The Cairo bulletin., 1911-05-10
The Robber
BY RUTH GRAHAM
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

when Missouri was a wilder country
than 1t Is now, riding on one of the
dirt roads and coming to bit Of high
err ground where the road turned heard
In the bushes on the rise voice which
seemed to be that Of boy.
HALT, thar!'
but, feeling sure that he was covered
by an unseen enemy. thought ii dan.
gerous to attempt to draw weapon.
well. what do you want?" he asked
"Put yer valybles In the road
Venables. though disliking to be
robbed by one whose voice indicated
that he was little more than child.
yet dreading bullet In his brain. com
piled. Taking his watch from his fob
and some silver money from his pocket
he tossed both to the ground
us that all yo' got?' asked the voice
"Yes."
"Well. go on"
Venabes rode on and when he
reached tavern few miles distant
reported that he had been robbed by u
boy who could not have been more
than fourteen years old. for his voice
had not changed.
Within week Edward Ormsbee.
when riding on the same road on which
this robbery had been committed. saw
walking ahead of him II youth who
might have been between sixteen and
nineteen years Of age He was dressed
In the costume of the country. buck
skin. and had pistol ut cue hip and n
knife at the other. Ormsber. when he
reached him. called 10 him and asked
where he was going Learning that
the traveller had some distance 10 go.
0rmsbee invited him to sset up on his
horse behind him and he would give
him lift on his way. The youth nc
cepted. put his foot on Ormsbee's. gave
him his hand and was pulled UP on TO
the horses back.
In few minutes Ormsbee felt cold
iron against his head. and the hoy be-
hind him told him that he was about
to go through his pockets and III he
moved he would be shot. 0rmsbee
was not only paralyZed by surprise,
but unable to defend himself In his po
sition. He made no resistance. and tho
boy took his wallet from his pocket,
containing so In bills. the state bank
currency OF the period, Then. they
being In wood. the young robbar
slid off the horses rump and disap-
peared among the trees.
The next robbery was committed
on u peddIer. who said that the robber
was bearded man with n squeakg
voice. Then followed another robbery
by man with n strip Of cloth over
his face. with holes cut for his eyes
and nose. All agreed that the voice of
the person who had robbed them was
either not thnt Of q grown man or else
1t WAS pitched In very unuSuaI key.
However. 1t was decided that the
youngster had been permitted to com.
NIT his depredatious long enough. and
posse was organized to hunt him
down. So one morning three men
the number was considered quite sif-
ficient-were armed and started out for
the purpose. Just outside the settle
ment they stopped Mt the house of old
Hedges and his wife. II coupltNwhoSe
poverty had been notorious. btf who
now seemed to be getting along very
we'll.
Had wlndfall. Mr.. Hedges?" ask
ed one of the party.
"No; our Sallie's clerkin' for a man
over In Hudson county, and she's keep
in us up"
When the party left 1t was arranged
that they should proceed separately,
but keep In touch. They hunted all
the morning and part of the afternoon,
when two Of them heard couple or
shots and hurried in the direction of
the sound, They found Jim Turner
wounded In the hand A masked man
had held him up; but. being ready for
the robber. Jim had fred ut him. The
robber had returned the shot and run.
All started In the direction the
masked man had taken, moving sew
eral hundred yards apart. 1t was not
long before they beard some one break.
ing through the bushes. ascending a
hillside In the bed of dry creek. They
followed, but were soon stopped by a
bullet singing over their heads. One OF
them. Hank Burke. young hunter
used to Indian fighting, crawied TOT
ward and reported that there was
little fort made of stones about fonr
feet broad and as many high. with a
loophole. They couldn't take the posi-.
ton without likelihood Of some Oh
them being killed. 1t was decided that
Hank should 20 forward for pnrley.
He did so, taking position behind a
tree.
"Say, you. thar, there's three or us
| here. MI armed. You'd better surren.
der"
Burke listened for reply. but none
came. Presently he heard sob.
Leaving his tree, he went forward.
Neither shot nor word greeted him,
When he reached the miniature fort
there behind 1t sat the robber. He was
not masked. but his hands covered his
face. Selling the wrists, Hank exposed
| the face.
"For heavens sake. Sallie Hedges,