The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1917-02-22

| y
find out whether they are over or not"
Nobody didna tell me onything
about river pirates" said the Scotch
man anXiously.
Il thought" said the EnglishmalI.
that the law was we'll enforced in
these parts
$50 it is in the towns. You kin git
a lot of it in Cincinnati, but who is
goin' to take keer O. the Law on the
river? Do you expect to find court
houses on the bars? Hello, cap'n! You
gOin' to wreck us on that snag%'
The boat was guided safely around
the trunk of a dead tree the roots of
which were partly submerged in shall
| low water, the branches standing out
in position to receive anything the cur
rent might bear to them. And the
woman proceeded:
81 got pistol and bowie knife
with me, but don't reckon I'll try to
use 'em if we're attacked L don't
keer to give up my lif, tryin' to save
the few dollars got with me. Be-
sides, the pirates amt mean enough to
sarch woman, and l got my valybles
under my frOck."
Mon Dieu!' exclaimed the French
man. Il have wiz me all re Pargent
for to open a store in Louisville. If re
riviere pirates take it away, what will
1 do?"
'I've bought thousand acres" said
the land speculatOr, ION Green river
and have $1,000 to pay for it in my
money belt. To lose the money would
knock me cold
"Och, murtherv said the Irishman.
Il don't believe in river pirates, at all,
at all. I've lived in Cincinnati for two
years, and l niver heard anything of
EN-"
'You didn't, eh?' protested the wO-
man scornfully. "A bOatlOad of 'em
pulled up to my cabin Yesterday and
made me cook dinner for 'em. They
purity nigh skeered me to death, how
sOmever."
did they rob your" asked the Eng
lishman earnestly.
"No. they didn't rob me, and they
paid me for the dinner. They said
they wasn't SIGH low down varmints
as to injure woman
And she pulled from a pocket in her
dress a handful of Mexican silver
coins which were the principal small
currency in common use in the west
at that time.
The fatboat turned bend in the
river, and several miles below a row.
boat was seen in the middle of the
stream, her crew resting on it's oars.
AS soon as the flatbOat had rounded
the bend the oars began to dip and
rise, the boat moving slowly toward
the current.
$50. landsake," exclaimed the wo-
man, "ef thar amt the boat that
stopped at my cabin yisterday!'
How do you know it's the same?"
cried several men at once, paling.
81 amt shore. but | kin tell purity
soon."
Say" cried the land Spectator.
would you mind hangin' my money
belt beside your purse?'
Reckon | WILL" was the complacent
reply.
And my pocketbook said the Eng
liShman.
And my portemonnaie?'' added the
Frenchman.
The woman put the purse and the
money belt under her tape waistband
and stuffed the pocketbOOk under it.
Within few minutes enough watches
were dangling from her waist. sand
wiched between the purses and pocket
books, to do credit to pawnshop win
dow.
Meanwhile the f1atbOat was nearing
the boat, which now was seen to
contain only three men. Those on
the f1atbOat numbered half dozen.
though there were few arms among
them. They consulted as to whether
they would put up a fight or not.
Some were in favor of doing so, but
the majority were against it. arguing
that the pirates would respect the
woman and their valuables were safe
without risking their lives.
81 amt quite Shore" said the wom-
an as the flatboat drew near the other,
IF they're the men that came to my
| cabin yesterday or not"
swell. hold on to the plumber till
we're shure." said the Irishman.
Hello. Sal!' cried one of the men
| from the boat.
"Lordy, Ben, is that you?"
Reckon. Whar yO' goin'?'
'"To LOueyville. Jim went over thar
a week ago to find somepin to do. He
| sent for me to take the first chance to
| foller him"
By this time the rowbOat had pulled
up beside the other. and man in it
| held it to the larger with his hand
| The woman walked the deck toward
| her friends. those on the flatboat re-
naming where they were.
| Suddenly they saw her jump down
into the rOwboat. 1t was pushed off,
and few quick strokes sent it out of
range of the flatbOat.
'"These gents" called the woman.
have invited me to go to Loueyville
with 'em. You'll find your valybies
thar when you get thar. You needn't
he afraid O. their fallifl into the hands