Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1904-09-22

thought that y had left him far behind
"As I left the Forks, however, after
delivering a large bundle of mail there
and started on the homeward road, new
doubts and apprehensions assailed me-
''The road was on, I 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. 1t would be quite possible
for the tramp, by making his way across
the valley, to intercept me on my le-
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. A
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. 4
wild thoughts surged through my
brain. Should I 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 1t were, perforce, a shotgun? Then
saw through the trees the CLEAN of a
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 a ride inter town with
yer, Will yer? he growled suddenly, az
came up with him, and without moro
ado he placed one hand on the shaft
and scrambled into the seat beside me
before could express my disapproval
of his actions. It was such 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 1 could
think of nothing to say. Twas relieved
when l caught sight of Farmer Jones
coming brislkly 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.
1felt 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 tt .
farmer turned and left us; and remems
bering that there was stretch of lonely
road ahead of us, l took out the whip.
1T was just at this part of the road.
with the wild mountain sideon our right,
and the peaceful but deserted valley on
our left, the horse at a 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 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.
"T 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!' 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 III 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 grtpped me, and in an
other instant we were engaged in .
desperate struggle. r
1T would have been short one, for I
was no match for him, and he had begun
to choke me, savagely. pushing me back
ward on the seat, when suddenly the
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with a gun, followed by dog, appeared
almost beside us. I recognized Dave
Peters, a we'll known and devoted hunt
er, and his tanned and unhandsome face
came to me almost like a beatific vision.
"'Help, Dave!' cried. 'This man is
trying to rob the mail. Help mel
'The ruffian 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 tramI'
as he spoke.
"'Say the word he said to me, I III
I'll fill him full of shot. Did he take al '.
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. t.' IT,. -.
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. sais to
Dave. Let him 60. I don't think he II