Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1906-05-24
A Highway Robbery
Incident


Enthusiastically.
You're right. We shall have wild
flowers soon" replied Benedict
II love the spring. In the spring
feel as If | were expanding with the
buds; in the spring am brave, long
for excitement. adventure. | would
like to have lived In the good old days
Of Dick Turpin. DO you know, | have
been reading lately that often gentle
men In England took to the highway.
I'm sure II | had lived at that time
and been Il man | would have been II
robber.'
Luckily there are several IFS in the
way"
.Yon wouldn't have lived that life"
mo"
why"
1T was neither an honest nor a
pleasant way of getting a living"
Perhaps you're not brave"
with moose hanging over my
head I'm sure | should be great
coward"
"You wouldn't make good spy IN
war would your
mo. would prefer to fight in uni
form"
"Do you see that place we are com
Ing to down thcreY' said Olive. "That's
where Il man was robbed once. It's a
capital place for the purpose, the road
narrowing between the trees on either
hand"
But it would be easy to back out
from Those big stones just this side
would be good hiding places"
Hiding places! I'm astonished at
you You should rather call them de-
fensive places behind which to hold an
enemy at bay"
They passed through the highway
mans position, the nmn apparently I'M
Interested, the girl casting furtive
gIances about her as though robber
were lurking there Mt that very mo-
ment Soon after leaving it they turn
ed into the gateway of handsome
country place.
Benedict Everett after dinner lighted
a cigar and started for the village TO
get the evening mail. There was a
glow in the west following the setting
Of the sun but he scarcely noticed It,
He was much in love with the ro-
mantle young lady who had aspira-
tons to be n highwayman and had pro-
posed to her. She had refused him on
the ground that he was too matter OF
fact. He wished he could find some
method Of getting the romance out Of
her. His only objection to 1t was that
1t stood between him and her. Once
married, the cares OF wife and mother
would soon draw her away from such
schoolgirl nonsense, but he was not an
inventive genius, and no method Of
curing her occurred to him
An hour later he was returning. 1t
was quite dark. Suddenly in some
high bushes beside the road he heard a
click and in another moment the
words:
Throw up your hands,"
Everett stopped IL the same mo-
ment masked head appeared above
the bushes, and re, Oliver was thrust
near his face.
Throw up your hands, said the
voice again.
my friend" replied Everett. don't
you think | would look very ridiculous
standing here in the road under the
stars with my hands sticking up In the
air?"
Hands up or I shoot"
Why shooti l am perfectly willing
to listen to any demands you have to
make upon me and, If they are reason
able, to satisfy them
''Do rs | bid or You are dead man"
"My dear fellow, | have no desire to
live. have just been refused by n
lovely girl. and life will henceforth be
a burden 10 me-"
Meanwhile Benedict. instead ~ back
ing away from the robber. was slowly
working his way toward the weapon
confronting him, and it was now with.
In his reach. He made n sudden grasp
for it and wrepched 1t from the rob
ber's hand
Hands upr' cried Everett. in a
changed tone.
He could see pair OF hands thrust
In the air The sleeves were full and
resembled domino.
Turn about and march. Quick"
The figure lost no time in obeying
the order. 1t stepped brlskly into the
road When ii was out where he could
get better view of IT Benedict saw a
flowing garment of some sort over
other clothes, Everett concluded TO
fire shot over the mans head to
hasten his steps The pistol did not
fire, He pulled the trigger again
Again it failed
What, no load? III YOU turn III
brain YOU with it,
Everett heard a sttled sob, then "oh,
Benedict"
He advanced. caught the figure in
bis arms. tore Off mask and in the
dim light recognized Olive.
"GGy lgcGrgas s&E&. ~ exclaimed,
what does t}ts meaut'
Olive put her hands TO her face and
trcmbled convulSively.
That ended the highway robbery in
cidcnt and it ended Mr.. Everetts re-
iDptfou To was Inyipwlv Syp,r afb ,tip