The Mail Robbers

Southland Times, Issue 11672, 28 February 1891, Page 4

The Mail Robbers

. ~#. (Concluded), I now,for the first time,recognised the two bqad as those whom I had Been step from the stage-coach at the crossing, and I knew instinctively that they had folJa*wed me for the very purpose of rob•Wag the mail. The one who addressed Bie as Andy had already laid tbe mail poach flat on the ground, and with to open jack-knife poised in one ha d, w >- pressing the thumb and fore6rjger of the other hand carefully along the leather •urface, as if considering the proper point for the blade to penetrate. 1 had teen butchers do the same thing before cutting up a side of beef, and the similarity of the movement was now very •oggeetive, 'Here goes 1' be said finally, pushing the knife point firmly into tbe leather ; then, with a strong, dexterous sweep, lie drew the blade down lengthwise of the bag, and laid it open nearly from top to bottom. 'Give the candle to the boy, Bill,' he ■aid, ' and you help me sort this stuff ©V3r. Here you,' he added, aldresnintr me, ' hold it there,bere where I can see If you move an inch I'll — I'll excomaauoicate you.' With trembling hand, teeth chattering .in. my head, and too overcome with astonishment and fear to speak, I sat .and held the flaring candle while he tpresd wide the gap in the mail bag and poured the contents of it on the ground. The packages of papers were quickly east aside, and the bundle of letters taken up. In those days each separate bunch of letters was carefully folded in brown wrapping piper, and the post office ad drees placed on the outside before en trusting it to the mail bag. The wrappers were palled hastily off by the *obheri, and the letters enclosed in them . ware looked over rapidly, many of them being torn open before they were thrown down. Nearly the entire contents of the mail bag were gone over in this way before any money was found, and both men began to look disappointed and At last Andy came upon a thick envelope of brown Manila paper, with a seal in red wax on the back, 'Here it is!' he said, holding it up triumphantly for Bill to see. ' I knew I couldn't be mistaken about it being her*. Bob told me.you know, aud you know Bob always tells the truth.' He had risen to his feet in tbe meantime, scattering the remainder of tbe letters from him disdainfully, had opened bis coat, and was about to put the pack age into an inner breast pocket. 'Hold on!' exclaimed Lls companion. rising also. • Open it up, Andy; let's ace how much there is in it anyhow,' ' Oh, that's all right !' was the reply. •T know how much there is in it. We'll open it when we get to a 9afer place. Come, let's fix the boy, and get out o' this/ I trembled till the candle nearly dropped from my hand. What did be mean by fixing the boy ? I presume I should have begun to cry and beg again had not Bill spoken up somewhat threateningly— 1 Look here.Andy ! That's the trick you played the last time. You po< keted the swag an' held off an' spent it, till it turned out I didn't get morn half m fair share. That's played out. I wan a divvy on this, and I want it now.' Andy looked at him coolly a minute before replying. •You had your fair share of everything that wasn't spent in commoi.,' he replied at last. 'Now don't be a tool, B !l. I'll keep tbe money, and wbpn we get to a Safe place, you'll have what belongs »r> you.' He made again «g if to put the package in his pocket, but before he could do so Bill had seized his srru. 'Divide !' he exclaimed gruffly. ' I a<y divide, and do it now.' i Even by the dim light of the flaring i candle I cotild see the red and white pat<*i>n glowing in Andy's face. 'Hands off, you dog,' he cried; 'hands off, or I'll hurt you.' But the other oniy tighteded his grip and muttered the one word— •Divide !' For a moment there was silence. Tbe two Aen stood there glaring into e^c'i other's eyes, and 1, with the candle tippinpr in my hand and the melteil tallow barn in <; my fingers, stared at them in Stupid fright fuddenly there was a whiiliig fist, tbe sound of a sharp blow, and tbe next instant the two men were writhing in each other's arms. The package over which they fought was hurled from Andy's &rasp, struck tbe candle in n y hanH,and both package and candle fell at my feet. Involuntarily I stooped and picked thetreasme op, and even as 1 did so tbe candle Bpluttered on the damp ground and went out. The darkness was intense. Bnt the fight went on. CV.rse^blrws, °*<ring of garments, all signs of ■■< o hand contest, told that the men were still fiercely engaged. In that moment I gathered my wits together long enough to plan my escape, Starting out along the path, crawling on my bands and knees, feeling my way, I moved rapidly down the hill. After a little I gained sufficient courag to rise and walk, and presently I found myself at tbe bank of the stream. Here I dropped again upon my hands and crept across the log that spanned the brook. On tbe other side I stopped for a moment and listened. The fight was still ia progress. I could hear the curses, the threshing of the leaves, the tries ot rage and pain, then the sharp report of a pistol, and after that, sil< nee. Bnt in I minute some one appear- d to be coming down the pah I bad cony. 1 thought they were giving chawe t<> m* 3 , and I turned and scran bled up the hill. The way was long ands?<e;> but the woods on this side of the brook were n it so heavy, and my eye*, accustomed apnin to tbe darkness, w» re of much terv>ce to me. But 1 imagined the p-Mcts wnie still following me. I thought I beard the crashing of th<? iiLd*r brash, aiid once I was sure they cal'ed ont to me to stop. Familiar with every foot nf the path, and clambering rapidly an I was up the steep hilUirle, it still seemed to roe that I was g"'ng at a snail's pace. I had had the presence of mind to cling to the package, and I now thrust it infr> the pocket of my coat that I might us-' both hands in clini' ing, grasping roo s. twigs, sod, anything to accelerate my piegrttf,

Finally I reached the top of the hill, and aoon afterwards the end of the path were it met the highway. From here on the road was level, and I ran. Be hind me 1 heard shoutiDg, calling, a confusion of noises, but 1 Dever turned. Down through the village street 1 fled past the light in the houses, in at the open door of the post office, and stumbling at the door- sill, fell headlong upou the floor. ' They've robbpd the mail !' I cried to the astonished assemblage ; ' they've robbed the mail!' The package from my pocket I placed in the hands of the clerk, and sank exhausted in a chuir. For a few moments the cxi itenient ran high. Everybody questioned me at the same time, but I managed to give them a clue to the situation, and in a very short time a party started out in search of the robbers. Not fifty yards from the door they met my father and a neighbor, who had gone out half-an-hour earlier to meet me, and between them the supported form of a man. It was Bill. He was covered with wounds and exhausted from the loss of blond. It seemed that my father and Li* companion had gone out to the turnpike by the public road. and then, finding that I was already nn k,y way home, they had come b.ick by the path, hoping to overtake me. Near the foot of the hill they had come suddenly on the wounded robber, the mailbag and the scattered letters. Though greatly alarmed for my safety, my father Wnited to gather up the mail, and to held the wounded robber along; but I shall never forget his look of relief when he saw me sitting safe hot exhausted in the big chair at home, in the midst ot an admiring but sympathising circle. Bill recovered from his wounds, and served a term ot years in prison for his offence ; bat Andy was never captured, and even his identity was never known The mail packet contained sOoodols in crisp, new Government bills.