The Meeker herald., 1919-09-27

suspicion or doubt az to his fidelity
and safety by his employers. Joe OK.
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 q heavy canvas
satchel, and with this under his feet
on the front seat started ON his return
journey.
It was late afternoon when Jos
struck Of across what was known a.
the swamp road. He had been made
uneasy several times from noting that
four suspicious looking men were ap-
parently following him. They skunk
from cover in his rear. gained ON him
BY q detour. and Joe made up his mind
that they had some unaccountable
knowledge Of the treasure he carried
and were after 1t.
He was less than i've 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 q run In his
direction. Viewing the road ahead.
Joe noticed the other two peering from
a thicket.
"Ill beat theml |" he muttered reso.
lutely. and suddenly turning the horse
from the main road he dashed on along
a mere trail, confusing and dlstancing
his pursuers until the vehicle struck
nut and both hind wheels smashed into
fragments.
All four of his would-be despollers
were to be seen making for the
wrecked cart, and at break-neck speed.
Joe jumped from the vehicle. seized
the satchel and darted down an oh.
scure footpath. His heavy burden i'm.
peded rapid progress, however. Joe
noted that two Of the men had circled
about to head him OF. 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 report rang out. He felt
Q cracking. tearing sensation inside
Of his head. The missile had struck
q section Of the skull. denting 1t with
out decorating. but strange numbness
momentarily spread over him. Then
strange light.headedness succeeded.
He ned like some wild being. He was
white and breathless as he dashed Into
the yard Of the home of his married
sister.
"Quick. Lizsiei' 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. 80 they
found him when two men from the
bank and the marshal arrived. Joe
reused up. He seemed mona the worse
for the escapade, the details Of which
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 a daxed way
with the words: II can't remember"
Nor did he In the course Of a 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 1t with the
bank people. but with no encouraging
discoveries.
awe had NO right to leave you to
take the responsibility Of all that
money without a guard" the banker
reproved himself. "If you ever locate
II, Joe. you shall have half ~ a re-
ward"
But this Incentive had no result.
There was corner knocked away IN
the memory of the honest fellow and
nothing could straighten 1t out.
Joe Bangs resumed his old business
and vas trusted and liked as Of old.
The doctors marvelled. but he was AZ
clear-headed and sensible as ever ex-
cept - to the hiding place Of the gold.
For Joe one happy result Of his ad-
venture transpired. Pretty Marie Dris-
coll became his nancee after a long
counting. All that postponed the we'd
ding4 was the fact that Joe's savings
had not yet reached the amount he
ing.
One summer afternoon Joe was
waiting for Marie, who was to ride
over to Butlerville with him. The air
was drowsy and Joe fell asleep walt.