Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-07-18
ROBBERS OUTWITTED.
BY MYRoN b. GIBSON.

~ NAS huAhG oho PdAChdolhS VI nuPPAASS
Tor small settlement on the Mime
sofa river devolved upon sour 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 a
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 q
trading post near the settlement
AL Talman, the Oldest of the boys,
WHO was intrusted with the buying
and selling, sold the wheat for high
price, and, countingt he gold he received
Tor it, dropped it into buckskin purse
and thrust it deep in his pocket, taking
little notice of the crowd about the
warehouse Office as he did so.
While the boys were loading the
traders goods into their wagons, o
welldressed stranger sauntered up, and
after cracking joke or two, careless
~ inquired where they were freight
Ing.
''Out to the LIE Sueur settlement"
replied AL.
us that SOP" exclaimed the stranger.
"Why, that's the very place / want to
reach! I've an uncle out that way
somewhere" he continued, as he
glanced at the name on the boxes and
barrels. Hes trader by the name of
Verdier. Do you know him?"
II guess l dol" replied AL. "Why,
these are his goods we are loading
with, See his name here on this box?"
"Well, declared exclaimed the fell
low, stepping up to examine the name
rs if he had not read it before. can
tome Verdirer That's the name sure
enough. And say, my young friend,
can you carry me out there with your"
''Of course can" answered Al, glad
to be of service to prospective neigh
Dor. 81 suppose you'll take up land
and go to farming like the rest of us?"
That's just what L want to do" re-
piled the man. SIS there any good
government land near my uncle's
placer"
'Oh. yes, plenty of it," said AL, land
the folks will all be glad to have an
other neighbour"
''I'm glad to hear that" said the
stranger 81 came up on the boat just
the other day, and was afraid Ta be
TOO late to get any good land. I'll go
up TO the hotel now and get my things
seady--that is, unless you'd like my
help about loading" ......
''Never mind tn at" said AL. "You
70 and get ready, and We'll 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 Pm 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; II
think myself I've seen his face be-
fore"
ooh, pshaw!'' said AL, who did not
relish this imputed want of sagacity on
his part. Its some other fellow that
you've seen. What's the difference,
anyhow? / guess four of US needn't be
afraid of fellow of his size" .
Eyes, but we ought not to take any
chances" persisted Frank. ''All 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" m#.. . ....
'"That's so, they did" admitted AL
''But l don't see how we're going to
get out of it now" '..
'Just in time, amt l?" said the man,
stepping briskly up with his bundle, as
the boys were ready to start, and
climbing into the seat side of AL. ~
thought I'd get back in time to eat din
ner with you, SO brought along some
sandwiches"
''Time enough yet" said AL. "We're
loaded heavier than usual, and thought
we'd eat as we rode along, to save
time"
"a very good plan," assented the
stranger, who was soon sampling AIS
doughnuts, 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
backwoods stores, not emitting the
baleful fire water" that rendered bar
ter with the Indians so profitable to
INSCRIPTIONS traders.
Whats that uncle's got in thereP"
asked the stranger, pointing to box,
the lid of which had become loosened.
"Some kind of liquor, guess" re-
piled AL. II see it's full of bottles"
swell, if that's the case, we must
have something to wash down this
lunch" exclaimed the stranger. as he
leaned over, tore 90 the lid and began
handling over the bottles.
Hold on!" cried AL. "These things
don't belong to me, and I'd rather
you'd let them alone!''
sob, never fearr' laughed the man,
as he continued rummaging among the
bottles. ''I'll make it all right with
uncle. Why, he wouldn't like it ut all
If didn't help myself to anything of
his"
The box contained all sorts of drugs
and medicines, but at last the fellow
found what he wanted and held up a
large bottle labeled brandy"
Here we have i'll" he shouted, and.
after Al and the other boys had de-.
clined to drink, the fellow took long