Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-06-06

L
the man thrashing around in the tan
gled brush; and then, apparently sur
missing that the wallet had fallen at a
point some distance back, he pushed
farther into the forest and l could hear
him no longer.
The farm wagon was rumbling along
toward me at a snail's pace l knew
that it would be useless for me to cry
for help while the farmer was at that
distance; for even if l could make my
voice heard, the robber in his wrath
might do me bodily injury-perhaps
kill me-and escape before the farmer
could possibly arrive. So 1 stood there,
my hands trembling. and prayed in an
incoherent way that the robber might
be delayed until the farmer was near
enough to render me some assistance
Nearer and nearer the wagon came.
I could almost distinguish the features
of the farmers face, and could hear
quite plainly his cries of "Ged dep -
and "G'lang."
the illusions Of hope, and then my
heart sank within me deeper than ever
as | saw the team turn into a by-road
and disappear.
In a second 1 had determined upon
a wild dash. With difficulty getting my
left foot into the stirrup, l swung my
self across the saddle. Hardly had /
seated myself when the horse started
of. And the next minutes we were gal.
Looping madly up the pike.
Suddenly 1 heard far behind me a
loud cry and CHANGING hastily over my
shoulder, 1 saw the robber come run.
ming out Of the woods, wildly waving
his arms and shaking his fist at US.
1 paid no attention to him; nor did
the horse heed his late masters voci,
ferrous "whoas."
On we galloped. I did not sing now,
l have a faint recollection Of passing
several men and boys during that ride
one or two Of whom, 1 believe, called
after me. But who they were or what
they said to me, | do not know.
On and on we gallopsed. We passed
the old blasted oak at the corner OF
Watson's corn-feld, and assembled the
slight rise in the pike known as Ben.
der's Knoll. And then my heart gave
a great bound as l saw, through q gaI
in the hills before me, the end of oul
big red barn, and a little farther off
the brown, implanted roof Of the farm
house.
a few moments later I rode in
through the barn-yard gate; and, after
tying the horse to the fence, hasten
ed over into the fields to convey to IA
Their and Joel my momentous news
Again and again 1 asked myself
What will father say?"
Olce or twice l was on the point OF
rushing back to the house to tell my
story to mother; for I knew that she
would comfort me, and if necessary, in
tercede on my behalf. But 1 was neal
to the place where father and Joel were
working; and a voice within me seem
ed to whisper, Don't be a coward
Tom Norcross :" So l hurried on.
well, Tom," said father, as l came
up, did you bring the money with
you?"
81 started home with 1t, pa" I said
'but, pa, was-I was
robbed! ~
"What?" said father, Strengthening
himself with a jerk.
$50" said Joel, incredulously. 81
want to KNOW
tom, do you mean to say that you
were robbed on your way up from
Clayville" said father.
For reply 1 told my story from be
ginning to end. Now, pa, it WASN'T
my fault, was it?" l asked.
mo, Tom,' said father. 81 DOM
think it was your fault; bullets &C
and take a look at that horse"
l ran ahead of father and Joel, anG
by the time they reached the barn
yard gate l had led the horse down tc
meet them.
Father carefully looked the horse
over, searched in vain for spawn OIL
ringbone, and forced it's mouth oper
to examine its teeth.
Here, JOEL he said, lead him VI
and down once or twice"
Joel led the horse up and down tbs
yard several times, while father
standing at a little distance, eyed i
critically.
Finally father turned to me.
'Tom," said he, this horse is worth
a great deal more than eighty dollars
1t is very doubtful if the scamp WIKI
robbed you actually owns the animal
If he does, he will never come to claim
it. But it is probable that it belong;
to some one else, and if that is so We
must seek the owner
We sought the owner in vain. We
advertised the horse five successive
weeks in the Exeter County Sentinel
and tackled up notice in the Clayville
postoffice But we received no reply
The robber himself was never agaiI
seen in this part of the country.
ODe Jay StNcIdl NSchS ldleI. w ulle
passing the scene of the robbery, 1 wa:
impelled by curiosity to explore the
ground among the trees at the road
side. l did so; and to my astonish
ment l found, lodged in the uncovered
roots of a large oak, fathers wallet
The robber had not found it!
There certainly was robbery on tn,
Valley Pike; but who was robbed, ant
by whom was the robbery committed
Many years have passed since then
and I am no longer boy Of 10. Blu
to this day my conscience is decidedly
uneasy on the subject Of the robbery
on the Valley Pike.-Youth's Com
panion.
Our Voices Deepen.
The primitive inhabitants of Europ,
were all tenors; their descendants o
the present time are baritones, and FIJI
ture generations will have semibas