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



sofa river devolved upon four vop,,
fellows from fifteen TO seventeen Yea,
OF age They had made several trir
with loads Of wheat 70 the neare,
town on the Mississippi, and laid in
winters supply of provisions for tn
whole settlement, and on this, the
last trip, were 10 sell their wheat r.
cash and bring back loads Of freigh
for an old Frcnchman who kept
trading post near the settlement
Al Talman. the oldest Of the boy,
who was intrusted with the buyin
and selling. sold the wheat for hir
price, and. countingt he gold he receive
for IL, dropped it into buckskin purs
and thrust il deep in his pocket, takin
little notice of the crowd about III
warehouse Office as he did so.
While the boys were loading tn,
traders goods into their wagons,
'~ell-dressed stranger sauntered up. ans
after cracking joke or two. careless
" inquired where they were freight
ing.
Out to the lie Sueur settlement.
replied AL.
rs that SOP" exclaimed the STRANGER
Why. that's the very place want Ia
reach! I've an uLcle out that way
somewhere. he continued, as he
glanced at the name on the boxes and
barrels. Hes trader by the name of
'crdier. DO you know him?"
guess do" replied AL "Why.
these are his goods we are loading
with. See his name here on this box?''
We'll. declare" exclaimed the fell
low, stepping up To examine the name
as II he had not read il before. ".An-
tome |erdire. That's the name sure
enough. And say. my young friend.
can you carry me out there with you?'
'Of course ! can" answered Al. glad
70 be of service TO a prospective neigh
Dor II suppose you'll take up land
and go to farming like the rest of us?''
That's just what | want 10 do" re-
Piled the man. lis there any good
government land near my uncle's
place."
oh. yes. plenty of it, said Al, land
the folks will all be glad 10 have am
other ncighbor"
I'm glad TO hear that" said the
stranger. II came up on the boat lust
the other day. and was afraid Ia be
too late 10 get any good land Ill GO
up To the hotel now and get my things
ready-that is. unless you'd like my
help bout Loading
Never mind that said AL. "You
go and get ready, and well soon have
these things aboard"
say. AL spoke up Frank Gibbs, as
soon as the man was out of hearing"
believe that fellow is lying. If I'm not
I've seen him hanging around
nearly every time we've been here"
II wouldn't wonder il Frank was
right. AL" added August Shacfer: II
'hink myself I've seen his face be-
'ore.''
oh. pshaw.' said Al. who did not
'clish this imputed want Of sagacity on
lis part. Its some other fellow that |
'or've seen What's the difference.
anyhow? guess fourof us needn't be
lfraid Of a fellow of his size
Yes. but we ought not to take any |
hanccs." persisted Frank. "All that
money and these goods are enough 10
empt robbers il they knew we had
hem aboard. and you know the folks
us not TO take up with stran-
crs-
That's SO, they did admitted AL.
But don't see how we're going TO
eft out Of il now"
Just in time, amt H." said the man.
topping briskly up with his bundle. as
ne boys were ready To start. and
limbing into the seat side Of AL. II
iought Id get back in time to eat din
er with you. 50 brought along some
indwiches."
Time enough yet" said AL. "We're
'adcd heavier than usual. and thought
ed eat "a we rode along, to save
me-"
"A very good PLAN" assented the ,
ranger. who was soon sampling AIS
'ugbnuts, while the latter returned
he compliment by helping himself 10 ,
lie strangers sandwiches.
The goods Of the trader consisted Of
e dry goods. groceries. medicines ,
'htifhA''ts tttss community htIfi III
ackwoods stores. not emitting the ,
Ilcful fire water that rendered bar ,
= with the Indians so profitable to
traders.
What's that unclc's got in there" I,
ked the stranger. pointing TO n box.
e lid of which had become looscned. :
Some kind Of liquor, guess. re- h
led Al. II see it's full Of bottles" ;
Well. II that's the case. we must I
We somcthing 10 wash down this {
nch. exclaimed the stranger. as he
lncd over. tore 90 the lid and began -
ndling over the bottles. y
Hold on" cried AL These things o
mt belong to me. and Id rather n
I'd let them alone.'' a
oh. never fear" laughed the man. il
he continued rummaging among the IL
tiles. "I'll make il all right with y
Gle. Whv. he wouldn't like IL at all y
didn't help myself to anything Of G
The box contained all sorts OF drugs p,
4 medicines. but at last the fellow il
ind what he wanted and held up a e
&c bottle labeled brandy il
Here we have IT." he shouted, and.
er al and The other boys had de-
ned TO drink. this fellow took long OF
y at the bottle and set IL back in b,
box. He did not forget where he ii
H. however. but paid his respects dl
tquite often during tho afternoon.
! carried shotgun in his wagon. CO
when they stopped 70 make camp tn
the upper end Of smoky Hollow er