Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-27

was hilly, rough and used for pasturage
alone.
Pierre had no watch, but he thought
It must be nearly o'clock. This could
not be the main road to st. Albans. He
climbed high hills and looked about, but
he could see no village spires. While
watching from one of these hills he saw
far to the westward a body of horsemen
cantering along smooth road.
Pierre's heart sank within him. These
were the raiders, and he was too late.
His opportunity had come, and he had
failedl Discouraged and limp in body,
he rode sadly down to the highway
where he had seen the horsemen, and
followed it back toward his home.
AS the raiders dashed through the
outskirts Of st. Albans the people stared
in astonishment at the cavalcade OF
wild looking men carrying carbines,
and with pistols stuck in their belts.
Jean Bourdo, dressed as an Indian chief,
all his dull wits sharpened by excite
ment, led them on.
They rode into the midst of the town.
The villagers, unconscious of danger.
did not molest them. Bourdo pointed
out the different banks; these had closed
for the day to the public, but the book
keepers were still at their desks. The
raiders overpowered them, broke open
the safes and took what money they
could hastily gather.
In half an hour they wero galloping
away, firing their pistols as they went.
One citizen who appeared at his door
step was shot and killed. But most of
the bullets were fred high in the air.
They soon passed the last house, and
rapidly moved northward over the same
road which Pierre had taken on his re-
turn home.
Jules old horse was growing more
and more lame. 1t was unshod, and
this long journey had made its feet ten
der. Pierre did not like to urge it too
much, and so had to be satisfied with q
slow trot. The night would now have
been quite dark had not crescent moon
shed an uncertain light on the brown
fields and fingered about the bright silk
which hung from the shoulder of Q
small boy perched on tall, gray horse.
Dark patches of woodland bordered
the road, and when Pierre was passing
one of these, which he thought not far
from home, he heard gathering of
hoofs behind him. He did not expect
the raiders to return SO soon, but he
thought it must be they. The boy
feared to let Bourdo see him.
A wood road led into the bushes. and
Pierre, riding into this dark recess,
halted some twenty yards from the road
to let the horsemen pass His horse was
hidden by shadows; but the little moon
slid down between the evergreens and Lit
up the gay colors of the flag.
The raiders We're riding recklessly,
singing and shouting. They were hilari-
GUS with success. Two young fellows
brought up the rear of the galloping
column. A startled owl tapped over
their heads, and one aimed his carbine
at the slowly moving bird.
Jim, if we'd no orders not to fire I'd
bring down that fellow"
"If wanted to shoot" returned Jim,
I'D take orders from no man. Hellol
look into this path. Don't that look like
the thing they call flag up here% He
stopped his horse. raised rifle and
fred. -e-ss 4,
The two resumed their gallop and
caught up with the main body. The
captain looked back angrily, but did not
stop to demonstrate. Already the sharp
ear of Jean Bourdo had caught the
sound of pursuing horses. They were
only two miles from the Canada line
when troop of horsemen appeared on
the brow of hill short distance be.
hind them.
The robbers put spur to their horses
the better animals responded, but some
could not, and their riders were over
taken, made prisoners and part Of the
money recovered. The better mounted
men escaped into Canada. They, too
were finally captured and most Of the
booty returned to the banks.
Jean Bourdo left the raiders before
they were overtaken, and no one sus-
pected his connection with the 'sSt. AL.
bans raid"
The next morning Jules was surprised
to find his gray horse, more lame than
usual, waiting at the stable door. The
old clerk went to the Bourdo house to
ask Pierre if he knew anything about it.
The boy was missing. Jules thought
his absence and the travel worn condi.
ton of the horse were in some way con.
nected. He returned to his stable, and
with patient care followed back the
track Of the shoeless hoofs.
Slowly he traced the horses path till
he was led to the swamp beside the road
Here he found flag and boy, equally
cold, and both pierced by rifle bullet.
In the evening friend strolled intc
the lieutenant's quarters at the recruit
nounced. "Roughs from Canada have
robbed the St. Albans banks. One vii
lager was killed, and this morning boy
cripple, wrapped in a flag and sho1
through the heart, was found near the
road by which the raiders returned tt
Canada"
"a crippled boy with fag!" CRIED
the officer. He threw away his cigar
and the next day he was moody and tool
little interest in the drilling. =
? The evergreen bushes stuck into thu
sand of the bay near the tamaracl
swamp dried and wilted, the plover ut
tered mournful cries, as they circlet
over the deserted beach, and the blu
heron, wading along with dropping
wings, found the oldtime relish for frog
was gone.
Plover Pierre had left them. .-Franci
s. Palmer in Harper's Weekly.
Moline instantly removes all stains fror
4he hands:
amman mn cITOvu rArrcn