A Fatal Informality.

Otago Witness, Issue 1971, 14 November 1889, Page 37

A Fatal Informality.

I was hoofing it along a highway in Arkansas, my horse having gone deaft lame Btnd being left with a farmer, when a man driving a horse and buggy overtook me and invited me to take a seat. I was only too thankful for the offer, and when I got in beside him I liked his looks. He offered me a cigar. We exchanged names. He was informed on politics and current events. It was a spanking horse he had, and he kept a steady gait for mile after mile. The only thing about the man that puzzled me was the way he had of looking behind every few minutes, and I finally inquired :

"Are you expecting some friend to overtake you ? " " Well, no— not a friend," he replied. " Enemies 1 "

" It may be that the sheriff and his posse will be fools enough to try and overtake me."

"My friend," I said, after, swallowing the lump which suddenly gathered in my throat, "is there any good reason why the sheriff should want to overtake you 1 This is rather

blunt I'll admit, but if I hurt your feelings I am ready tc beg pardon." * "Oh, no harm done," he laughed. "I borrowed this horse and rig about, two hours ago without the formality of asking, and the owner may hope to recover it. Don't give yourself any uneasiness, however. I run to horses and not to highway robbery." Three miles further on, as we ascended a hill, he looked back, and then pulled up and said : "We must part here. The sheriff and half a dozen others are in pursuit, and every pound of weight will now tell." " I am very much obliged for your kind • ness." " Oh, not at all. Your society has been reward enough. I would suggest that you enter that thicket and lie close until the party gets by. When an Arkansas sheriff gets after a stolen horse he means to hurt somebody, and his crowd isn't particular who it shoots at. Aud, say, you needn't make any special effort to report that you have seen me. Savey 1 " " I won't." " Then, good-bye." " He put the horse on a dead run, and was out of sight in two minutes. I secreted myself as directed, and in a few minutes the posse thundered by in a cloud of dust. I followed at a leisurely gait, and at the end of two hours came upon them, grouped around a tree. Hanging from a limb was the lifeless body of my friend of the road, and they were now waiting for the blown and exhausted horses to recuperate.— New York Sun.