The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-09-14
THE DAILY ARGUS.
A victimized Robbsr.

d NlGbiIHl1cQ OUuUC1s
Thomas H. REYNOLDS Deputy Sec
retary of State, late County Clerk OF
San Francisco. political soothsayer, tam
ner. miner. agriculturist. good part
ner in four handed game, practical
Joker, and the only disciple of Izaak
Walton who can't tell lie-had an adj
venture Yesterday One man has been
found who was able to come up with
him, and the entire fraternity of Saera-
mento jokers viii unite to-day to pre-
sent the chap with a medal for his
achievement. He came up with him on
the road nine miles north of Auburn.
Reynolds was coming down on a buck
board on which he had strapped fast
leathern valise containing th1rty-s1x
ounces in gold dust, the partial product
of a claim he had an interest in. In his
pockets he had gold and silver coin
amounting to $50. It was hot and dus-
", the horse was slow, the motion of
the blackboard soothing in its mono
tony, and Reynolds went fast to sleep.
He was awakened by the sudden stop
ping of his vehicle, and the cold pres
sure of the muzzle of double barreied
shotgun just under his nose. At the
other eud of the gun was nlan-mask-
ed. Throw up your handss" cried the
l.
palms outward. Ante was the next
order. 1t was the kind of English Rey-
nolds understood, but he had presence
of mind enough to remark that he
couldn't ante with both hands paving
the air.
well, come down out o. that"
Thomas came down. Then began
colloquy.
Look here, mister" said Reynolds;
''you wouldn't rob clergyman, would
yon?"
mo, sir, not L." replied this Dick
Turpin. Il was brought up right and
wouldn't hurt preacher man"
s.An right said Reynolds; ''then l
can 60" And he started.
Hold on, friend; if you're preach
er, prove it. Get right down here and
pray"
It is related that Reynolds turned
pale, and, likewise, that it is the only
instance of any such change ever hay
ing occurred in his cheeks. He hadn't
knelt since he was in short clothes; but
then, $50 and thirty-six ounces We're
powerful incentives to be good for once
in his life, and down he went, but SO
awkwardly that he toppled over in the
dust. The road agent poked him up
right with the butt OF his gun.
''Now say the Lords prayer"
Had he been commanded to reclte
summons in q repleyin suit he would
not have hesitated.
Come hurry up. You're long
time unlinking your tongue
Then Thomas began: StW ont pray
er of my own dop"
mo, stree. want you to repeat the
| one [ know"
Thomas then stammeringly began:
From Greenland'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.
s.That'll do. How much of that gold
en- stran' have you got about you?"
REYNOLDS produced ten American dol
lars; the agent called for more; quar-
ter eagle, and the fellow took aim at
| Toms second diamond shirt stud. Rey-
| nolds fished double eagle out OF his
| right vest pocket; the robber put his
finger on the trigger. and then doubt
| ing Thomas produced his watch, turn
| ed his pockets, and throwing down all
| he had, cried out:
| ssForever and ever, amen-let me get
| up out of this"
..By gracious, you do know it; get up.
guess I've done you some good, any
how, and as you seem to be sort O. rus
ty in your prayers I'll take this for my
sarvices Get up on that blackboard
and drive on, right quick
REYNOLDS didn't wait a second order,
but as he picked up the reins he
couldn't resist the temptation to have
the last W ord.
Say, you've got $50 out of me; now
| TIL bet you all there is in that valise
against the fifty that I can name the
next. Governor
Il don't want your dirty clothes; keep
your old valise."
You're smart road agent, you are;
| there's thirty-six ounces in gold in that
| valise.'' 3s5& &
Look here, Tom Reynolds; maybe
you think don't know you; but do,
and wouldn't believe yeu If you said
that leather bag was filed with dia-
monds. You just 60 on and quit your
I jokin'.n
| REYNOLDS, amazed that his fame had
| penetrated even the iSierras, drove off,
saddened by the thought that even the
| robbers in the hills wouldn't believe that
he could be serious Sacramento Rec
ord Union.
| T.,ua ar5 T.a+ 1--WE