Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-10-06

- v sj hurst, tle uetec-
:, FL = tive, with q
d. s.- smile, as he
~ caught my eye
wandering for
7Ns+ss' the fifth time to
the big bird perched, with outspread
wings, on the top of his bookcase.
"Have another cigar, and L will tell
you how L came by him. The tale is
odd and will interest you, think.
"It happened in 1915. The great
and populous State of Missouri was
then little more than thinly settled
wilderness. Travelling was done
mainly by stage and saddle. There
were few main roads, leading for
long distances through woods and
prairie; but for the most part the
country was wild and uninhabited.
Father, at that time, lived about
forty miles from the present site of ST.
Louis, in little frontier community
called ST. Regis. believe the name
has been changed since. l haven't
been back there for half century.
Father was storekeeper and postmas-
ter [ was his only child, and, at the
time [ am telling you about, was kid
of fourteen.
cone day the mail carrier rode up
to the store in state of great excite
ment. He tumbled off his horse and
came into the store, pale, and hardly
able to speak.
"'What's the matter, Corrigan?'
asked my father.
Matter, sor? The mischief's to
payl An imp of sathan dropped upon
me out av the clear sky, sor, an wild
a pistol to each wan av me ears, tow!d
me to drop the mail bag in the road
an ride for me life, widout vance
lookin behind
"'And you obeyed?'
'Av coorse Oh did. Whin the evil
wan himself has the drop on man
loike that, do yez thinl; it would be
healthy for him to stop an palaver?
No, sor! Oh cut loose the mailbag,
and the fiend dropped off me horses
flank, an the fates be praised Oi'm
alive to tell yez the tale
"'Did you not get glimpse OF the
man?
"'The man? No, sort Oi'm tellin
yez it wasn't Il man at all! 1t was
foul tiend or Oi'll ate me head. How
could a man light upon me horses
back from behind, widout a sound ay
warning?' The first ting Oh knew,
the imp had his shootin' irons in me
ears; an whin he sphoke the schmell
av his voice was like sulphur. U-r-r-r!
Worra, worral Tim Corrigan's no
coward, PLACE God, whin it comes to
dalin' wild man or baste. But the Old
Scratch himself's another thing"
"The news spread like wildfre
through the little community that
burly Tim Corrigan had been robbed
OF the mail. Twelve or fifteen men
and boys soon gathered at the store
and party was made up, headed by
my father, to ride back to the scene
of the robbery and see if any trace of
Tins 'tiend' could be discovered.
Tim himself, at first, refused to go.
He was entirely demoralized by super
stitious fear. But upon promise of q
body-guard and safe place at the
rear, he finally consented to be one of
the party.
"rhe mail bag was found ut the en-
act spot indicated by Corrigan, ripped
open and rilled of all its valuable con-
tents, consisting Of several packages
OF value aid enclosures Of money. But
not the slightest trace of the thief could
be discovered. There were no prints
| OF n horses hoofs, save those of the
animal ridden by Corrigan himself.
Neither coril q mans footprints be
| found, nor trail in the bushes beside
the read. Au old Indian fighter in
the party searched long and caref&ly,
/ but even his trained eye failed to dis
cover Il sign. The affair was mys-
terry, and Yim's theory of the agency
OF the Evil One began, covertly, to
gain some ground.
"fhis strange highway robbery,
however, was only the first of many
of similar character which, from that
time on, amazed and terrified the
pioneers throughout that section. The
| paymaster of n numbering gang was
mysterionsly pounced upon and re-
heyed of $500 in small bills. A farmer
returning from the gristmill lost the
little roll of money that represented
nearly all his seasons earnings. A
surveyor separated from the rest of
MS part felt suddenly death-like
grip about his neck that tightened re-
lentlessly until he lost consciousness.
When he recovered he found his in
strnment, his watch, and his little
store of cash all gone. 1t was getting
to be rs much as a mans life was worth
TO venture alone into the woods.
"In every case it was noted that the
mysterious assailant attacked only