The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1897-04-28

brought with me carried In n small
vaiise, and. without seeming to do 40. I
took especial care that II should not be
out Of my sight.
There was no sign OF bed in the
house, and mine host informed me that
we would lie compelled 70 sleep on
sacks OF wool, but as these proved 10 be
better couch than many had occupied
in houses with more pretensions to
comfort, had no reason to complain,
Zeb slept near the door, while nv
couch was close by the little window
that overlooked the river. My satchel
and pistol | laid by my side. was
not entirely easy in my mind, and had
not removed my clothes on retiring. I
had thought it best that / stay awake
most of the night, but under the drowsy
feeling that soon came over me my reso-
luton forsook me, and before / knew
1t i fell asleep.
1t must have been near midnight
when, all OF a Sudden, awoke. rose
to sitting posture. and. looking about
me. | was vaguely conscious that
had heard door slam, but IL might
have been my imagination. | felt for
my pistol and valise, but with feeling
of amazement and apprehension | dis
covered that both were gone! In a mo-
ment | was up and had drawn on my
coat and shoes. A glance into the cor
ncr where my host had slept revealed
the fact that he had also disappeared.
There was no doubt in my mind now
that he had robbed me and fled.
Deprived Of the only weapon I had,
as well as the money, my predicamcnt
was indeed deplorable. / hurried from
the cabin, hoping to be able to over
take the robber, but as walked toward
the spot where my horse had been
picketed / discovered that he, too, had
been taken.
This was q pretty mess, indeed.
Robbed and set afoot, without even a
struggle. What would my uncle say
when he should learn of the way had
been duped? l hardly dared think of
the matter.
AS ] walked toward the river I
caught sight of dark form moving
in the shade of the trees some distance
down the stream, and | went i'm pur-
suit as swiftly and noiselessly as posi-
bic, keeping my body carefully con-
cealed in the shadows of the trees.
l soon came close to the figure and was
not surprised to discover that it was
none other than my host, Zeb Coon. He
was standing by large covered wagon,
to which was hitched pair of stout
horses. lie stood in little glade among
the trees, the light of the moon. which
had just risen, plainly revealing his
features. He was engaged in hitching
my horse, which he had just led up, to
completed this, he mounted the seat
and drove away.
] stood for moment irresolute, hard
ly knowing what course to pursue.
There was little chance of my being
able to cope with the robber, for he
was well armed, while | had no weapon
whatever. But | could not bear the
idea of allowing myself to be such an
easy victim to the mans treachery, and
started in pursuit of the wagon, hav-
ing no well-defined plan of action in my
mind.
But l was thinking rapidly as l
walked along. / must make some effort
to recover the stolen money-on this
point / was decided-but how should |
proceed? This was the question that
was hard to answer.
The man turned to the left. and was
driving toward the open prairie. Once
out of the shadows of the trees, 1 real
lied the danger l would be in in at
tempting to follow the wagon. AS these
thoughts crossed my mind, sudden re-
solve took possession of me, and dartinS