The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-11-16

ing about the streets in the immediate
neighborhood of the depot, with glazed
cloth grip-sack in hand, he looked the
picture Of contentment and bucolic inno-
cence-barring sex. regular Red Riding
Hood, with only the wolf wantingto com.
plete the picture.
There was a wolf in the neighborhood,
as it turned out, who soon set eyes on
Hensley and marked him for his victim.
The stranger was not long in ascertaining
that he had met with a guileless child IT
nature, for Hensley, with small encour-
agement, soon put him in possession of all
the facts relative to his home, his calling,
and the object and result of his visit to
st. Louis. After thoroughly pumping the
gray, the newcomer said: I" You must
know the Robinsons, of Springfield
They're prominent people there" Hens
ley, contiding soul, did know the Robin
sons, and when the stranger said, 1.-THE
old mans an uncle of mine," and, "My
names ]. L. Robinson" his confidence
went out with gush and he was ready to
submit to the plucklng which the scoun-
drel was preparing for him. Robinson,
for such he may be called, shook the hon.
est hand that was extended by the farmer,
and said that he was doubly rejoiced to
meet him, since he, too, was going to
Springfield, and they could journey to-
gether. After some further conversation
upon unimrortant topics, the thief invited
the "gray" to accompany him to dinner,
but, as Hensley had contracted for meal
at "cross- roads tavern" near the depot,
he declined and the two men separated.
About six o'clock, last evening, while
the farmer was seated in the waiting
room at the depot, Robinson came in,
and renewed the acquaintance by re-
marking that some time would elapse be-
fore their train would start. The CONVEX
sation ran upon several subjects for few
moments, when Robinson said he had some
further purchases to make up town, and
would be glad to have Hensley's compa-
ny. The latter was willing to go and did
go, and therein is to be found one Of the
most bitter experiences of bis life, for
Robinson was villain and thief, and
during his absence, after the mornings
interview, had laid his plans for robbing
the way, and the two men were soon on
Eleventh street, between Spruce and Pop
lar streets, locality we'll fitted to be the
As they were proceeding leisurely along,
ward them, and accosting Robinson, said:
" l have just delivered your goods at the
depot, and, let me say, that one of the
been broken in transit, and, unless some
robbed" OF course Robinson had
something to say upon the necessity of re-
turning at once to the depot, and turned
oil, <br,, ri, tr, dn On vvhon hio c<,u
federate played his second card, by re-
marking that lie was instructed to collect
on delivery. At this, Robinson, with
much fumbling, drew from his pocket
what purported TO be bond and rendered
it to his confederate. The latter could
not accept that in payment, as he was not
prepared to furnish the change. Robin
son then offered draft for $500, "drawn
on New York and certiied,'' but the
same objection held good in this case as
in the preceding. Could Mr. Hensley ac-
commodate his new founl friend with a
loan until they returned to the depot !
He could, and did, handing over to the
voracious Robinson the entire proceeds of
his pork sale, $575. The bill it appeared
was "on]y $751; and the four dollars
difference was returned to the farmer
with the remark that he might have &C.
casion to need it before they returned to
the depot. As the confederate turned to
leave he reminded Robinson of the ne
cessity of having those goods watched,
saying that he would not be accountable
for them if stolen. With well-feigned
look of anxiety, which only served to excite
the formers sympathy, Robinson asked
Henslev if he would not return to the de-
pot and watch the goods until his return,
as he must get receipt for the money
paid. Without shadow of doubt as to
the honesty of the request, the farmer con-
sented to do so and started back, in
structed to "look for some boxes marked
j. L. Robinson" He failed, of course,
to find such packages, but it was not until
he had ransacked almost every room in
the depot that he began to smell rat.
Acting on the advice of some one to whom
he told his story, he hurried to the Chief
Of Police. and laid bare his woes. He
could i've no sort of description of the
thieves-whether they were tall or short,
thick or thin, such effect had they had
upon his mind. The Chief afforded him
such small consolation as he could, but as
Hensley could furnish no ground upon
which TO work the case, there is little hope
of his recovering his money. He started
for home last nj ht upon the money re-
turned to him by Robinson, with his eye
teeth cut, and thoroughly sick of St.
Louis.-St. Louis Globe Democrat.