Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-09-07

1
"As left the Forks, however, after
delivering large bundle of mail there,
and started on the homeward road, new
doubts and apprehensions assailed me.
| The road 1 was on, now remem-
bered, curved back and ran for a short
space almost parallel to the road on.
which had come out, with only valley
intervening. Itwould be quite possible
for the tramp, by making his way across
the valley, TO intercept me on my re-
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
thls conclusion when l 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
morse with the whip, ana gallon ruth
lessly over the fellow? Or was there yet
time to make rapid turn and retreat
10 the Forks, where I might borrow
some death-dealing instrument, even
II 1t were. perforce, shotgun? Then
| saw through the trees the glea1m of
white farmhouse, and took courage.
AFTER all, perhaps the fellow meant no
narm and. in any event, he would hardly
try any violence within sight and hear
ing OF the inmates of the house Idroye
on slowly.
| say, give us a 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 l could express my disapproval
OF MS act1o3s. 1t was such a new ex-
perlence TO me to meet any one at all on
the route, and especially to have the
company of stranger thus uncere-
monlously thrust upon me that l could
think of nothing to say. was relieved
when l caught sight of Farmer Jones
coming briskly across the field for his,
mali. stopped the horse and greeted
MIN cordially, while a thousand plans
Mashed through my mind only to be re-
| Jected as absurd or impossible.
l felt like asking him for gun. an axe
/ ZINC 7nAAAC, VI SOIueCnlQS- equally
deadly. But realized that to do so would
be to betray the fact that l was unarmed
to my ugly companion, besides inspiring
the honest farmer with doubts as to nv
| 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-
Derlng that there was stretch of lonely
road ahead Of us, took out the whip
1T 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 I realized that once
round the bend of the hill comparative
safety awaited me, when my big compan-
ion reached forward suddenly and caught
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?' / cried as the
| horse stood still.
" L mean said he, glazing at me feroc-
iously that there's some money in yer
pocket, young Teller, and I'm goin' to
have it. Hand over them five 20-dollar
bills | 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 GIN
me that cash, young feller, 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 could move his
powerful hands gripped me, and in an
other instant we were engaged in a
desperate struggle.
at would have been a short one for
was no match for him, and he had begun
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. l recognized Dave
Peters, a we'll known and devoted hunt
err and his tanned and urhandsome face
came to me almost like beatific vision.
"'He1p, Dave! l cried. This man is
trying to rob the mail. Help me-!
1.-The rufian had released me and was
endeavoring to assume 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
I'll fill him full of shot. Did he take any
thing from your
No. said 1. feeling the money safe
in my pocket. but it is not his fault that
he didn't, Get out of this wagon, added
sharply. e
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 go. l don't think he'll
bother me again. But if you're going into
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