The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-08-26

lLoAeAt lhAi ] rae l-it nm TAT otA+AN'
"As left the Forks. however. after
celiycrire large bundle OF mail there.
and started on the homeward road. new
doubts and apprehensions assailed ne.
THE road | was on now remem-
bered curved back and ran for short
space almost parallel 10 the road on
which had come out. with only ayalley
I intervening II would be quite pos ibe
for The tramp By making his way across
/ tho valley 20 intercept me on my re-
turn. From his position on the hill To
could. In fact. have followed with his
eyes my progress and timed himself 20 I
meet me again
Hardly had my reflections reached 4
this conclusion when saw the realiza-
ton OF my fears in the shape Of tho
tramp. who emerged from the bushes
on the road and stood waiting for me 10
approach.
wild thoughts surged through my
brain. Should | rise in my seat cut the
horse with the whip. and gallop ruth
lessly over the fellow? Or was there yet
time TO make a rapid turn and retreat
to the Forks. where | might borrow
! some dea,h-dealing instrument even
I IL It were. perforce. a shotgun Then
saw through the trees the CLEAN OF
white farmhouse. and took courage.
After all. perhaps the fellow meant no
harm and in any event. he would hardly
4 try any violence within sight and hear
| ing of the inmates OF the house drove
= IN slowly.
II "'Say. give US a ride inter town with
a yer viii yer2' he growled suddenly. IS
i came up with him. and without more
1, ado he placed one hand on the shaft
and scrambled into the seat beside me
i before could express my disapproval
- Of his actions Il was such new eX-
perience 10 me TO meet any one al all on
the route. and especially 70 have i-'
company OF stranger thus uncere'
/, moniOusly thrust upon me that ccul'
think Of nothing 20 say. was relieved
when I caught sight Of Farmer Jone
coming hriskly across the field for hi
mail ! stopped the horse and greete
~ him cordially. while a thousand plan
0i' flashed through my mind only TO be re
jected as absurd or impossible
nu i feltlike asking him for gun. an ak
1le a carving-knife. or something equal
'ne deadly. But / realized that 70 Go 50 wou
~ be 10 betray the fact that was urarm'
YIN 10 my ugly companion, besides inspirir
uh- the honest farmer with doubts as 70 n
the sanity. In fact. any manifestation
nervousness on my part was. felt.
ahu be avoided So I said nothing y hen y
OF farmer turned and left US. and remei
oes' herring that there was a stretch OF lone
'itn road ahead OF Us. took out the whip.
o"s IT was just at this part Of the ro'
20 with the wild mountain side on our rig
NEG ard the peaceful but deserted Vaiiey
oh our left. the horse al sharp clip ana
shirts rising as I realized that 81
the round the bend Of the Hill comparat
the safety awaited me. when my big comps
had ION reached forward suddenly and eau.
1 the the lines. at the same time calling on
&C OF horse TO stop. Jerking the animal y
on his launches. he caught the
lined from my hand
.thcr .~wbat 60 YOU mean?' cried as
mail horse stood still
feet 81 mean. said he. glarine al me iei
ossed iously that there's some money -
,oxes nocket. young Teller, and I'm goln
r the t,ve n Hand over them five 2O-do
more nils | see the farmer give yer up on
men hiu and don't lose time about H.
ex- . Never I cried That money
,hs care ~ the United States gov
,ute men, and YOU shall not touch IL
y tho .Took here he grovlec, you
n i'm me TIA. cash. young teller. or III Ia
close from you
, gun. .sThe situation was getting cespe'
is do. and again warning him TO keep hls 4
we're from me. prepared to leap 10 the er'
lev IN and run. But before could move
Of the ,owerful hands gripped me. and y
am NO. instant we we're engaged
werful desperate struggle.
nv hin 1T would have been short one.
! time vas no match for him. and ne mac 7
illness choke me save Fely. pushing me
ressed .-4 On the seat. when suddenly
GROW t,,shss IN our right parted. and
e gun with a gun followed ny coz, apr
Vas or almost beside US J reeuAhi.1e
lat the peters well known and devoted
nd oc- - and his tanned and urhancsom
..r,s ~ me almost like heatinc
sr ...rIoin nave cried This II
,ntsn6 ,-r,rr 70 rob the mail Help me-
\ leads ..The ruffan had released me an
Farmer o,soavorirr 70 assume a looh OF
~ path eerce but Dave was quick Of MN
waving mad rrasped the situation Ct :
tied for and his shotgun was leveled at 'he
as he spoke.
r which .s,v the word he said TO me
IN A. ,.u fl him full ofshot DIG ne 'ah
odd him thing from youe'
me to- ...No. said |. feeling the none
~ order ., nv pocket. but il Is not ms iuu
! would hsdiant Get out Of this wagon
unit. and sharply.
onld see He slowly dropped to the groIn
,sed and The gun cautiously. anf then
- run rapidly mp the road
: hearty mont waste shot on him. !
ling ON, nave let him 90 dom thii
~, ',,~ 80 ho,ber me again. But ifyou're soi
-, another Corning Dave. you might get !
az S,,~ and md accompany me was foolish
! ~ hare - start out this morning Win
~ovolver almost always carrs
- Mil should feel better with