Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-06-05
mate Ms robbery, he had resorted to
this daring scheme In sheer desnera.

mate Ms ROBBERY. he had rescrted to
this daring scheme In sheer despera-
ton.
For minute or two could hear
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 could hear
him no longer.
The farm wagon was rumbling along
toward me at a snail'sj pace. knew
that 1t would be useless for me to cry
for help while the farmer was at that
distance; for even If 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 stood there,
my hands trembling, and prayed in an
incoherent way that the rcbber might
be delayed until the farmer was near
enough to render me some assistance.
Nearer and nearer the wagon came.
could almost distinguish the features
Of the farmers face, and could hear
quite plainly his cries Of ICED dep"
and "G'lang"
For one brief moment I INDUCED in
the illusions of hope, and then my
heart sank within me deeper than ever
as l saw the team turn into by-road
and disappear.
In a second I had determined upon
a wild dash. With difficulty getting my
left foot into the stirrup, 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 l heard far behind me a
loud cry; and CHANGING hastily over my
shoulder, l saw the robber come run.
ming out Of the woods, wildly waving
his arms and shaking his fist at us.
paid no attention to him; nor did
the horse heed his late masters voci.
ferrous "whoas."
On we galloped. did not sing now
have faint recollection Of passing
several men and boys during that ride
one or two of whom, 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-fleld, and assembled the
slight rise in the pike known as Ben
der's Knoll. And then my heart gave
a great bound as saw, through gar
in the hills before me, the end Of oul
big red barn, and little farther of
the brown, implanted roof of the farm
house.
A few moments later rode lr
through the barn-yard gate; and. after
tying the horse to the fence. hasten
ed over into the fields to convey to ia
ther and Joel my momentous news
Again and again 1 asked myself
what will father say?"
Once or twice I was on the point OF
rushing back to the house to tell my
story to mother; for knew that she
would comfort me, and II necessary, In
tercede on my behalf. But was neal
to the place where father and Joel were
working; and a voice within me seem
ed to whisper, Don't be coward
Tom Norcross!" So hurried on.
We'll, Tom" said father, as 1 came
up, did you bring the money with
your
II started home with 1t, pa" ] said
NI,,,k r
robbed!"
"what?' said father, Strengthening
himself with jerk.
"so!" said Joel, lncredulously. ~
want to know" =
Tom, do you mean to say that you
were robbed on your way up from
Clayyllle?" said father. n
For reply | told my story from be.
ginning to end. Now, pa, 1t wasn't
my fault, was lit" asked.
mo, Tom" said father. N don't
think 1t was your fault; bullets &c
and take look at that horse"
ran ahead OF father and Joel, and
by the. time they reached the barn
yard gate had led the horse down tc
meet them
Father carefully looked the hors.
over, searched In vain for spawn OF
ringbone. ands forced its 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 tn,
yard several times, while father
standing at little distance, eyed 4
| critically.
Finally father turned to me.
"Tom," said he, "thls horse is wortl
a great deal more than eighty dollars
1t is very doubtful II the scamp whs
robbed you actually owns the animal
II lie does, he will never come to claim
1t. But 1t Is probable that 1t belongs
to some one else, and IL that is 80 W.
must seek the owner.'
We sought, the owner In vain. W.
advertised the horse FIVE successiv,
weeks In the Exeter County Sentinel
and tackled up notice In the Clayvillt
postoffice. But we received no reply
The robber himself was never agar
seen in this part of the country.
One day several weeks later. while
passing the scene of the robbery, wa.
lmpelled by curiosity to explore the
ground among the trees at the road
SIDE did so; and; to my astonlsh
ment l found, lodged In the uncovered
roots Of a large oak, fathers wallet
The robber had not found 1t!
There certainly was robbery on the
Valley Pike; but who was robbed. and
by whom was the robbery committed.
Many years have passed since then
and 1 am no longer boy of is. But
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 Europe
were all tenors; their descendants Of