The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-05-02
The Robber
BY RUTH GRAHAM
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

when missouri was wildec country
than 1t is now, riding on one of the
dirt roads and coming to bit OF high
er ground where the road turned. heard
In the bushes on the rise voice which
seemed to be that Of boy.
"Halt, tharr'
venables drew rein. He was armed
but. feeling sure that he was covered
by an unseen enemy, thought 1t dan,
gerous to attempt to draw weapon.
"WeIl, what do you want?" he asked
"Put yer valybles In the road"
venables, though disliking to be
robbed by one whose voice indicated
that be 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
'Is that all yo gotl" asked the voice.
eyes"
"Well. go on"
venables rode on and when he
reached tavern few miles distant
reported that he had been robbed by a
boy who could not have been more
than fourteen years old, for his voice
had not changed
| Within a week Edward Ormsbee,
when riding on the same road on which
this robbery had been committed, saw
walking ahead Of him 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 a pistol at one hip and
knife at the other, Ormsbee. when be
reached him, called TO him and asked
where he was going. Learning that
the traveller bad some distance TO 90.
Ormsbee invited him to get up on his
horse behind him and he would give
him a lift on his way. The youth ac-
cepted, put his foot on Ormsbee's, gave
him his hand and was pulled up on to
the horses back.
In a few minutes Ormsbee felt cold
iron against his head. and the boy be-
hind him told him that be was about
to go through his pockets and II he
moved ne would be shot Ormsbee
was not only paralyzed by surprise,
but unable to defend himself In his po-
sitiou. He made no resistance. and the
boy took his wallet from bis pocket,
containing $40 In bills, the state bank
currency of the period. Then. they
being in wood, the young robber
slid off the horses rump and disap-
peared among the trees.
The next robbery was committed
on a peddler. who said that the robber
was a bearded man with squeaky
voice. Then followed another robbery
by man with 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 that Of a grown man or else
It was pitched In very unusual key.
However, it was decided that the
youngster had been permitted TO COM
NIT his depredations long enough. and
posse was organized to hunt him
down So one morning three men
the number was considered quite suf-
hcient--were armed and started out for
the purpose. Just outside the settle
ment they stopped at the house OF old
Hedges and his wife. couple whose
poverty had been notorious. but who
now seemed to be getting along very
well
Had windfall. Mr.. Hedges" ask
ed one of the party.
''No: our Sallie's elerkin' for man
over in Hudson county, and she's keep
In us up"
When the party left It 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 at 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 heard some one break.
ing through the bushes. ascending a /
hillside in the bed of n 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. crawled for
ward and reported that there was a
little fort made of stones about four
feet broad and as many high. with
Ioophole. They couldn't take the posi-
tion without likelihood Of some of
them being killed 1t was decided that
Hank should 20 forward for parley.
lie did so, taking a position behind a
tree.
"Say. you. thar. there's three of US
here. all armed. You'd better surren-
der"
Burke listened for reply, but none
came Presently he heard a sob.
Leaving his tree, he went forward.
Neither shot nor word greeted him.
When be reached the miniature fort
there behind 1t sat the robber. He was
not masked. but his hands covered his
lace. SEEKING the wrists. Hank exposed
he face.
"For heavens sake. Sallie Hedges,
what does this meanY'
eve was all staryin' and | took 10