Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-10-06


| Germany and Lena Hildesmuller.
''Tell me-" said Fritz when he WIS
ready to start. contains the sack n
/ letter to Frau Hildesmuller from the
| little Lena at the quarres: One came
! In the last mail 20 say that she is n
little sick already. Her mamma is
very anxious to hear again"
eyes" said old man Eallinger. ''thars
letter for Mrs. Heterskelter or some
sich name. Tommy Ryan brung it
ove- when he come. Her little gal
worliin' over thar, you eay?"
"In the hotel" shouted Fritz as he
gathered up the lines; eleven years
old and not bigger as a frankfurter!
The close fist Of a Peter Hildesmuller!"
Up the road went the little black
mules at their steady trot. while Fritz
thundered at them occasional words of
endearment and cheer
These fancics occupied the mind of
the mail carrier until he reached the
big post oak forest, eight miles from
Ballingcr'S. Here his ruminationS
were scattered by the sudden fash and
report OF pistols and whoopinG as if
from whole tribe Of Indians. A band
of galloping rvn:aurS closed in around
the mail wagon. one of them leaned
over the from ,..I,p!. covered the driv-
er with his ..' ayrr aud ordered him
TO stop. OtH".. aught at the brides
of Dondcr m! GhtEcn.
"Donnerwv;tcr." shouted Fritz with
all his trciut uuouS voice. "Wass ist?
Release your hands from dose mules.
We vas der United States MALL"
Hurry up. Dutch" drawled mel.
ancholy voice. Don't you know when
you're in a S;ickup? Reverse your
mules and climb out of the cart"
1t is due to the breadth of Hondo
Bills demerit and the largeness of his
achievements to state that the hold
ing up of the Fredericksburg mail was
not perpetrated by way of an exploit.
AS the lion while in the pursuit of
prey commensurate to his prowess
might set a frivolous foot upon cas-
ual rabbit in his path, so Hondo Bill
and his gang had swooped sportively
upon the pacific transport of Meinherr
Fritz.
The real work of their sinister night
ride was over. Fritz and his mail bag
and his mules came as gentle re-
taxation. grateful after the arduous
duties of their profession. Twenty
miles to the southeast stood train
with a killed engine. hysterical pas
sengers and n looted express and mail
car. That represented the serious oc-
cupation of Tondo Bill and his gang"
Trembling with outraged dignity
and no little personal apprehension.
Fritz climbed out to the road.
Perhaps the mail would not have
been tampered with had not Ben Moo
dy. the lieutenant. possessed certain
wisdom that seemed to promise more
spoils.
Say. cap" he said, addressing Hon
do Bill, there's liable to be good pick
ings in these mail sacks. Ive done
some hoss tradin' with these Dutch
men around Fredericksburg, and /
know the style of the varmints.
There's big money goes through the
mails to that town"
Hondo Bill, six feet two, gentle of
voice and impulsive in action. was
dragging the sacks from the rear of
the wagon before Moody had finished
his speech. a knife shone in his hand
and they heard the ripping sound as 1t
bit through the tough canvas
The Ballinger mail sack opened like
cocoon under Hondo's knife 1t con
tained but Il handful of mail. Fritz
had been fuming with terror and ex-
citement until this sack was reached
lie now remembered Lena's letter. He
addressed the leader of the band. ask
ing that that particular missivc he
spared.
Much obliged, Dutch" he said to
the disturbed carrier. Il guess that's
the letter we want. Got spondulics
in it. ain't it? Make a light boys"
Hondo found and tore open the let
ter to Mrs. IIildesmuller. The others
stood about, lighting twisted up let
ters one from another Hondo gazed
''N4i mutt NiAHA lIlpNdl At Nlc SIlSle
sheet of paper covered with the angu-
lar German script.
That's Chiny writin.' said Sandy
Grundy. peering over Hondo's shoul-
der
"Ach, no, no, no-dot is German"
said Fritz. 1T is no more as a little
girl writing letter to her mamma
one poor little girl, sick and working
hard away from home. Ach. it is a
shame! Good Mr.. Robber Man, you
will please let me have dot letter."
What the devil do you take us for.
old Pretzels?" said Hondo. with sud
den and surprising severity. You
amt presumin' 70 insinuate that we
gents amt possessed of sufficient DO
likeness for 10 take an interest in the
miss health. are you? Now. you go
on. and you read that scratchin' out
loud and in plain United States Ian
EuaGe TO this here company of educat-
ed society"
Ilondo twtrled his six shooter by its
trigger guard and stood towering above
the little German. who at once began
to read the letter, translating the sim
pie words into English. The gang of
rovers stood in absolute silence. listen.
ing tntently.