Alaska sentinel., 1907-07-18
eyes twInkled most unpleas.

beadlike eyes twlnkled most unpless- antly.
 Taking the wallet from my pocket. held 1t out toward him. Here 1t is," I said, bitterly.
 He stepped forward to take 1t when. with a quick, outward jerk of my hand. I flung the wallet far back among the trees at the roadside.
 You little. seamp!" said the robber. the smile now gone from his face. Why did you do thatT
 q don't know" replied, astenIshed at my own audacity, unless 1t was because I wanted to-"
 He led his horse to the edge of the wood, and tried to tie the bridle round one of the trees. But the girth of the tree was too great, as, Indeed was that of every tree in sight He glanced about In a vain search for something to which be might hitch his horse. But although he was unsuccessful in this, he had gained one point; he had placed himself and his horse between me and the thicket In which I had flung the wallet
 Bub, he said, suddenly turning. his features again lighted by that pleasantest of smiles, lets be reason able."
 made no reply, but waited to hear what he had to say.
 "Now,' be continued. 'T can't trust you to go into the woods to look for the purse, because If you found 1t you wouldn't come back. And l can't go myself. because there Is no place here to tie my horse. But I'll tell you what I will do. If you will hold the horse for me. and not let 1t go, nor at tempt to play any tricks on me, I'll go and find the purss, and divide the money with you. You know It will be much better to go home with forty dol lars than with nothing"
 This seemed very reasonable, be- cause for the moment saw before me no choice except that between losing all the money and losing only half.
 I preferred losing only half. So stepped over to where the robber stood.
 All right" I said, grasplng the bridle. I'll hold the horse"
 The robber. with the parting injunc- ton, NOW remember what | said T" plunged into the thicket
 Looking up the pike now, saw at a glance the explanation of his hasty terms for there, not more than . quar- ter of a mile distant, came 6 farm wag- on drawn by two gray horses. Evil denty having seen this only q moment before, and believing that he had but & few brief minutes, in which to consum- mate his robbery, he had resorted to this daring scheme in sheer despera- tion.
 For . minute or two I could hear the man thraahing around in the tan- gled bruah; and then, apparently sur missing that the wallet had fallen at | point some distance back. he pushed farther into the forest and I could hear him DO longer.
 The farm wagon was rumbling along toward me at a snails pace. I knew that It would be useless for me ts cry for help while the farmer was at that distance; for even If I could make my voice heard, the robber h his wrath might do me bodily injury-perhaps Kill me-and escape before the farmer could possibly arrive. So I 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 assistanc nee.
 Nearer and nearer the wagon came. could almost distinguish the features of the farmers face. and could hear quite plainly his cries of "Ged dep!" and "G'lang."
 For one brief moment I indulged in the illusions of hope. and then my heart sank within me deeper than ever as saw the team turn into . by-road and disappear.
 In q second I had determined upon a wild dash. With difficulty getting my left foot into the stirrup, I swuns my self across the saddle. Hardly had I seated myself when the horse started of. And the next minutes We wsrs gal loplng madly up the pike.
 Suddenly heard far behind me . loud cry; and glandng hastily over my shoulder, I saw the robber come run ming out of the woods. wildly waving bis arms and shaking his fist at us.
 I paid no attention to him; Aor did the horse heed his late masters voci- ferrous "whoas."
 On we galloped. I did not sing now. I have . faint recollection of passing several men and boys during that ride, one or two of whom, I believe, called after me. But who they were or what T.