The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-07-20
ROBBERS OUTWITTED..


The var had made able-bodied men
% scarce that In the fall Of 1862 the
1reighting and purchasing of supplies
for a small settlement on the Mime
sofa river deyolved upon four young
fellows from fifteen to seventeen years
Of age. They had made several trips
with loads Of wheat to the nearest
town on the Mississippi, and laid in |.
winters supply Of provisions for the
whole settlement and on this, their
last trip, were to sell their wheat for
cash and bring back loads of freight
for an old Frenchman who kept a
trading post near the settlement
Al Talman, the Oldest of the boys,
who was intrusted with the buying
and selling. sold the wheat for a high
price, and. eountingthe goidhe received
for it, dropped it into a buckskin purse
and thrust it deep In his pocket, taking
little notice of the crowd about the
warehouse Office as he did 50.
While the boys were loading the
traders. goods into their wagons, q
vell-dressed stranger sauntered up, and
after cracking joke or two, careless
II inquired where they were freight
ing.
''out to the LIE Sueur settlement"
replied Al.
"Is that sop exclaimed the stranger.
"Why, that's the very place l want to
reachi I've an uncle ont that way
somewhere" he continued, as he
glanced at the name on the boxes and
barrels. Hes a trader by the name of
Verdier. Do you know him?"
Il guess I dol" replied Al. sWhy.
these are his goods we are loading
with, See his name here on this box?'
We'll, ] declareG' exclaimed the fell
low, stepping up to examine the name
as If he had not read 1t before. ".An-
tome Verdirer That's the name sure
enough. And say, my young friend.
can you carry me out there with you?r
.tOf curse ! can" answered Al, glad
to be of service to a prospective neigh
Der. 81 suppose you'll take mp land
and go to farming like the rest of us?"
That's just what 1 want to do" re
piled the man els there any good
government land near my uncle's
place."
"oh. yes, plenty of it" said Al, ''and
the folks will all be glad to have an
other neighbor."
sim glad to hear that" said the
stranger. Il came up on the boat just
the other day, and was afraid Ia be
too late to get any good land. III go
up TO the hotel now and get my things
~ready-that is, unless you'd like my
help about loading"
'sNeyer mind hat" said Al. "You
go and get ready, and we'll soon have
these things aboard"
Say, Al" spoke up Frank Gibbs. as
soon as the man was ont of hearing,"I
believe that fellow is lying. If I'm not
mistaken, I've seen him hanging around
nearly every time we've been here"
Il wouldn't wonder If Frank was
right, AL" added August Shaefer; ST
think myself I've seen his face be-
fore"
''Oh, pshawr' said Al, who did not
relish this imputed want of sagacity on
his part. ''It's some other fellow that
you've seen. What's the difference,
anyhow? Iguess four of us needn't be
4 u a 4CAAOo u Ill /
Eyes, but we ought not to take any
chances" persisted Frank. "AIl that
money and these goods are enough to
tempt robbers if they knew we had
them aboard, and you know the folks
warned us not to take up with stran-
gers"
'sThat's so, they did," admitted Al
"But Idon't see how we're going to
get out of it now"
Just in time, amt II" said the man,
stepping briskly up with his bundle, as
the boys were ready to start, and
climbing into the seat side of Al 81
thought I'd get back in time TO eat din
ner with you, SO / brought along some
Time enough yet" said Al. 'We're
loaded heavier than usual and thought
we'd a as we rode along, to save
IA very good plan," assented the
stranger, who was soon sampling AIS
while the latter returned
the compliment by helping himself to
the strangers sandwiches.
The goods of the trader consisted of
the dry goods, groceries, medicines,
ammunition. ETC., commonly kept in
stores. not emitting the
fire water hat rendered bar
ter with the Indians so profitable to
INSCRIPTIONS traders.
What's that uncle's got in there%
asked the stranger, pointing to a box,
the lid Of which had become loosened.
"Some kind of liquor, l guess" re-
piled Al II see it's full of bottles"
well, If that's the case, we must
have something to wash down this
exclaimed the stranger. as he
leaned over, tore 90 the lid andsbegan
hcndling over the bottles
Hold onI" cried Al. .'These things
belong to me, and I'd rather
let them aloneI" /,
s..Oh, never fearr' laughed the man.
Is he continued rummaging among the
I'm make it all right with
uncle. Why, he wouldn't like it at all
4 / didn't help myself to anything of
The box contained all sorts of drugs
md medicines, but at last the fellow
found what he wanted and held up a
bottle labeled brandy"