Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1898-11-10

side the road. An old Indian fighter
in the party searched long andscare-
fully. but even IFS ttEaiAsd eve failed
10; discoveEs.5a sign :Eh fair was a
mystery, and Tins theory, OF the ag zen,
cy Of the evil one began, covertly, to
gain some ground.
This strange Highway robbery,
however, was only the first of many
Ct similar character which from that
time en- amazed and terrified the pic-
,neers through out :sthatssec tion. The
paymaster Of numbering gang was
mysteriously pouncad upon and re-
lieved of $500 in small bills. A farmer
returning from he: girls tmill lost the
little roll of money that represented
nearly all his seasons earnings. A sur
seyor, separated from the rest of his
party, felt suddenly a death-like grip
about his neck that frightened relent-
lesslJ until he lost consciousness,
When he recovered he found his in
strument, his watch and his little store
Of cash all gone. 1t wassgetting to be
as much as mans life was worth to
venture alone into the woods.
Tn every, case it was noted that the
mysterious assailant attacked only
solitary victims, and that he always
bounced upon them silently from
above and behind; r: It was, enough to
make a man IS Blood cold to reflect that
at any moment this mysterious crea-
ture, man, beast or devil, might light
On his neck and choke, shoot Or stab
the life out Of him. 2As;yet there was
no@record' Of murder a tgyainst the crea-
ture, but VITO could tellwha he might
Go if resisted or unduly provoked?
after three different mail carriers
had been TO bed the post office officials
sent detective to St. Regis to look
unto the matter: This man, I:remem-
Der, was an object of the greatest
wonder and admira ton on the part of
cur entire community, none of US ever
having seen a real live detective be-
fore. He lodged with father during
his stay in St. Regis, and thus 1 was
brought into intimate association with
aim. The result of that intimacy, l
think may say, was what determined
my choice of a profession in life. But
| am depressing anticipa ting.
"Tbe detective secured the woods
Tor days at a time. He lay in conceal
ment.. at various points of the post
road between st. Regis and the sta
ton on the river where the mail was
delivered to the carrier. He even
rissked carrying the mail himself few
times; but, as he told me, laughingly.
the strain of that constant twist of
the neck was too much for him.
so long as the detective remained
in the vicinity there were n more rob-
berries nor assaults. The clever man
discovered nothing positive, but he
puzzled out clew, which he gave to
father for what it was worth when he
was obliged TO leave. on other business.
The clew was this: 7'='
Near the spot where the surveyor
had been oyerpowered the, detective
found an eagles feather. Most men
would not have given this slight cir
cumstance second thought. But a
detective is man to wh ON everything
possesses significance. My friend put
the feather il his pocket and pondered
ever it. He reflected that the ap-
proach of the bandit was always, an
parertly. through the air; that he
dropped silently down upon his victim
from behind and above, as bird of
Frey might do. Was it not possible,
then-putting two and two together
that the creature, whatever it was.
might be something in bird form?
Il saw that my father was inclined
to smile at the suggestion when it was
made to him, but I treasured it in my
mind, for I could not help feeling
somehow th at it came startlingly near
the truth.
NO sooner was the detective gone
than fell to working out his clew. To
be sure, was only boy, but + was
active and inquisitive and very desir-
Gus Of doing something to prove my
self worthy of the detectives friend
ship. Besides. the post office authori-
ties had offered a reward of $500 tina.
would lead to the discovery of the mys-
ferrous highwayman, or $500 for his
actual capture. Such an incentive as
this was enough to sharpen a boys
wits as well as mans. -'s''
"The thing for me to do, con cluded,
was to keep sharp outlook for eagles
at all hours Of the day. With this pur-
pose. in mind, I spent large share of
my leisure time on top Of aecliffi about
three miles from st. Regis, command
ng' a wide view of the valley in which
Tho vallage6lay. sa&4s
J "Che detective had been gone about
4 week when, one afternoon. as I lay
urnn the cliff, l saw shadow sail over
ths woods below me. Looking up from
IL