The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1895-07-19


: now hazardous, TO retrieve that rom,
, tation for shrewdness and sapacitv tina
hau won Tor him this position OF trus
ana responsibility, To which all tn.
o'her young men in the settlement has
|. aspired But the robbers were vel
armed and Tar too cautious To allow
their victims any visible chance 10 turr
. 'he tables upon them. When they hac
secured as much plumber as they
. 'nought safe 10 burden their horses
with ana swung themselves into their
saddles AIS wrath and despair knew
no bounds. lie stood before the tent.
covered wagon. with the lantern in his
hand, watching the robbers as the :
mounted when the spy suddenly called
out TO the leader:
oh, say. cap, almost forgot abou I
~ put they've got some good spirits in
tnat tent wagon. and we must have a
drop before we 90"
is that 50, Bill?" responded the
leader
Needn't take my word for il. can.
replied the spy "IIere. Young fel-
low, ne ordered. turning to All. "go
anu BRING out that bottle Of brandy.
~ make II all right with uncle.
you know. And while AL went into
the tent with the lantern the man.
with great glee. told his mates how he
secured ride with the boys by max
Ing them believe the trader was his
uncle.
No sooner did the fellow ention il
than al started for the brandy. his
first thought being that perhap, IL he
could lind enough liquor the robbers
would make themselves hopelesslv
drunk as soon as they reached their
own camp; but while clamberinp into
the wagon a daring idea flashed into
his mind
Reaching the box containing the
spirits, medicines. etc. ne searched
among the bottles. while the highway
men were laughing nproa riously at the
narrative Of the spy. Bottle after bot
Tie he snatched up and held TO the
light of the lantern.
Come. Come Don't be all night
in there" Shouted one of the robbers.
just then Al found what he wanted
-asmall vial labeled: ..Laudanum.-
Wait till l find il. won't you?"
he shouted back, and, quickly empty
ing the contents Of the vial into the
brandy bottle. he replaced the cork,
gave the bottle a good shake and came
out -ith it in his hand. Here il is.-
he said. in as quiet manner as he
could command, as he handed it 10 the
spy.
The woods rang with laughter as the
bottle went from mouth to mouth. and
each robber drank to the health Of
Bills uncle. All Were in too good
humor over the success of the expedi-
ton and Bills joke to notice the agi-
tation which AL found impossible To
conceal. He trembled lest Bills pota-
tions during the afternoon had drained
the bottle so low that it would be emp
ty before it reached the leader, who
was the last TO drink.
There was enough 20 go round, how
ever. and when the robber chief had |
swallowed the last drop he dashed the
bottle against a tree.
Your uncle keeps pretty good |
liquor. Bill, he laughed, ..only don't 1
Just like the flavor Say. young fellow,
bring US out a few bottles to take along
with us. and well be off
All right" said AL. now anxious TO
detain them There's plenty of il,
and it will be all the better for the In.
dians If you drink il instead Of them"
Going back into the tent he opened
a case OF whisky, and, after pokng
about as long as ne deemed safe. with
the robbers shouting to him To hurry
up and not keep them waiting, he /
emerged with half dozen bottles in
his arms.
Bully boy" shouted the chief, de-
lighted at the prospect of plenty 81
liquor for some time TO come ..You
Snow how to treat gentlemen. after
Ill, If YOU were little era bbed at first.
And now" he went on. as he and his \
men slowed the bottles away in their
since you're So clever I'll /
rive you bit 81 advice The next
line you come home from market with
! bag of gold in your pocket. beware Of
trangcrs, especially chaps like my
Fan Bill. here. who want To ride out
a the country 10 their uncles'.-
AT this they all roarcd with laugh
er. and. putting spurs to their horses,
ashed out Of sight in the darkness.
Al gave shout of delight when once
he robbers were ont of hearing. and
st he lose track of them in
&c darkness and give them time 10 re-
over from the effects Of the lauda mum.
9 hastily explained TO the other bows
hat he had done. and mounting four
the best horses, they rode swiftly in
he direction the robbers had taken.
,arcely mile away. the prostrate
'rm Of one of the band was found
retchcd across the road. and little
rthcr on their horses grazed in ,
-oup by the wayside, while the high ,
aymen. wrapped i'm dcathlike sleep, ,
v curled up under the trees The I
'ys bound the sleepers' hands and !
ct; then. returning 10 camp. they I'M I
AIDED one OF the wagons and. hitch l
e team to IL. came back along the I
adj and picked up the unconscious
bbcrs. II was hard work getting n
me Of the heavy fellows into the O
lgon. but AL was afraid the lauda.
I'm might prove fatal; and leaving 4
'uman and August to look after the I.
mp, he and Frank drove with all Il
eed back TO the landing They G,
,pped several times at watering. A
aces and dashed cold water over the
ccs Of their prisoners, and when. at
eak of day. they arrived at the
lding. all had gained consciousness :.
Their friends NJ thu aattl.,,, ....ro -,