St. Paul daily globe., 1892-04-24

the German. the deserting thieves. The
FTenchman was slight of build, but the
German was pOw fellow and had
in his hand double-baFreled shotgun.
], Of course, had no idea Of their iden-
tity.but they,and especially the French
man. knew me perfectly. having seen
me about the garrison constantly. They
had construed my anxiety 10 10 on the
stage, into the belief that / knew them
and was after them, and had taken my
remark 10 the sheriff as a mere blind
connected with some scheme for their
capture. lt must have been trying
ordeal. for the man in front Of me, who
evidently watching my every move, was
and knowing his own guilt, supposed
also knew all about II.
The Wen Discovered.
While we we're waiting the change Of
mail at lower lie Sueur, the deputy
sheriff asked me to get out Of the stage,
and said1o me. major q was called ma
jOr ~ those days. had we not better take
another look at those fellows in the
stage They are going out Of the coun-
try when everybody - coming in; II
looks 10 me suspicious" ! agreed with
him and took another careful look. |
al once discovered that they bOth were
shop clothes indicating the necessity
tor an entire change OF costume. and
concluded there was sufficient grounds
TO suspect them; so the deputy SAID to
me, you hold the stage about fifteen
minutes and Pil go on TO Henderson
and take out "A warrant and arrest them
on the arrival OF the stage. so that II we
are mistaken no particular harm Will
be done" lie started on. ] got my
hand bag out Of the boot and buekled
on my six-shootcr, all Of which was
seen by the thieves. who must
have fully understood the pro-
gramme; at least such must
have been the case with the
Frenchman, as subsequent develop
ments led me 10 doubt whether the Ger
man was participant in the theft, or
more than mere deserter. ! had my
sense Of uueasinesS about the double
barreled shotgun carried by the Ger
man, but thought | could handle the
other man. We started, and, much to
my relief. when we reached the ferry
over the river the German fired one bar
rel Of his gun at pigeon. and snapped
several caps on the other, which refused
to go off AS we approached LENDER
son quite a crowd had gathered at the
hotel to see the arrest, and just as the
stage swung up 10 the sidewalk the
Frenchman took out OF his vest pocket
a small pcnknfe, the largest blade Of
which could not have been over four
inches long. He opened ii so quietly
that it did not excite my appreheuslons
in the least, although | had my
right hant on the hilt OF
my six shooter, intending 10
draw and cover him the moment the
stage stopped. lie made a desperate
lunge AT his heart with the knife. and,
handing me carpetbag which lay on
his lap. he said: "The money is all IN
this bag, sir" just as if we had been
talking the whole matter over. /, fear
ing that he might strike at me with the
knife, drew my revolver and struck
him sharply over the knuckles, making
the knife fly out OF the window, and,
seizlng him by the throat with my left
hand, l covered him with my pistol.
Dropped Dead.
The stage stopped. Retaining my hold
on him. and still covering him with my
pistol, we got out OF the stage onto the
sidewalk. Hc waYered for second
and fell dead lie had put the knife an
inch into his heart. | found in a belt
on his body and in the bag $500 IN
gold. which | deposited IN the United
States land office at Henderson, subject
to the order OF Mai. Cullen, who got il
all in good time. The Frenchman had
ia his pocket some letters from lady
in Slrasburg, written in French. con-
yeying some very tender sentiments.
never thought he was a bad man, but
had yielded. as many do, to strong
temptation, and had decided TO die
rather than be captured. 1t was not
more than twenty minutes before we
were on our way to ST. Paul As no ey-
idence connected the German with the
theft. he was sent back simply as de-
sertcr.
A curious question arose as to the
award. Mai. Cullen insisted on giving
it to me. knew very well that, had it
not been for the greater sagaclty OF the
deputy, the thieves would never have
been caught, so refused it, as | would
have done under any circumstances.
Then the sheriff claimed it, and finally
the major left its disposition to me, and
divided il between the sheriff and the
deputy IN order that peace might reign
in that official family. Where the extra
1920 came from, or where it went, | new
cr knew or cared.
CHARLES +. FLANDRAU.