The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1910-12-29
8
TheMessengerBoy
By MARTHA v. MONROE
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

L0e Dank Ill WQlcn i was once DOy,
give got, to intrust you with an i'm
portant job. There's no one else ut
years old and not very big and strong
at that; but. as | said, haven't any
one else just at present. l want you
to take $1,000 to lngham."
The money was given me In bills
and placed in my breast pocket. |
got into the banks buggy, and just
before l drove of revolver was
handed me.
AS l crossed a street l saw q man
sitting in buggy just far enough
away to prevent my seeing who he
was. should not have thought any
thing about him had it not been that
l soon heard the rattle Of wheels be-
hind me. Looking back, l saw him.
recognizing him for the man l had
first seen by an enormous felt hat he
wore and a light brown overcoat.
Still, l thought nothing about being
followed. though l noticed that he
was moving faster than l. I wouldn't
show any trepidation by whipping up
my horse even II l had suspected him.
60 I logged along at an even pace till
I had traversed half the distance,
when, reaching long stretch Of road
through a wood, heard the horse IN
the rear coming at q rapid pace.
II had positively known that some
r., nI,l, I al
have turned and opened fire. dread
ID being falsely alarmed, or. rather. ]
considered 1t best not to appear to dis
trust my follower. He might not be
Intending to attack me. He might
know me to be a bank messenger hut
not be sure | had money with me.
All these points passed rapidly
through my mind. and I still logged
on at the same gait
When the man overhauled ME l rec
ognized him as one had seen about
town, a hard featured fellow, but I
didn't know anything good or bad
about him But knew before lie
spoke what he wanted, for he held a
cooked revolver in his right hand.
Mine was handy In my right coat
pocket. but before could get II out
be could riddle me.
You're u bank, messenger" he said.
you've, got money with you. and ]
want It." 81" }.':," " ~
"How do you know thatr'
II was at a telephone using = party
wire and heard the bank at .1Rgham
ray thay had to have; 81 900 before =
esslock." "'%" - '?' sra3g. Q 3.
!s.I've seen you III Beverly often.
You're takinK|a crest 1T in robbina
me" ....t ,. .I..'.... RI " ,
Dead men tell no tales" A diabol.
ical expression passed over bis face.
II can tell you better way than
that. Murder will out, you know
Now, suppose you take me in with
you"
"What do you meunY
"Why, you might give me part OF
the funds, and can go back and re-
port that I've been robbed Of the
whole
"Oh. see you're on the make your
self"
81 don't like living on SO week
very we'll, seeing money about me like
the leaves under those trees and not
have show for any Of it."
"An right. Hand out what you've
got and III give you quarter Of it.
mot so fast. I've got to have proof
that I've been robbed. shall tell a
fne story of how l defended myself
and to show that put up good fight
I must have some bullet holes in my
clothes" -..
I held up my hat and asked him to
put hole in 1t with his revolver. He
did 80. took of my coat. and he put
three more holes IN 1t for me. Then
told him that 1t wouldn't do for me to
60 back without wound and asked
him to Craze the heshy part of my leg
When he attempted to do so gave q
DpasmOdic move and he missed.
begged him to make one more trial
He made it. and moved again.
glands up" | cried. whipping my
revolver from my coat pocket
I shall never forget the expression
on his face when he realized that he
had emptied the six chambers Of his
revolver and was at my mercy.
could see by the workings Of his mind
through his eye that he was debating
whether he would attempt to over,
power me, mere boy, despite my ad
vantage. I made up his mind for him
by firing point blank In his face.
knew I risked killing him. but I didn't
mind that. He lodged, and my bullet
missed him But my shot unnerved
him.
"Drive on l said.
BE realized that 1t was an alterna,
tive between prison and death ant;
chose the former supposed he had a
second revolver with him and watched
him very closely. Put he had not. l
drove him into Ingham and turned
him over to the>police. then took the
money to the bank.
I said nothing about my adventure
except at the police Office. leaving Mr..
SERVER to read an account of it in a
newspaper. He came to a desk where