Year: 1868

One thing | fully reallzed-that 1t
would be the worst and most disas-
trous policy to eyince any conscious
ness that I had penetrated the tiimsy
disguise adopted by the rufian, and
[ drove on in silence, though the
cold dew stood like beads upon my
forehead.


Was | a coward? The reader
may smile as he glances over the
faithful record of my feelings and
sensations, but it is far different to
read these by. a snug freside with
Policeman No. 225 patrolling in
front of your door than to act them
to live them out, as it were-in the
desolate lnnoliaooo Of forest road,
with no aid near, and death riding at
your right hand. | have been placed
in situations of more than average
danger in my day, nor have | shrunk
from them; but never did | feel such
an overwhelming, helpless sense of
terror as brooded over my whole
being at that instant. | am not
coward, but the blood boiled still in
my veins like some current that is
slowly turning to ice.


"What is that ?" | CALCULATED
sharply as something fell with sharp
metallic ring on the oil cloth carriage
floor. My companion stopped with
confused haste.


"Only my snuff box, sir"


But it was no snuff box; it was
something that cleaned long and
dark and CHASTITY like a knife in the
uncertain twilight, the one instant
that | caught sight Of it. 1t was but
for an instant-the next it was deftly
concealed beneath the folds of the
worn brown cloak.


Well, there could be no longer the
slightest doubt as to the meaning and
end of all this thing. | might as
well make up my mind for the worst
But with a dogged resolution that
sometimes comes in the moment Of
extreme peril, | determined that this
ruffian should reap no actual advan
tage from my unprotected situation.


With a gradual series of apparent
ly unconnected movements, | adyanc
ed my left hand towards my innel
pocket and drew out Mrs. Torey'i
pocket book, letting the hand tal
carelessly on my knee in the dusk
Then after a minute or two OF appa
rent carelessness, | hung my hanC
over the side Of the wagon and drop
ped the pocket book a little beyond
a huge old gnarled stump whose 10
cality was we'll known to me. |
seemed much like, TRUSTING, q GOOD dea
TO chance; but L had nothing else t(
trust


I Next came my own, a less import
ant pocket book, but scarcely les
priced. | was not rich, nor did


choose to risk the little that was m


own, hard earned and carefully saved


At a curve in the road a blasted tire,


lifted its white skeleton arms high i


the air-at the foot of this specie


tree | left my little treasure.
Then relieved in mind, and with


certain defiance and recklessness O.


danger, that seemed all at once t


rise up within me, | turned boldly t


my silent companion.


"Look here, sill" said [ resolutely
"I have quite enough Of your society


suppose we part company"


The man threw back his coars
cloak with a laugh.


"Yes, | see-you think you hav
made a discovery. No, | don't choos,


to part company just yet-not until
have made something out of you


There is nothing to make" I sal
cody. [ have only seventy-five cent


in my pocket, and a silver watch;
you think it worth while to incur th
! risk OF felony for so small gain a
that. [ cannot prevent you.


"You lie" growled the man, seizin
my throat with an iron grip; "yo


have that bank money about you"
'1 have not"


, "Where is it then"


"Where you will not find it in
hurry"


The next thing Of which | wa


fairly conscious was being throw
from the wagon on the roadside by
I strong hand, and being roughly searcl


ed while | lay partially stunned 0
the dewy bank.


"Where is that money ?" Kissed m


captor close in my ear.


Il will not tell YOU
, We were in the balsam scente
G walls of pine and underground tha
: the right side of the road. | felt hi


fingers tightening on my throat, but
D waited my impending fate with
, calmnesS akin to desperation.
! Just then the rattle of wheels, th
( regular beat of horses hoofs on th
: smooth road struck upon my ear.
strove to cry out, but the hand grasl
Y ed my throat with steady compressor


hold. So close were we to huma
aid and sympthy that I could hear tt
: well known voice of Ethan Day, OF
b of my neighbors, crying out to h
s companion:


S Why it amt teaml 1t is NJ
T. Atoms Baron. And, sakes aliv
e where is Mr.. Alton himself?"


Something has happened, likely
e said his philosophic companion,
l. farm hand, half Dutch, half Wells
: framed like giant and as strong ;
Y Hercules.


d [ could hear them alight from the