River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-03-03


THR RAIDERS SURPRISED.
him tomorrow. likely, and that'll make
it all the easier for our biz"
II guess you're right, Bill Fetch
him along"
The boy now began to cry, but one
of the men. stuffing a handkerchief
in his mouth, lifted him in his arms
and bore him off to a dense pine
thicket. while the other followed with
the fishpole and bait box.
Arrived in the center of the scrub.
they cut off the strong fshline. tied
Johnnie's wrists together, then passed
the end of the cord downward, secur-
ing them TO his ankles. and hurried
away, leaving their victim perfectly
helpless. to live or die, as chance. or,
haply, Providence, might determine.
GRANVILLE was only a small place at
this time. Everybody in it knew every
other body's affairs; and next morning
after their dastardly deed the two styl-
ish-looking cattle buyers" were APP
parently much interested in the half
dozen or so of men who called one
after the other at tho hotel inquiring
if anyone had seen little Johnnie
Brooks.
No one had seen him. it seemed, but
the searchers did not seem much
alarmed THE boys likely gone to
mis- uncle Jim's, bout four miles down
stream" said one of them. Guess
he'll turn up all right by dinner time.
If he don't. some of us'll go after him.
l. -
anxious"
That's pleasant talk. Jake" whis-
pered Bill, nudging his accom- plice.
''Things'll pass off nice and quiet. :"
Then to the landlord: Lets have din
ner at twelve sharp. We've got to look
at some stock out in the country this
afternoon"
Two or three minutes past midday
while the fellows were eating. thev
saw Mr.. BOyntOn drive past the win
dow on his way home. and half an hour
afterwards their horses were brought
TO the door.
Waving a cheerful farewell to their
host. they mounted and rode off down
the main street, but stopped at the
bank and went in. Everything was all
right Not a customer was in the
room, and Charley Vincent stood idly
behind his desk.
What can do for you, gentlemen"
he politely inquired.
IF you'll kindly give me small bills
and silver for this fifty I'll be greatly
obliged = said the man called Jake.
Certainly, sir" and taking a bag of
coin from a drawer the clerk poured
out little heap of shining dollars.
just then the cold muzzle of a re-
vOlver touched his temple, and the
stern command: Hands upr' met his
ear. Instantly obeying, the frightened
youth threw up his arms. the scoun-
drels leaped over the counter, and in a
moment he was gagged and firmly
bound to the open door of the safe.
Then. with practieed speed, the rob-
bers swept into a sack all the paper
money and gold obtainable. and max
ing some jeering remark turned to go
out
The self-closing front door was ele-
waited by four stone steps above the
sidewalk. and on opening IL the jubi-
.ant raiders found themselves con-
fronted by the leveled barrels of six
Winchester rifles held in the steady
hands of as many determined men,
while behind the armed line stood Mr..
BoyntOn and-eould they believe their
eyes?-little Johnnie Brooksl
Half paralyzed by the astounding
sight and seeing the madness of re-
sisting. the trapped criminals sullenly
threw down their spOils and submitted
to capture without a word.
As they were hurried off to prison
number of people collected in the
street and, having got an inkling
of the truth, nothing would do but
Johnnie must tell his story to the
crowd. Encouraged by Mr. BoYnton,
the young hero mounted the bank
steps and after going over what the
reader already knows. he continued:
when the men left me there, tied up
tight and most choked, l felt awful bad
and cried a good while.
Il wasn't afraid of starvin', cause /
guessed sOmebOdy'd be sure to find me
to-day; but | knew mother would be
scared most to death and thought the
men would rob the bank before / got
away.
II pulled on the string as hard
as / could, but that only made it
tighter, and it hurt me pretty bad
Bimeby / got all wore out strugglin',
and l laid quite still, prayin' for help.
The sun was most down and my
eyes ached so with cryin' that | shut
them for a minute and turned over on my
side Then opened them again, and the
first thing / saw made me try 10 yell
right out. was so glad. 1t was a jack
knife with the big blade open, and
one of the men had left e, standin'
straight up, stuck in little pole on the
ground. when he cut my fishline.
II didn't just know how il was goin'
to be any use to me. but was bound
TO try some plan My hands We're tied
so close TO my feet that / was most
doubled up. and il was mighty hard
work to roll over and over till i got
'longside the pole.
Il was terrible scared for fear Of
knockin' the knife down, for il
wouldn't be any good then, and was
fixed so that I couldn't pick it up.
tried ever so many times and at last i
got the string that reached up from my
ankles TO my wrists over to the other
side of the blade and right on to the
sharp part
81 pulled agsinst il. easy as could be.