell you
and tell boss-so you looked for
him."
| thanked the fellow and rewarded
him in a substantial manner, tor the
warning was of value to me.
As the host lighted me to my room
he told me what the Indian had said
to him, and warned me to be on my
guard. Determined to be on the
safe SIDE, / pulled my bed against
the door when | retired tor the night,
and securely fastened the only win
dow.
slept soundly till past midnight,
when l was awakened by a move
ment of the bed. 1t appeared as
though some one was slowly open
ing the door and causing the bed TO
move across the floor.
/ reached under the pillow, firmly
grasped one ofmy pistols. and wait
ed developments. Inch by inch ]
could feel the bed move slowly over
the floor. Ny. senses were stimulated
by the excitement OF the moment,
and | could hear the breathing otthe
would-be robber. The door was now
sufficiently open to admit the
theft. Thinking TO capture him, l
sat up in bed waiting for him to APP
proach.
1t was too dark to distinguish his
form, but | could tell his position
from his deep breathing as he slowly
and cautiously approached the head
of the bed At that instant raised
my pistol and cried: "Stop, or
will fire"
Quick as flash he sprang for the
door and fired at the same instant.
He gave cry of pain. but continued
his flight. | jumped from my bed,
rushed to the door and shot again
at the retreating figure. The ball
evidently missed him, for it did not
stop mis- mad race, and the next mo-
ment we heard the swift galloping
OF a couple of horses.
/ The house was in an instant up
roar. Men came rushing from their
rooms, each one crying aloud as to
/ the cause Of the shooting. The ex.
I PLANTATION was brief. but it took an
hour or more to quell the excite
ment, and | am certain but few slept
during the remainder OF the night.
1t was plain that the two stran-
I gers had made their preparations
and had their horses nearby. Had
they been successful in obtaining my
gold, they would have disappeared
in the night.
! When day gave us light, spots oil
/ blood were visible upon the hall
floor and on the stairs, but search
for some distance along the road re-
vealed nothing of the robbers, so it
was evident that my shot had not
! been q serious one.
/ Trusting that / had seen the last
of my assailants, | mounted nv
horse after breakfast and persued
my journey. My route lay for some
miles through most picturesque
and scenic region.
Absorbed in detecting these fancied
( resemblances to the most poted
creations OF man, had ridden for a
mile or more without seeing or hear
ing anything to break the silence of
my lonely ride, when loud report
rang out, my horse plunged violent
ly, and second later fell to the
ground, carrying me with him.
1--WE have himl" shouted voice
that ! recognized as belonging to
the man who had asked me about
the holsters the night before.
lay upon my side with my right
leg under the animal The two men,
each with a gun in his hand, ran to-
ward me from behind a neighboring
rock. My situation was most criti-
cal ] was pinned to the earth and
unable to move Luckily my hands
we're free and could reach one OF
the pistols in my holsters. Deter
mined to sell my life as dearly as
possible, jerked the revolver loose,