Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1875-03-07
The Last Dodge.
BY GEORGE ERASTCS.

Nllnt thompson WAS rogue OF more
than ordinary sagacity and villain of
desperate character. A large reward had
been placed on his head for more than a
year and yet no arrest had been made.
was not detective, strictly speaking,
but having some little taste in that direc-
ton, and perhaps a little talent, and find
ing nothing in particular to engage my
attention at just that time, | resolved
myself into one, determining to do my
best to bring the man Thompson to JUS
tice. Something of an advantage was in
my favor, as l had been personally &C
quainted with Clint in his college days,
and knew very well in what direction his
genius most naturally ran, and further
than this had been victimiZed by his
villainy to that extent which made me
feel that no little satisfaction would be
afforded in seeing him suffer the full pen
atty of the law. 1t was, of course, well
understood that the task before me would
not be an easy one, for he had slipped
through the mesh of every network sprung
upon him.
Thompson was one of those willy fell
lows who is never where you expect to
find him, and always turning up just
where no one is looking for him. He was
not over thirty years of age, pleasing in
address, indeed he was absolutely win
ming in manner; his bright, dark eyes
would twinkle with peculiar and pleas
ing light whenever his conversation be-
came animated, and his voice, over which
he had perfect control, could be softened
down to tone as musical as that of a
flute; being complete mimic his dis
guises were numerous and always effect
i've.
The time of which l write was before
railroads had lined many parts of the
West, and before Geographic wires were
tying together towns and cities alike
through the Mississippi Valley, and when
the saddle and the stage coach were en-
ployed almost entirely as means of con-
yeyance. 1t was winter, and had been
shifting from point to point for some two
months, always on the track, and several
times near trapping the game, when l
brought up one Saturday at the village OF
r, river town, and losing the trail
here concluded to remain over Sabbath.
Just at nightfall Sunday, sauntering out
without any fixed purpose as to where
should go, fell into a crowd that was
moving toward the largest chapel in the
place and was drifted almost involuntarily
thitherward.
The organ was playing when entered,
and seating myself about midway OF the
church, had fair view of what was
going on. From the conversation of a
party with whom l had taken a seat !
learned that new minister was to preach,
astranger, and about the time this inform
alton was received, the pastor of the
church entered with a gentleman dressed
in black, wearinga short cloak and Scotch
cap. s ~. ~ AZ -- ~
After the usual opening ceremonies the
chaplain introduced Rev. Mr.. Wheeler as
the speaker of the evening. The man an
nounced came forward to the desk, care
lilly turned the leaves of the Bible until
lie came to the first chapter of Proverbs
and fourteenth verse, when he read as his
text: :.
''cast in thy lot among us; let US all
have one purse" .4AA
No sooner did l hear the voice and
catch the gGmmer of tho eye OF the speak
or, than recognized him as being nc
other than Clint Thompson, the biackieg
was completely dumb founded, ana my
hrst resolution was to denounce MN q
once and prevent the sacrilegious imposis,
, ton upon the people, but on seco!u
thought concluded to devote the unc -
which he was speaking to planning a. =
the lest means of capturing the rogus
after the exercises were over.
The text, which At first struck me ~
being very peculiar. was in keeping WI!
the man, in . litorAl sense, but he HANDLED
1t in an apt manner, and delivered . pow
arf = aWaVed the audience
At will, now painting pictures Of human
l,encvolcnce and sorrows SO wildly tina
but few dry eyes were in the house, agail
he waited away in his almost inimitabl
oratory to the realms of delight, bringin,
over the saddened countenancc a smile O