Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-27


tie ranch to his friends, and that Hungry Joe,
as he was called, had expressed wish to re-
tire from city life. Mr.. Ashley was tseen
of" by his enthusiastic New York aca.,aint-
ances after the most approved style of the
art. They toasted hin, right royalty in ''yel-
low label, presented him with q big basket
of flowers with the word Farewell in large
blue letters across tie centre, and oshei-esse
marked his departure with evidences Of their
tender regard
able Broadway hotel precisely eleven days,
when tai man came in from carriage
that was loaded with trunks and steamer
chairs and other appliances of ocean travel.
lie signed himself on the register, Benjamin
Ashley, London The clerk looked up hur-
rledly as if to apologize for no5 recognizing
his guest, then looked surprised then NUT
tered hasty word Or two, and assigned the
stranger room, all in c confused and preoc-
cupied way. This was apparently another
Benjamin Ashley. He was tall and slender,
and well dressed, and pale. But he spoke
with slightly Americanized English accent,
not unlike that of the other Benjamin Ashley.
Inc clerk was pretty well puzzled, and that
night ne took good care to have the strangers
full name and 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 Dir. Ashley would see
the gentleman in the drawing-room, and
thither the clerk followed after moment.
hungry Joe was sitting in large armchair
when the tail man from London came into
the apartment. The New Yorker merely be-
slowed passing glance on MIR. Ashley and
looked away. The Englishman, however,
seeing no one else excepting the clerk, adj
vanced courteously and said:
DID You wish to see me. I am Mr. Ash
ley
: Ehs" queried Hungry Joe, with a startled
LOOK. $ You're not Mr.. Benjamin Ashleyg'
" Precisely.n
g Not Of kansas"
:" Yes, of Abilene. Kan. How can serve
YOUR
The thin lips Of the confidence man were
rather white by this time, and they were
more firmly compressed than ever. He re-
garded the tall EngEshman in dazed fashion
Tor few moments. Then he asked:
" Do you own a. large cattle ranch thirty
five miles south of Abilene."
" | believe do. Why do you ask!'
" Been to Europe to have your eyes doc
to-ed2"
eyes, I have now been abroad four
months. But, my young friend, these ques-
tons are rather odd. Please explain your
self"
odd" echoed the Broadway man. seWeI,
should think they were If you are Ben
Jalnln Ashley, and you do own that ranch,
the cleverest man IN the country has given
me deal, that's all. Why, it amt two
weeks ago that me and two friends bought
half interest in that ranch, and, by George!
the man who sold Us stopped IN this same no.
tel"
Mr. Ashley seemed rather astonished By
this information, and beclloned the clerk.
who lad been listening to their conversation
quite intently. That individual gave a care
ful description Of the previous Mr. Ashley.
ana the New York sharper told how had he
won some Sc, $50 from the man, who was on
MS way to Europe fer the benefit Of his ewes.
mad represented himself as the owner
u the Ashley ranch, and at his request
the speaker had te,egraphed the Abb
iene postmaster, WAC had replied giving de-
tails as to the property, which is valued at
about $50, 600, and had 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
20 the lawyers. Thinking he held chance to
get S25, 600 worth OF material for S14. coo. the
victim had taken two friends in with him.
and by clubbing together they had raised
the necessary amount.
"Reaiy," observed the Englishman when
the recital was finished II am very sorry
for you, but you have unquestionably been
swlndled. For my part shall not have the
slightest difficulty in establishing my linden
tlty AS to your friend, the bogus Mr..
Ashley, he Is probably one of my COW
boys, Henry Barnes by name. The de-
scription certainly fits that person.
He came to the ranch-let me see
ABOUT Il months ago and asked for place.
Now l remember he wasn't much like the
other boys, but needed more help, and I
took him on. He may have been in hiding
for some crime, for all know. But on the
plains we can 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. 1 heard once or twice
from my men that he played very cold
hand at poker"
He does" said Hungry Joe mournfully.
"He was an expert penman, now I come to
think Of it, and he did some work of that sorf
for me. He was still there when I came
away"
And that's the c;lss who got off to Europe
With my money, hang him." burst in the
defrauded confidence operator, angriIy.
What's worse, he went away full of nv
champagne, aud smelling OF my basket of
lowers. That mans q Id swindIer, that's
what he IS"
Receipt for Duel.
London Family Herald