The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-02


man anxiously.
II thought" said the Englishman.
that the law was well enforced In
these parts
$50 IL is in the towns. You kin git
a lot Of II 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 snagr'
The boat was guided safely around
the trunk of 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:
II got a pistol and bowie knife
with me- but don't reckon I'll try to
use 'em IL we're attacked. l don't
keer to give up my lif, tryin' to save
the few dollars l got with me. Be
sides, the pirates amt mean enough to
sarch a woman. and | got my valybles
under my frock."
Mon Dieu!' exclaimed the French
man. Il have wiz me all re rargent
for to open a store in Louisville. If re
! riyiere pirates take 1t away. what will
l do?"
I've bought a thou sand acres" said
the land Spectator. ION Green river
and have $1,000 to pay for it In my
money belt To lose the money would
knock me cold
Och, murther!'' said the Irishman
Il don't believe In river pirates. at all,
at all I've lived In Cincinnati for two
years, and | niver heard anything of
EN-"
"You didn't, ehT' protested the wo-
man scornfully "A hoatload 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 flatboat turned a bend In the
river. and several miles below a row.
boat was seen In the middle Of the
stream, her crew resting on its oars
As soon as the natboat had rounded
the bend the oars began to dip and
rise, the boat moving slowly toward
the current
$40. landsake," exclaimed the wo-
man, 'ef thar amt the boat that
, stopped at my cabin yisterdayv
"How do you know it's the samer'
cried several men at once, pailng.
II amt shore. but l 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 2" 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 1t
Within few minutes enough watches
were dangling from her waist, sand
WICKED between the purses and pocket
books. to do credit to pawnshop win
dow.
: Meanwhile the fatboat was nearing
the boat, which now was seen t.
contain only three men. Those on
the Hatboat numbered a 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 90, blu!
the majority were against 1t, arguing
, that the pirates would respect the
woman and their valuables were safe
without risking their lives.
II amt quite Shore" said the WON
an as the fatboat drew near the other
III they're the men that came to my
, cabin yesterday or not"
"Well hold on to the plumber till
} ye're shure," said the Irishman.
"Hello, Salr cried one of the men
) from the boat.
"Lordy, Ben, is that your"
Reckon. Whar yo' goin'T'
t ITO 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
I up beside the other. and man In II
held it to the larger with his hand.
! The woman walked the deck toward
her friends. those on the fatboat re-
, manning where they were.
Suddenly they saw her jump down
into the rowboat. 1t was pushed OF,
and a few quick strokes sent it out of
range of the datboat.
, These gents" called the woman.
, have invited me to 60 to Loueyville