Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1918-01-24

past been entrusted with even larger
sums and there was not an iota of
suspicion or doubt as to his fidelity
and safety by his employers. Joe ex-
ecuted his various errands at Butler
vile before he went to the bank. The
gold was packed in piece of wire net
ting and then slowed in heavy canvas
satchel, and with this under his feet
on the front seat started on his return
journey.
1t was late afternoon when Joe
struck off across what was known as
the swamp road. He had been made
uneasy several times from noting that
four suspicious looking men were APP
parently following him. They skunk
from cover in his rear, gained on him
by detour, and Joe made up his mind
that they had some unaccountable.
knowledge of the treasure he carried
and were after it.
He was less than five miles from
home when he became assured of the
fact that the men were closing in upon
him. Looking back, he observed two
of the men starting on run in his
direction. Viewing the road ahead,
Joe noticed the other two peering from
q thicket.
'I'll beat them!'' he muttered reso-
lutely. and suddenly turning the horse
from the main road he dashed off along
a mere trail, confusing and distancing
his pursuers until the vehicle struck
rut and both hind wheels smashed into
fragments.
All four of his would-be despoilers
were to be seen making for the
wrecked cart, and at break-neck speed.
Joe jumped from the vehicle, seized
sthe satchel and darted down an OBJ
scure footpath. His heavy burden i'm
peded rapid progress, however. Joe
noted that two of the men had circled
about to head him off. He made des-
perate resolve, took in his surround
ings closely, gave the satchel fling
into the deep water at the side of the
path and, unhampered now with the
weight OF the gold, made run In the
direction Of home.
Joe had just cleared a copse Of will
lows when a report rang out. he felt
a cracking, tearing sensation Inside
of his head. The missile had struck
section Of the skull, denting 1t with
out decorating, but a strange numbness
| mOmentarily spread over him. Then
a strange light-headedness succeeded.
He fled like some wild being. He was
white and breathless as he dashed into
the yard of the home of his married
| sister.
"Quick, Lizzie!" he gasped, sinking
| to the doorstep, telephone the bank
and then the police. Tell them was
pursued by some thieves and"
There Joe sank senseless. So they
II found him when two. men from the
bank and the marshal arrived. Joe
/ roused up. BE seemed none the worse
I for the escapade, the details Of winch
/ he narrated with perfect conference.
/ At the point where he had thrown the
satchel of gold into the water, how
ever, he paused blankly, stumbled over
/ his words, and when the banker
anxiously inquired where was the spot
Joe shook his head in dazed way
4 with the words: II can't remember"
Nor did he in the course of week
or a month. Perfectly lucid on any
other subject, the bullet that had
grazed on his skull seemed to have
knocked out the one important item
of his adventure. The swamp was
searched, Joe went over it with the
bank people, but with no encouraging
discoveries.
I'VE had no right to leave you t.
take the responsibility of all tina
money without a guard" the banker
reproved himself. "If you ever locate
!. it, Joe, you shall have half as re
ward"
But this incentive had no result
There was corner knocked away il
the memory of the honest fellow ,ent
nothing could straighten it out.
Joe Bangs resumed his old business
and was trusted and liked as of old
The doctors marvelled, but he was a
clear-headed and sensible1as ever eX
cept as to the hiding place OF the gold
For Joe one happy result of his ad
< venture TRANSFERRED. Pretty Marie Dris
]. coli became his fiancee after a lori
j, counting. All that postponed the wed
g ding was the fact that Joe's saving
!, had not yet reached the amount h
0 deemed necessary to start housekeel
n ing.
: One summer afternoon Joe wa
q waiting for Marie, who was to rid
}. over to Butlerville with him. The nj
a was drowsy and Joe fell asleep wait
l. ing on bench outside of the house
Il Marie appearing, stood gazing at he
o slumbering lover and had just pickle
up loose pebble to playfully thro,
e ut him, when something came hurtlin
l. down from the top of the house.
d was the old horseshoe. Time an
weather had loosened it's rusted nails
d 1t landed directly on the head of .Jo'
" He sprang to his feet with an echoin
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