Year: 1861

change horses, and here another passen-
ger got in. I had been occupying the for
ward seat, as that happened to be wider
than the others, and gave me better op-
portunity for lying down; and when the
new conner entered he took the back seat
He was young man, jud gea, and not
very tall in stature but so completely
bundled up was he in shawls and muf-
hers, that his size of frame was not so ca
silly determined. He was very pale and
coughed badly; and I at once made up
my mind that he was far less able to trav-
el than I. After we had got fairly on our
way remarked to him that [ had been
suffering from a severe cold, and that this
was the first time | had yentured out for
quite a number Of days He looked at
me out Of pair Of dark eyes; and when
he seemed to have determined what man
ner of man ! was, he said:


| have something worse than cold, sir.
He broke into fit of coughing which las
ted a minute or SO, and then added It
won't be great waiie before I shall take
my last ride.


You are consumptive? I suggested.


Almost gone with it, he replied Again
be was seized with spasn of coughing,
and when he had recovered from it, he
continued-The disease is eating me up
and shaking me to pieces, at the same
time.


He further informed me that he had
started on tour for his health, but that
he had given it up, and was now on his
way home, which place he was anxious to
reach as soon as possible. Another parox-
ism seized him at this point, and he init
mated that he was unable to converse, as
the effort brought on his cough. I bad
noticed this, and had made up my mind to
trouble him no more. even before he had
given ne the hint.


After this he drew his outer shawl more
closely about his neck and face. and hav-
ing secured an easy posture, he closed his
eyes, and was not long in following his
example. Towards the middle of the af-
ternoon the coach stopped at small vii
lage, where we changed horses again, and
where four passengers got in. This broke
up the arrangement of myself and friend
for rest, aud he had to take one Of the
strangers on his seat, while l took another
upon mine, the other two occupying the
middle seat. The new comers soon
broachcd the subject Of the robberies
which had been committed ii that region,
and I listened to gain information if possi-
Bile but they knew no more than every
one else knew They had heard all about
it, and we're inflated With wonder.


0ne-an old farmcr-asked me If
knew anything cf the robber. Itold him
that knew but little Of the affair in any
way, having been sick, and unable to be
out among folks. Th9n ne asked my con-
sumptivc friend il he knew anything about
it. The latter raised his lead from its in
clining position, and was on the point Of
answering, when he heard our driver, in
quick, abrupt tones. ordering ire one to
get out Of the read. I instinctiyely put
my bead out Of the window to see what
the trouble was, and my eye was just
quick enough to detect load of fagots in
time to dodge back IN avoid them The
road was quite narrow at this point, and
as the fagots were loaded very widely, it
was impossible for the driver to wholly a.
void them and the side Of the coach was
swept by them quite sma!tly. I escaped
without being touched, hut not so with my
friend heard an exclamation-I thc't
rathera profane one-from his lips, and
on looking towards him saw that one of
the fagots bad ruck him over the left
eye. making mark upon the pale skin.


These fellows ought to be taken up for
loading their fagots cut Sc, said another Of
tile passengers.


Tt Will do very well to load hay out
wide. for they wont hurt nobody, if it does
hit en-; but fagots is different, added an
other.


THIS turned the conversation from the
subject of the robberies, and it was not a
gain alluded to during the day.


We reached Lowstone shortly after
dark, and I went at once to the residence
Of Mr. Stickney. whom found at home.
He had been out all day, and had made
all sorts of efforts to obtain some clue to
the perpetrators Of the robberies that were
being committed, but without effect.


l can learn nothing, he said, upon which
to hang a suspicion. Two shops have
been robbed in this place, but not clue
can l gan to the perpetrators, They must
be old birds.


Have you seen Gamblit? q? | asked, Gam
blit was the officer at Orton, a town twelve
miles distant.


Not lately, replied Stickney.


Fe has been at work | suggested.


Yes-I am sure of it.


Then said I, we will 90 over in the
morning to Orton, and with Gamblit in
company we may be able to perfect some
arrangement for pursuing this investigation
to better advantage.


This met the views of my hos t, and SC
we left the matter for the evening. On
the following morning we were up early,
and as the coach would take Us directly to
Gamblit's house, we chose that mode oi
conveyance. and repaired at seasonable
hour to the inn for that purpose. When
we reached the inn we found the old far
mer, who had been one of my fellow-pas-
sengers on the night before. stepping
about the doorway in high state of ex
citement He had been robbed of three
hundred pounds. and he was sure it must
have been done in the stage-eoacb, for be
bad slept with his pocket-book under hi:
pillow He had not thought to look into
it when he retired, but he had found i