Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-12-06

low label, presented him WIN ~. u.e
OF flowers with the word "Fareweh' IN 'elHe
blue letters across the centre, and osner rw'ee
marked his departure with evidences Oh '1'7"
tender regard.
Mr.. Ashley had been gone from the fasnfon-
able Broadway hotel precisely eleven days.
when tall man came In from a carr'aso
that was loaded with trunks aud seean'el
chairs and other appliances Of ocean traVeA
Resigned himself on the register, "ben)ah'n
Ashley, London" The clerk looked up nur-
riedly as IT 10 apologize for not recognising
his guest, then looked surprised, then NUT
tered hasty word or two, and assigned the
stranger room, all in a confused and prooc-
cupiod way. This was apparently another
benjamin Ashley. He was tall and slender,
and we'll dressed, and pale. But he spoke
with slightly Americanized English accent,
not unlike that of the other Benjamin Ashley.
The clerk was pretty we'll puzzled, and that
night he took good care to have the strangers
full name aud address inserted In the list OF
arrivals published daily in a periodical de-
voted to that purpose and carefully read by
the confidence fraternity. The clerk went on
duty early the next day, and as he had fully
expected, one Of the first callers was the thin
Tipped young man, who asked to have his
name sent up to Mr.. Ashley's ROOM Word
came back that Mr.. Ashley would $50
the gentleman In the drawing room, and
thither the clerk followed after moment.
Hungry Joe was sitting in large arm chair
when tho tall man from London came into
the apartment. The New Yorker merely DO
slowed passing glance on Mr. Ashley and
looked away. The EnSlishman, however,
seeing no one else excepting tho clark, ad-
vanced courteouS1v aud said:
Did you wish to see me. I am Mr.. Ash
ley"
"Ehr' queried Hungry Jos, with startled
look. You're not Mr.. Benjamin AshleyF'
"Precisely."
Not OF Kansas"
"Yes, Of Abilene, Kan. How can servo
your
The thin lips Of tho confidence man were
rather white by this time, and they were
more firmly compressed than ever. He NJ
gardsd the tall Englishman in dazed fashion
for few moments. Then he asked:
Do you own large cattle ranch thirty
five miles south Of Abilenel"
believe do. Why do you askr'
Been to Europe to have your eyes doc
toredr'
Eyes, I have now been abroad four
months But, my young friend, these qucss-
tions are rather odd. Please explain your
self.n
"Odd" echoed the Broadway man "Well,
should think they were. II you are Ben
jamin Ashley, and you do own that ranch,
the cleverest man in tho country has given
me deal, that's all. Why, it amt two
weeks ago that me and two friends bought
a half interest In that ranch, and, by George!
tho man who sold Us stopped in this same ho-
TEL"
Mr.. Ashley seemed rather astonished by
this information. and beckoned the clcrk,
who had boen listening to their conversation
quito intently. That individual gave a care
ful description OF the previous Mr.. Ashley,
and the Now York sharper told how had no
won some q, 80 from the man, who was on
his way to Europe for tho benefit Of his eyes.
He had represented himself as the owner
of the Ashley ranch, and at his request
the speaker had telegraphel the abb
lene postmaster, who had replied givin, de-
tails as to the property. which is valued at
about $50, ,0OO, and bad added that Mr. Ashley
himself had gone abroad for medical treat
ment The man had represented that he
wanted to make certain expenditures in Eu-
rope, and that his card losses would prevent
unless he could dispose OF an interest in his
ranch. He produced deeds TO establish his
ownership, and they seemed satisfactory even
~ the lawyers. Thinking he had chance to
get So, ,UO worth Of material for 1900, the
victim had taken two friends in with him,
and by clubbing together they had raised
the necessary amount
"Rcally," observed the Englishnsan when
the recital was finished. II am very sorry
for you, but you have unquestionably been
swindled. For my part shall not have the
slightest difficulty In establishing my linden
tity. As to your friend, the bogus Mr.
Ashley, he is probably one of my cow
boys, Henry Barnes by name. Tho de-
scriphon certainly fits that person,
He came to the ranch-let me see
about a months ago and asked for place.
Now l remember he wasn't much like the
other boys, but l needed more help, and I
took him on. He may have been in hiding
for some crime, for all l know. But on the
plains we eau scarcely go into such matters
He did his work all right, and seemed rather
more refined than his companions though he
tried to conceal it. l heard once or twice
from my men that he playej q very cold
hand at poker:'
"He does" said Hungry Joe mournfully.
"He was an expert pennan, now come to
think of it, and he did some work OF that sort
for me. He was still there when came
away"
''And that's the cuSs who got of 80 Europe
with my money, hang him." burst In the
defrauded confidence operator, angrily
whats worse, he went away full Of my
champagne, aud smelling Of my basket Of
hOwerx That mans a ,i-4i swinAl.,r tha 1,s
what he is"