River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-08-25

turn. From his position on the hill he
could, in fact, have followed with his
eyes my progress and timed himself to
meet me again.
Hardly had my reflections reached
this conclusion when | saw the realiza-
ton of my fears in the shape of the
tramp, who emerged from the bushes
on the road and stood waiting for me to
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 rapid turn and retreat
to the Forks, where | might borrow
some death-dealing instrument, even
If it were, perforce, 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
try any violence within sight and hear
ing of the inmates of the house. Idrove
on slowly.
Say, give us ride inter town with
yer, will yer?' he growled suddenly, as
| came up with him, and without more
ado he placed one hand on the shaft
and scrambled into the seat beside me
Before / could express my disapproval
Of his actions. 1t was such a new ex-
perience to me to meet any one at all on
the route, and especially to have the
company of stranger thus uncere-
moniously thrust upon me that | could
think of nothing to say. Twas relieved
when | caught sight of Farmer Jones
coming briskly across the field for his
mail. | stopped the horse and greeted
him cordially, while a thousand plans
flashed through my mind only to be re-
Jected as absurd or impossible.
I felt like asking him for gun, an axe,
carving-knife, or something equally
deadly. But realized that to do so would
be to betray the fact that | was unarmed
to my ugly companion, besides inspiring
the honest farmer with doubts as to my
sanity. In fact, any manifestation of
nervousness on my part was, felt, to
be avoided. SO | said nothing when the
farmer turned and left us; and remem-
bering that there was stretch of lonely
road ahead of us, took out the whip.
cit was just at this part of the road,
with the wild mountain side on our right,
and>the peaceful but deserted valley on
our left, the horse at sharp clip and my
spirits rising as | realized that once
round the bend of the hill comparative
safety awaited me, when my big compan-
ion ron hnd forua ri cuddon1v a ?, Il couob%
the lines, at the same time calling on the
horse to stop. Jerking the animal back
on his launches, he caught the whip
from my hand.
"What do you mean?' I cried as the
horse stood still.
I mean,' said he, glazing at me feroc-
iously, that there's some money in yer
have it. Hand over them five 20-dollar
bills I see the farmer give yer up on the
hill, and don't lose time about it.
"'Never!' I cried. That money is in
the care of the United States govern
ment, and you shall not touch it.
"'Look here he growled, "you gim-
me that cash, young Teller, or I'll take it
from you
'"The situation was getting desperate,
and again warning him to keep his hands
from me, prepared to leap to the ground
and run. But before I could move his
powerful hands gripped me, and In an
other instant we were engaged In a
desperate struggle.
"It would have been a short one, for
~ ~ otnb fov. h m ond 70 no bpo11u
to choke me savagely, pushing me back
ward on the seat, when suddenly the
bushes on our right parted, and a man
with a gun, followed by dog, appeared
almost beside us. I recognized Dave
Peters, a we'll known and devoted hunt
err and his tanned and unhandsome face
came to me almost like a beatific vision.
"'Help, Dave!' I cried. '"This man is
trying to rob the mail. Help met
1.-THE ruffian had released me and was
endeavoring to assume a look of inno-
cence, but Dave was quick of mind and
had grasped the situation at a glance,
and his shotgun was leveled at the tramp
as he spoke.
"'Say the word he said to me, and
Til fill him full of shot. Did he take any,
thing from your
NO said l, feeling the money safe
in my pocket, but it is not his fault that
he didn't Get out of this wagon. added
sharply.
"He slowly dropped to the ground, eye
ing the gun cautiously, and then started
to run rapidly up the road.
Don't waste shot on him. said to
Dave. Let him CO. I don't think he'll
bother me again. But if you're going into
Corning, Dave, you might get up here
and accompany me. was foolish enough
to start out this morning without the
revolver l almost always carry, and
think l should feel better with a COM
panion I know-and a gum
$50, with the hunter on the seat beside
me and the dog trotting behind, drove
safely into the town"-Young People.