Alaska sentinel., 1907-07-18
The Robbery on
 The Valley Pike
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 pairing for the days work. when old Deacon Hamilton drove up the lane. Deacon Hamilton lived in Clayyille, tight miles distant. and was the fa- ther of Ben Hamilton, Clayville's only blacksmith.
 The deacon stopped at the gate. Good morning. Mir. Norcross" be said, addressing my father. I'm just on my way up to Hocum's mill, and l promised son I'd stop here and give you 6 message from him. He says If that offer you made him last Thurs day still holds good, he'll take the roan colt, and pay spot cash for It. He says he wants It right away, and would like you to send It down this morning Good day." Jerking the lines, the deacon drove on
 Joel and I, having oiled all four wheels of the large hay wagon, start ed toward the barn; but just as l reached the door, father called me back.
 Tom" said he, Joel and l will more than have our hands full to-day with the extra work, 90 neither of us can spare time to 80 down to Clay vile. But I need that eighty dollars. Now do you think you could take the colt down to Clayville without break ing your neck. and bring back the eighty dollars without losing 1t all on the way?"
 "Oh. yes father, yes!" cried, eagerly. Let me do It! can take the colt down as safely as you or Joel could And you needn't be afraid Of my losing the money. I'll look out for that"
 After a moments recitation, father said. Well, put the saddle and bridle on the colt, and bring 1t out"
 l had never been permitted to ride the colt before, 80 hailed this unex- pected opportunity with delight
 It was eight miles to Clayville, just the right distance for a pleasant moru- lnss ride And the walk home was as nothing to me. Then, too, this prospec- tive mission had in It an element of lmportance-the sum of money with which I was to be entrusted.
 In less than four minutes I had sad dled and bridled the colt, aud had led It down to the gate, where father was awaiting me.
 "Now, Tom," said father, after look. ing the colt over, you can leave the saddle and bridle at Hamilton's and we'll get them the next time we drive to town"
 He paused for . moment, and then proceeded to give me instructions about the eighty dollars that 1 was ts bring home I was to put this in fathers leather wallet, tie the wallet securely at the top, and place 1t h the inside pocket of my roundabout
 Ten minutes later I rode the colt out through the barn-yard gate, and down the lane to the pike.
 Out on the broad, smooth pike, the colt, with but little urging. started of at an easy, swinging gallop. The air was cool and crisp; the grass at the roadside sparkled with dew, and up in the treetops the birds were singing their sweetest songs.
 The clock on the court house was striking eight as I arrived In Chyvills and rode down Main street, upon which, a block beyond the court house, Is situated the village smithy.
 When I rode in through the door way of the smithy, and slipped down from the saddle, flushed and warm from my ride, Hamilton was fitting q shoe to one of the most magnificent horses that have ever seen. With the single exception of a white star on its forehead, the horse was entirely black, its glossy coat resembling the finest black satin- It continually toss ed its head, archins its pretty neck, and nuttering its thick black mans i; and could not but notice bow plain and ugly our poor roan colt looked ip comparison.
 Hamilton looked up and nodded as I entered, but immediately gave his at tention to the black horse.
 How would you like to trade. bub r said q voice behind me. Turning, ! discovered a man whom had not no ticed before, seated upon . nail-kes near the door.
 .Is that your horse?" I inquired. as. having made the colts brldle fast to a post, I seated myself upon another overturned keg near the stranger.
 "Yes," he replied. smiling. that is my horse"
 The stranger seemed . very pleas. ant man in his manner. and not un- pleasant in appearance. He was about nfp years of age. or perhaps . year or