Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-07-18
EVEN THE RoBBER THOUGHT BE WAS
TESTING

Thos. H. r 'ynolds-Deputy Secretary of
State, late County Clerk of San Francisco,
political sooth.sayer, tanner, miner, sgricult-
urist, a good partner in four.handed game
practical joker, and the only disciple Of Izaak
Walton who cant tell lie, except Alex.
Bsdlsm, Of San Francisco-hsd an adven-
ture yesterday. OEe man has been found
who was able to come up with him, and the
entire fraternity Of Sacramento jokers will
unite to-day to present the chap with o mejal
for bis achievement. He came up with bin
on the road nine miles north Of Auburn. Rey-
nOlds arrived here last evening, and it Was for
time believed he had lost the power Of speech,
for he said nothing for an hour, for once
in lis life. The truth has, however, leaked
out and it becomes Q solemn duty to recordit.
Reynolds v as coming down on blackboard
on which he had strapped fast leathern
valise containing SO ounces in gold dust, the
partial product Of a claim he has an interest
IN. In his pockets he had gold and silver
coin amounting TO $50. 1t was hot and dusty,
the horse was SLOW the motion Of the buck
board soothing in its monotony, and Reyn-
olcs went fast asleep. lie was awakened by
the sudden stopping Of his vehicle, and the
cold pressure of the muzzle of doube-bar-
relied shotgun inst under his nose. At the
other end of the gun was man-masked.
Throw up your hands, " cried the highway
man. Thomas elevated his palms outward.
ANTE" was the next order. It was the
kind of English Reynolds understood,
but he had presence of mind enough to re-
marx that be couldn't ante with both hands
paving the air.
"Well, come down out o that
Thomas came down. Then began colo
Guy.
wouldn't rob clergyman, would you -
" No, sir, not /, replied this Dick TurpIn.
a preacher msn."
IAN right, said Reynolds; then 1 can
go, and he started.
Hold on, friend if you're preacher,
prove it. Get right down here ard pray"
1t is related that Reynolds turned pale,
and, likewise, that it is the only instance of
any such change ever having occurred IN his
cheek. He hadn't knelt since he was in short
clothes hut then so and 36 ounces were
powerful incentives to be good for once in
his life, and down ne went, but so awkwardly |
that he toppled over in the dust. The road |
agent poked him upright with the end of his
gun.
Now say the Lords prayer.
Had he been commanded to recite q sum- |
mons in a replevin suit he would not have |
hesitated.
Come, hurry up. You're long time IN
linking your tongue"
Thsn Thomas began: won't prayer of
my own do?'
No, stree. want ysu to repeat the one
| know
Worse and worse, Reynolds muttered to |
himself. I'm goner this time" In vain |
he ransacked the chambers of memory, but |
confused scraps of old hymns he had heard |
Burns, Badlsm and Blessing intone in their |
early camp-meeting years were the only re-
suits.
The robher grew impatient and drew up |
his gun. Reynolds looked down the barrel !
and plainly read Lydia Piukham advertise
ment on the wad. Il was the longest gun |
and had the biggest bore he remembered hav.
ing encountered, and he asked the robber |
when Admiral Seymour sent him that Sl-ton
cannon.
The fellow ehucklej, and told him if he
didn't pray he'd let him crawl in among the |
buckshot and learn the latest news from |
Egypt.
Thomas then stammeringly began:
From Greensnd's icy mountains,
When can read my title clear"
Hold on that won't do"
Mary had little lam
Where Afric's sunny fountains
Roll down their golden stran'."
Say are you foolin' me ?"
No, SIR I'm given you asquare deal, but |
you"
"Tha.Tl do. How much of that golden
strsn' have you got about you"
Reynolds produced ten American dollars
the agent called for more & quarter eagle, and
the fellow took aim at Toms second diamond
shirt stud. Reynolds ished double eagle
out Of MS right vest pocket; the robber put
his finger on the trigger and then doubling
Thomas produced his wallet, turned his pock-
cts, aud throwing down all he had cried out
Forever and ever, amen-let me get up
out of this"
"By gracious, you do know l.; get up. l
guess I've done you some good, anyhow, and
as you seem to be sort O. rusty in your
prayers, III take this for my sarvices. Gst
up on that blackboard and drive on, right
quick.
Reynolds didn't await second order, but
as he picked up the reins he couldn't resist
the temptation to have the last word.
Say, you've got $50 out of me; now I'll
bet you all there is in that yaliss against the
fifty that l can name the uext Governor"
g | don't want your dirty clothes; keep
your old valiss.
there's thirty-six ounces in gold in that
valise.
LOOK here, Tom Reynolds maybe you
think don't know you but L dc, and l
wouldn't believe you if you said that leather
bag was filed with diamonds. You jest go
on, and quit your jokiu'."
Reynolds, amazed that his fame had pene.
trated even the Sierras, drove off, saddened
by the thought that even the robbers in the
hills wouldn't believe that he could be serious,
and the telegrsphic reporter at Auburn said
in the dispatches last night that the victim
was SO chagrined ne slid through the town
quietly for fear he'd be called on to testify to
the details Of that robbery. But they leaked
out, nevertheless.