The Cairo bulletin., 1910-11-01
TheMessengerBoy
BY MARTHA v. MONROE
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association

:.
at that; but rs said, | haven't any
one else just at present. 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 drove off a revolver was
handed me.
AS | crossed a street saw man |
sitting In d buggy just far enough |
away to prevent my seeing who he |
was. | should not have thought any |
thing about him bad it not been that
| soon heard the rattle OF wheels be-
hind me. Looking back, | saw him.
recognizing him for the man had
first seen by an enormous felt hat he
wore and light brown overcoat.
Still, thought nothing about being
followed, though l noticed that he
was moving faster than |. wouldn't
show any trepidation by whipping up
my horse even il had suspected him.
So l logged along ut an even pace TN
had traversed half the distance.
when, reaching long stretch OF road
through wood, | heard the horse In
the rear coming at rapid pace.
If had positively known that some
one was coming TO rob me | might
have turned and opened fire. | dread
ed being falsely alarmed, or, rather, l
considered it best not to appear to dis
trust my follower. He might not be
intending to attack me. He might
know me to be bank messenger, but
not be sure l had money with me.
All these points passed rapidly
through my mind, and l still logged
on at the same gait.
When the man overhauled me rec
ognlzed him as one | had seen about
town, a hard featured fellow, but l
didn't know anything good or bad
| about him. But l knew before he
spoke what he wanted, for he held
cooked revolver in his right hand.
Mine was handy in my right coat
pocket, but before could get 1t out
he could riddle me.
You're bank messenger" he said.
you've got money with you, and l
want IT,"
"IIow do you know that?"
! 81 was at a telephone using party
wire and heard the bank at lngham
say thay had to have $1,000 before 3
O'Clock"
ave seen you in Beverly often.
You're taking a great risk in robbing
me"
Dead men tell no tales" A diabol'
zeal expression passed over his face.
81 can tell you better way than
that Murder will out, you know
Now. suppose you take me in with
you"
'What do you mean%
"Why, you might give me a part OF
the funds, and | gan go back and re
port that I've been robbed Of the
whole"
"Oh. / see you're on the make your
self!'
~ don't like living on Sc weet
very we'll, seeing money about me Ike
the leaves under those trees and no
have a show for any Of It,"
"All right. Hand out what youv'
, got and I'll give you quarter OF IT.
mot so fast I've got to have proc
: that I've been robbed. | shall tell
} fine story of how / defended myself
: and to show that put up good figh
| | must have some bullet holes in m,
clothes"
: | held up my hat and asked him +
; put hole in 1t with his revolver. FL
. did so. took of my coat, and he pu
. three more holes in it for me. Then
told him that it wouldn't do for me t
60 back without a wound and aske'
/ him 10 Craze the fleshy part of my lee
l when he attempted to do so | gave
Q spasmodic move, and he missed.
+ begged him to make one more tria
r He made it, and I moved again.
:, Hands up"' I cried, whipping m
revolver from my coat pocket.
i I shall never forget the expressio
on his face when he realized that b
had emptied the six chambers OF hi
revolver and was at my mercy.
= could see by the workings Of his min
through his eye that he was debatin
:. whether he would attempt to owe
= power me, mere boy, despite my az
: vantage / made up his mind for hill
;. by firing point blank In his face.
knew ! risked killing him, but didn
- mind that. lie lodged, and my bull'
~ missed him. But my shot unnerve
~ him
:. "Drive on" said.
4. He realized that It was an altern'
tive between prison and death an
chose the former. / supposed he had
( second revolver with him and watche
n. him very closely. But he had not.
a. drove him into Ingham and turnt
Il him over to the police, then took Il
"a money to the bank.
at said nothing about my adventnl
a except at the police office, leaving M
40 SERVER to read an account OF It IN
newspaper He came tosa desk wne'
IN was mailing circulars with the pap
s? in his hands. The expression on .
I'd face was a sight to behold,
ell "what the dickens is this, anyway
r. he asked, staring at me.
", "Its all true" / replied.
II W. x,,os eilopf FIR a moment tht