Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1867-09-30
THE EVENING NEWS.

which we reckon is 'too good to keep"
and will ssdu to tel Almost anywhar."
Iftherei IS one more inveterate as a jok-
er in this town than another, then that
individual is the victim of rs heavy a
practical pleasantly as was ever perpe-
trated in Slippery Gulch. On Satur-
day afternoon, Travis Rhodes held
a conversation with Mr.. Skerrett, the
well known Company" Of Eugene Bit
ner Il CO. hardware merchants, in
the course of which Skerrett mentioned
that a few hours before, u man had call.
ed to see Bittner, who is at the Bay,
representing that he was from Austin
aud in want, which could-and, If Bitt-
ner was here, would-be relieved by a
loan Of 50 50-claiming that Bittner
was an old and intimate acquaintance
OF his. Mr.. Skerrett had told the stran-
ger that he did not do business in hat
way"-that if he, the aforesaid stran-
ger, was in want, he, Skerrett, would
provide him with credit for some meals
and u bed at Of the boarding houses.
At this point of information, Skerrett's
attention was called from the stranger
TO the desk in the rear of the store, by
Charley Watson, the principal clerk OF
the establishment, and a son OF Colonel
Watson, Secretary uf the Yellow Jack
At. On returning to the front part OF
the store, Skerrett discovered that the
n had taken his departure. This
incident being mentioned to Rhodes,
the latter bethought him Of an arrange
ment, whereby Charley Watson might
enjoy q lively delusion for u few hours,
for the qualification ofnumerous friends
So, mentioning TO Skerrett that his
sledge handles were getting very loose
and needed greasing, he picked up u
l6-pound steel sledge, worth about ten
dollars, and taking it across the street,
to the Philadelphia Brewery, "pawned'
i, to the saloon keeper, Joe Stehle, for
So 5O,-the amount, mind you, asked IN
loan BY the seedy stranger from Austin.
So far, Rhodes, Skerrstt aud Joe Stehle,
only were in the secret, but to make the
party complete for the evening, A. 7.
Church aud Mr.. Shaney, the tailor, were
let in the conspiracy. As the shades Of
nigh, came down, the conspirators were
on the watch to see Charley Watson
take his accustomed aunte into the
Philadelphia saloon. The sledge was
stationed prominently amid the bot
ties on the shelf behind the counter.
A. soon rs the store Of Bittner 4 Co.
was closed for the night, Charley takes
his accustomed jump across the street,
aud lands cheerily in Joe Stehle's sa-
loon. He called for his favorite lager
and has his call allowed. Then up
spoke Joe Stehle: ~ want to see you II
minute Charley, privately" and Charley
walked around behind the counter to
have the secret conference desired;-
Rhodes and Church. meanwhile, being
engaged in playing card, At one Of the
saloon tables. Joe. whispered TO Charley:
ssThere was a man anne in here this AT
,ernoon, and pswned this sledge for
81 so. I'd like TO sell it to you, II its
all right; though since he pswned it, |
have had Il kind of suspicion strike me
that may be the man stole
il. And If he did, maybe he
stole it from your store Charley
grabbed the sledge with II quick, ner-
vous grasp, and a cry, " Let me see it,"
And then, after expressing his conviction
that the sledge came from Bittner X
Co.'S, inquired, What kind ola look
ing man was he ?" Joe explained and
described as well as he could from
Rhodes former description-and added
"He said. he had just come in from
Austin, and had picked this sledge up
ON the road" "That's the man
That's the man ~ exclaimed Charley.
=, Damn him he's q thief. He was in
our store this afternoon trying to bor-
row So so of Mr.. Sksrritt. Skerritt has
gone up 10 the Melodeon. | ought to
call him out and have him set the OH
GERS on that id thiefs track. | wish
YOU could describe him more particular
w." "Well," said Joe, there is
Rhodes,-he can describe him TO you.
| believe he saw him when he came in
here. Rhodes: didn't you see that man
come in here and pawn this sledgeT'
eyes" replied Rhodes, in an inditfer-
ent tone, al noticed that fellow
"What kind Of clothes did he have onY'
inquired Charley. well, said Rhodes,
ube had on a light coat" "That's
him, that's him - again exclaimed
Charley; bringing his hand down
in a siedgey gesture on the counter
.sd-n his picture, he ought to be ar
rested tonight. He can't have LETT
town. You two would know him if you
should see him again, wouldn't you!
Joe and Rhodes rather thought they
would but they were 8 trihe shy OF
being positive for fear Charley would
break for a warrant, without waiting
for Skerret's word. The conversing
parties had gradually approached the
door of the saloon, and were talking IN
no secret tone Of voice, when Charley,
looking down the street, exclaimed:
nTberel There! believe that man is
there now-in front of Denny's drug
store. Look at him, Rhodes; amt thar
the man?. Amt that the man, Joe!'
Rhodes and Joe had given so close q
description of the person that even now,
when they feared exceedingly that the
Joke was going a little too far, they had
10 say that they rather thought 1t wal
the man. Charley pulled Rhodes along
with him to take u nearer view oil the
individual. Charley kne,o it was the
Granger who called on Skerret for a
81 so loan, on the afternoon OF the day,
and then suddenly, not to say mysteri-
ously, disappeared. Rhodes rather
thought it was the sledge pawner, but
could not say certain AS to identity.
(As afterward developed the now illus
trious stranger" was at the time he
was undergoing a police review from
Charley, trying to spar a 81 80 piece
ou, of Charley Denuy. Going back to
the Philadelphia Saloon, Charley Wat
SON again and again protested thai the
Odd thief ought to be arrested right
Off" and giving indications Of a move
for the Marshal, Joe Stehle said; wait
until | 90 and have a good, square look
AT the fellow" So Joe goes near
the 81 so chap, from Austin ana
takes Il long and careful survey OF
him; in fact, pro.racting his examina,
ton until the man had "moved ana
disappeared in the deep night OF the
lower part of the town. Then, when II
was quite safe to make the announce.
meut, Joe returns to bis saloon, q
cries OUT: ayes, that's the mani ~
-. .tt o~oI,nai Charley.