Year: 1870

Mr.. Peterson, New York merchant,
had occasion to make a trip to the
west, during which he chanced to pass
the night at thriving town of 10000
inhabitants. He entered his name on
the books of the metropolitan Hotel. I"
1t is rather odd. by the way, that
names should be selected with so
strange a disregard to the fitness of
things. 1t happened to the writer
once, to see small unpainted wooden
building of only one-story, dignifed
with the same big sounding title.


AS there was little to occupy him in
the hotel, and be felt unusually wake
full, he resolved about ten o'clock to
take a walk through the town, partly
to obtain a view of place new to
him, partly to induce WEAKNESS, and
a disposition to sleep.


He kept on walking until the houses
became scattered, and he appeared to
be in the outskirts of the town.


81 had better be turned back"
thought he, and was about to put his
thought into practice, when there was
a sudden and unexpected Interrupt
ton.


A dark figure sprang out from the
shelter of some bushes by the wayside,
and placed heavy hand on his shoul-
der.


"What is the meaning of this? What
do you want?" said Mr.. Peterson,
somewhat startled by the suddenness
of the attack.


81 want money. Give me all you
have-your watch besides, and be
quick about it, said the other hoarse-
ly.


"You are robber, then?"


"No matter what l am. You may
call me what you will, only hand over
your money!" said the robber.


"Suppose refuse?"


"You had better not" said the man,
as he drew out pistol and leyeled it at
the head of the merchant.


Mr.. Peterson looked at him. He
was young man, as well as he could
distinguish, about his own height, but
slighter in build. 1t appeared that
the merchant had a considerable sum
of money about him, which he did not
feel disposed to surrender. He was a
man of nerve, and constitutionally cool
in his exigences which would have
taxed the courage of most men. He
moved his hand towards his watch
pocket, as if to deliver up his watch.
The highwayman saw the motion, and
supposing he had secured his object,
was placed momentarily off his guard.
With quick eye, the merchant saw his
advantage, and with quick, dexter
GUS motion raised his arm and sud-
denly wrenched the pistol from the
robbers hand, and then said:


81 think l will keep my money"


Eyes; you have got the better of
me-" in tone which seemed to blend
sorrow with bitterness.


"What have you to say why l should
not drive you before me with the aid
of this pistol and deliver you up to the
guardship of the law"


"The pistol is not loaded" said the
would-be robber.


Indeed! Then you did not really
mean to murder me in case l refused
to give up my money!"


"No, sir, l am not quite so bad as
that. l only meant to frighten you"


81 am glad of it, for it is terrible to
bring ones self to be willing to take
mans life under any circumstances.
Go in peace, l will not expose you
But let me express hope that you will
strive to gain now living in some re-
putable way, and not expose yourself
to arrest as criminal.


He had scarcely finished speaking.
when the young man walked swiftly
away, and left him to pursue his way
back unmolested to the hotel, where
he was stopping.


All had passed so quickly that when
be reached his chamber, and once
more found himself in safety, he could
hardly realize that he had actually
been assaulted by highwayman. He
would almost have thought that he had
dreamed it, but for the pistol he had in
his breast pocket, and now drew out for
closer inspection.


There was nothing peculiar about it;
it was small and not very valuable.


SIT is not such weapon as pro-
fessional highwayman would employ u