The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-03-07

"hooms are pretty scarce, az you
see, but we can feed you as well as
not" said the host.
The men, like myself, were not par
ticular as to beds, 80 remained for
the night. They were rather talka-
tive, and / overheard them ask the
landlord my name and business. NY
suspicious were easily aroused, and l
noticed that they seemed interested
in me and the holsters guarded SO
closely. As wo left the dining-room
one oil them said: Mighty keerful of
yer holsters. stranger, you must
have struck it rich in the diggin's?"
/ 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
go out OF doors. Waiting till he
left 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
men come on horseback"
nodded in reply.
He continues: Zone bad man: he
rob stage and go to prison. Now he
come back"
"A stage robber?" Iechoed.
eyes," was the answer; ''five years
ago he rob the stage, and sent to
prison. Maybe he think no one
know him. i remember. l tell you
and tell boss-so you looked Tor
him."
l thanked the fellow and re warded
him in substantial manner, Tor the
warning was of value tn 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 he on the
safe size. pulled my bed against
the door when retired for the night,
and securely fastened the only win
dow.
l slept soundIy till past midnight,
when | was awakened ny aNmove-
ment Of the bed. 1t appeared MS
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 OF my pistols. and wait
ed developments. Inch 10y inch ]
could feel the bed move slowly over
the floor. My senses were stimulated
by the excitement OF the moment,
and could hear the breathing fthe
would-be robber. The door was now
sufficiently open to admit the
theft. Thinking to capture him,
sat up in bed waiting Tor him to ap-
preach.
1t was too dark to distinguish his
form, but l 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 aud cried: stop, or l
will fire!"
Quick as n fash he sprnng for the
door md fired ut the same instant.
He gave n cry of pnin. but continued
his flight. jumped from my bed,
rushed to the door and shot again
ut the retreating figure. The ball
evidently missed him. for it did not
stop his mad race, and the next mo-
ment we heard the swift galloping
Of u couple of horses.
The house was in an instant up.
roar. Men came rushing from their
rooms, each one crying aloud rs to
the cause of the shooting. The ex-
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 strnn-
gers had made their preparations
and lad their horses nearby. Had
they been successful in obtaining my
gold. they would have disappeared
in the night.
When day gave us light, spots Of
blood were visible upon the hall
floor and on the stairs, but n search
Tor some distance along the road re-
vealed nothing of the robbers, 80 it
was evident that my shot hnd not
been II serious one.
Trusting that had seen the last
of my nssailants, | mounted my
horse after breakfast and persued
my journey. My route lay Tor some
miles through most picturesque
and scenic region.
Absorbed in detecting these fnncied
resembnnces to the most poted
creations OF man, had ridden for IL
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.
I'VE have him!" shouted n voice
that l recognized ms belonging to
the man who had asked me about
the holsters the night be'ore.
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 neighboring
rock. My situation was most criti-
CAL l was pinned to the earth and
unable to move. Luckily my hands
were free and could reach one of
the pistols in my holsters. Det,r-
mined to sell my liic rs dearly as
possible, ierked the revolver loose,
raised myself slightly. and fired at
the robber nearest to Inc.
Tha lall atrrcly him in the hnnd