Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-06-11

maze ms ROBBERY, he had resorted to
this daring scheme in sheer despera-
ton
For a minute or two I could hear
the man thrashing around in the tan
gled brush; and then, apparently sur
missing that the wallet had fallen at
point some distance back, he pushed
farther into the forest and 1 could hear
aim no longer.
The farm wagon was rumbling along
toward me at a snairs pace | knew
that 1t would be useless for me to cry
for help while the farmer was at that
distance; for even if 1 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 robber 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 "Ged DEPT"
and "G'lang!"
For one brief moment INDUCED In
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 second I had determined upon
wild dash. With difficulty getting NV
left foot into the stfrrup. L swung my
self across the saddle. Hardly had I
seated myself when the horse started
on And the next minutes were gal
Looping madly up the pike.
Suddenly 1 heard far behind me
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.
l paid no attention to him; nor did
the horse heed his late masters voci.
ferrous "whoas."
On we galIoped. I did not sing now,
have 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. l do not know.
On and on we gallopsed. We passed
the old blasted oak at the corner of
Watson's corn-field, and assembled the
slight rise In the pike known as Ben
der's Knoll. And then my heart gave
great bound as l saw, through gap
in the hills before me, the end of our
big red barn, and little farther off,
the brown, implanted roof of the farm
house.
through the barn-yard gate; and, after
tying the horse to the fence, l hasten.
ed over into the fields to convey to ia.
Their and Joel my momentous news.
Again and again l asked myself;
What will father say?"
Once or twice l was on the point OF
rushing back to the house to tell my
story to mother; for 1 knew that she
would comfort me, and If necessary, in
tercede on my behalf. But 1 was near
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 1 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, I-I-I-was-I was
robbedr"
"Whatp said father, Strengthening
himself with a jerk.
"Sol" said Joel, incredulously. 81
want 70 know."
TON, 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 lt?" l asked.
mo, Tom," said father. 81 don't
think it 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 lad led the horse down to
meet them.
Father carefully looked the horse
over, searched in vain for SPAWN OF
ringbone, and forced its mouth oper
to examine its teeth.
Here, JOEL" he said, lead him ur
and down once or twice"
Joel led the horse up and down tbs
yard several times, while father,
standing at a little distance, eyed II
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 who
robbed you actually owns the animal
If he does, he will never come to claim
it. But it is probable that it belongs
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 again
seen in this part of the country.
One day several weeks later. while
passing the scene of the robbery, I was
impelled by curiosity to explore the
ground among the trees at the road
side. / did so; and to my astonish-
ment / found, lodged in the uncovered
roots of a large oak, fathers wallet.
The robber had not found it,
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.