The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-06-14
THE DETECTIVES STORY.


Nothing remarkable about that; nei.
ther was there anything remarkable
about the man. He was dressed in
loose, dark clothes; wore his hair and
beard long, and broad Mexican hat
on his headi in short, had just the ap-
pearance of what he professed to be
a California miner. washed up and
Just out from the "diggings."
He took lodgings at quiet hotel,
booked himself as James l.. Snyder.
His manners were unobstrusive, and
had everything connected with him
so perfectly commonplace as TO sug-
gest the idea expressed by the land
lord:
Clever fellow enough! But as to
smartness-between you and /, he
will never set the river on firer
Well. Mr.. James l.. Snyder linger-
ed, ant, looked about for upward OF a
week, and then announced his inten-
ton of settling down" He made a
partial bargain for some real estate:
had some talk OF taking shares in a
railroad just going through; and thus
it transpired that he was a man OF
means.
About this time he took tho land
lord so far into his confidence as to
impart little anxiety he felt respect
ing his capital. His ''pile" was just as
he had made it, being all in dust;
and rs the amount was considerable,
he doubted being able to exchange it
at any OF our banks.
The landlord, who was n good-na-
tured fellow. and withal a man of
some influence, offered 10 go with him
to the principal one, which he did,
Snyder carrying specimen of his,
dust in small bottle.
The cashier, who was attending to
business during the absence OF the
president, gave great encouragement
respecting the exchange, but as he
felt great responsibility resting upon
himself, wished to retain the specimen,
and postpone his reply until the next
day.
Snyder readily complied with this
proposition, expressed deal OF quiet
satisfaction at the prospect of SO
easily changing his dust" into availa-
BILE capital.
The specimen being duly tested,
and proving to be pure article, the
cashiers reply, next day was tavora-
BILE one; and Snyder, going directly TO
the hotel, brought back the dust" in
a chamois-skin bag, and was counted
out at its market value in bank notes
and coin, to the amount of eight |
thousand dollars.
While the dust was being weighed, |
Snyder recollected that he had prom
ised, as curiosity, to send a little to |
his brother, living ont in Indiana, and |
asked for small vial to put 1t up in,
whereupon the cashier returned bin
his own specimen, its contents un-
touched.
a little later in the day, one of the
professors OF the University, who was
quite noted chemist, happened in at |
the bank, heard Knox, the cashier,
speaking OF his speculation on his
gold dust. l
"Gold dustr7 be said. "Have you
any objections to show me the color
of it,"
Certainly not. Oh. it's all right
| had a specimen thoroughly tested
before bargained to take it"
Half an hour after, Knox burst into
my room, like a man bercft of his
senses.
For Gods sake. Pm. get up
here and help mel Ii you don't, I'm
a ruined, desperate man~
'In Heavens name, what have you
been doing. mani" l asked in aston
ishment.
1--we been fooled, seduced, swim
died! I've burst the bank! I've
ruined myself and everybody else!"
"Come, Gomez l said soothingly
for I saw be was quite wild with ex-
am sure it isn't so bad
as that am ready and willing to
help you. but you must cool down.
and tell me just what's up and all
about it."
Partly by persuasion and partly by
force, got him down in chair, and
to pump the whole story out
of him.
Tchadd had been testing some of
the "dust," and the test failed; he
tried again and again, then the secret
came out; the whole lot was worthless,
dross.
"How many people know this?"
asked.
"OnIy Tchadd, myself, and you"
"Then keep quiet and tell him to.
President Brown will not be back
until next week. Keep your own
counsel, and Ihaye presentiment we
will straighten out this tangled snarl
before then"
7 sauntered around to the hotel,
and inquired for Snyder. He had not
been back since he had went down to
sell his "dust"
"Did he leave any luggage in bis
room?" / asked.
No; be bought only valise, and
carried the gold IN it to the bank"
/ made various inquiries about town
and ascertained to dead certainty
what l was convinced of, VIZ: that
Snyder had 4sloped."
| was confident that he had taken
The train West, which started out
about fifteen minutes after he had re-
seived his money at the bank. lie
mad played too sharp game to be a
mere novice at getting out of the trap
after he had taken the bait.
Another train was to start out in an
lour, and purchasing ticket through
N Omaha T made the hest usa of NV