Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-01-23

-SfStES; remarked Sand
" III hurst, the detec
-%:--M= tive, with a
-GE-- El- smile, as he
- 81 carght my eye
~ wandering for
lsS:.ssle lS.ssle the fifth time to
the big bird perched, with outspread
wings, on the top of his bookcase.
"Have another cigar, and [ will tell
you how | came by him. The tale is
odd and will interest you, I 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. 1 haven't
been back there for half a century.
Father was storekeeper and postmas-
ter. L was his only child, and, at the
time L am telling you about, was kid
Of fourteen.
cone day the mail carrier rode up
to the store in a state of great excite
ment He tumbled off his horse and
came into the store, pale, and hardly
able to speak.
"'Whats the matter, Corrigan?'
asked my father.
Matter, sor? The mischief's to
pay! An imp of sathan dropped upon
me out av the clear sky, sor, an wild
q 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 think it would be
healthy for him to stop an palaver?
No, sorl Oi cut loose the mail bag.
and the fiend dropped off me horses
flank, an the fates be praised! Dim
alive to tell yez the tale.
"'Did you not get glimpse OF the
man?'
"'The man? No, sor! Oi'm tellin'
yez it wasn't man at ALL 1t was a
foul tiend or Oi'll ate me head. How
could man light upon me horses
back from behind, widout sound av
warniug?' 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!
Worrn, worra! Tim Corrigan's no
coward, PLACE God, whin it comes to
d'alin' 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 'fiend' could be discovered
Tim himself, at first, refused to 60
He was entirely demoralized by super
stitious fear But upon promise of {
. body-guard and a safe place at the
rear, he finally consented To he one ot
the party.
"rhe mail bag was found ot tba az
: act spot indicated bv Corrigon rinne,
D open and riiled of all its valuable con
, tents, consisting Of several nockaga
of value and enclosures Of MONEY Br
not the slightest trace of the thief coul,
} be discovered. There were no mint
| Of horses boots. save those Of fl,
; animal ridden by Corriaon himself
, Neither could a mans footnrints h,
found. nor trail in tha brsbos L.sid
the read. An old Indian fiobter !,
. the party searched lone and coraf,ry