The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1907-07-18

Taking the Waliet from my pvr@0-v
I held II out toward him Here II H."
said, bitterly.
He stepped forward to take II when.
with quick. outward jerk OF my hand
I flung the wallet far back smong the
trees at the roadside.
you little scamp" said the robber,
the smiIe now gone from bis facs.
why did you DO thatT
II don't know" replied, astonisbed
at my own audacity. unless II was
because wanted TO-"
He led his horse TO the edge OF the
wood, and tried TO tie the bride 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 vain search for something
TO which be might hitch his horse But
although be was unsuccessful In TINS,
be had gained one point; be had placed
himself and his horse between me and
the thicket ia which ! had flung the
wallet
Bub. be said. suddenly turning.
his features again lighted by that
pleasanfest Of smiles. let's be reason
able.v
/ made no reply. but waited to hear
what be had to say.
@Now," be continued. Il can't trust
you to 20 into the woods 10 look for
the purse, because II you found 1t you
wouldn't come back And / can't 60
myself, because there is no place bere
10 tie my horse. But III tell you
what l will do. II you win bold the
horse for me. and not let It 90. nor at
tempt to play any tricks on me. III go
and find the purse. and divide the
money with you You know II VIII be
much better 10 20 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
preferred losing only haif 80 1
stepped over TO where the robber stood
-AIl right" l said, grasping the
bride. Ell hold the horse"
The robber, with the parting injunc-
ton. Now remember what said :
plunged into the thicket
Looking up the pike now. ! saw at
a glance the explanation Of his hasy
terms; for there. not more than quar-
ter of a mile distant, came a farm wag-
on drawn by two gray horses Evil
IDENTIFY having seen this only moment
before, and believing that be had but
few brief minutes In which 20 consum-
mate his robbery. he had resorfed TO
this daring scheme In sheer despera-
tion-
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 a
point some distance back. be pushed
farther into the forest and l could hear
him no longer.
The farm wagon was rumbiing alonz
toward me at a snaii's pace. knew
that IL would be useless for me TO CITY
for help while the farmer was at thai
distance; for even II could make N,
voice heard. the robber In his wrari
might do me bodily injury-perhsp'
KIN me-and escape before the farmel
could possibly arrive SO I stood there
nv hands trembling. and prayed In al
lncoherent way that the robber nigh
be delayed until the farmer WAS neal
enough TO render me some assistance
Nearer and nearer the wagon came
I could almost distinguish the features
OF the farmers face. and could heai
quite plainly bis cries Of "Ged dep
and -G'iang"
For one brief moment I INDUCED II
: the illusions OF hope. and then m,
heart sank within me deeper than eve
as saw the team turn into a by-roas
and disappear.
In a second I had determined upol
, = Wild dash. with difficulty getting m,
left foot into the stirrup, / swung my
r SELF across the saddle Hardly had
seated myself when the horse starte'
! OF. And the next minutes we were gal
looping madly up the pike
suddenly I heard far behind me I
! loud cry; and glancing hastily over m.
shoulder. / saw the robber come run
: ming out OF the woods. wildly wavin'
his arms and shaking his fist at us
/ paid no attention to him; nor di'
the horse heed his late masters vccl
; ferrous ''whoas."
On we galioped did not sing now
have faint recollection OF passin
{ several men and boys during that ride
d one or two OF whom, believe, caile'
lsafter me. But who they were or wha
( they said 10 me. do not know
Il On and on we gallopsed- We passe'
: the old blasted oak at the corner o
: watson's corn-feld. and assembled th
. slight rise In the pike known as ber
! der's Knoll. And then my heart CAV
. great bound as saw, through ga
In the hills before me. the end OF GU
big red barn. and little farther OF
the brown. implanted ROOF Of the farm
Il