The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-18
,in AshIex ua rxna fail and slender. and

well dressed, and pale. But he spoke with
a slightly Americanized English accent,
not unlike that OF the other Benjamin
Ashley. The clerk was pretty well puz.
zled, and that night he took good care
to have the strangers full name
and address inserted In the list OF
arrivals published daily in peri
odical devoted to that purpose aud care
fully read by the confidence fraternity.
The clerk went on duty early the next day,
aud as he had fully expected. one OF the
first callers was the tbin-lipped young man,
who asked 10 have his name sent up TO Mr.
| Ashley's room. Word came back that Mr..
Ashley would see the gentleman In the
drawing-room, and thither the clerk fol-
lowed after a moment. Hungry Joe was
sitting in large armchair when the tall
man from London came into the apartment.
The New Yorker merely bestowed pass
ing glance on SIR. Ashley and looked away.
The Englshman, however. seeing no one
else excepting the clerk, advanced cour-
teously and said:
Ibid you wish to see mes am Mr..
Ashley"
"Eh?" queried Hungry ice. with a
startled look. "You're not Mr.. BENJAMIN
Ashley"
Precisely"
/" Not OF Kansas?"
"Yes, OF Abilene, Kansas. How can l
serve your"
The thin lips Of the confidence man
were rather white by this time, and they
were more firmly compressed than ever.
He regarded the tall Engishman in dazed
fashion for few moments. Then he
asked:
"Do you own a large cattle ranch thirty
five miles south OF Abilcne?"
81 believe do. Why do You ask ?"
"Been to Europe to have your eyes doe
tored?"
Eyes. | have now been abroad four
months. But, my young friend, these
questions are rather odd. Please explain
yourSelfp"
"Odd!" echoed the Broadway man.
dwell, should think they were. II you
are Benjamin Ashley, and you do own that
ranch. the cleyerest man in the country has
given me deal, that's all. Why, il 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 hotel"
Mr.. Ashley seemed rather astonisheG by
this information. and beckoned the clerk,
who had been listening to their conversation
quite intently. That Individual gave
careful description OF the previous Mr..
Ashley, and the New York sharper told
how he had won some $3.50 from the
man, who was on his way to Europe for
the benefit OF his eyes. lie had represent
ed himself rs the owner OF the Ashley
ranch, and at his request the speaker
had telegraphed the Abilene postmas-
ter, who had replied giving details as
to the property, which Is valued at
about $4,000, and had added that Mr..
Ashley himself had gone abroad for medi-
cal treatment. The man had represented
that he wanted TO make certain eXpendI-
lures in Europe, 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 TO the lawyers.
Thinking he had chance to get S25, 900
worth Of material for $4,000, the victim
had taken two friends in with him. and by
clubbing together they had raised the ne
cessary amount.
"Really," observed the Englishman,
when the recital was finished, 81 am very
sorry for you, but you nave unquestiona-
bly, been swindled. For my part | shall
not have the slightest difficulty in estab-
fishing my identity. Asto your friend, the
bogus Mr.. Ashley, he is probably one Of
my cowboys, Henry Barnes by name. The
description certainly fits that person. He
came to the ranch-let me see about
fourteen months ago and asked for a
place. Now | remember he wasn't
much like the other boys, but / need
ed more help and / took him on.
He NAV 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. | heard once or
twice from my men that he played a very
cold hand at poker"
/" He does" said Hungry Joe, mourn
fully
81 He was an expert penman. 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 off to Eu-
rope with my money, hang him." burst IN
the defrauded confidence operator angrily.
What's worse, he went away full Of my
champagne, and smelling Of my basket OF
flowers. That mans id swinder,
that's what he is"