The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-01-12

moved when the clerk smiled broad
and knowing smile. "No game ever
nhazed me. = said Mr.. Ashley, in dog
qed way, land man who can hold up
6;s end with cowboys isn't going to be
hested by any broadcloth brigade that
was ever hatched." There was luii
of eioht or ten days in the proceedings,
and then MIR. Ashley drew another
IN OO0. A couple of days later he drew
$3.50 more. That afternoon he went
for drive with his gentlemanly com,
nanion. His face had been sunused
with sadness all the morning, but 1t
was noticed that he seemed somewhat
BRIGHTER on his return from the drive:
That evening Hungry Joe and two OF
his well known Broadway companions
snent several hours in earnest CONVEX
sation with Mr.. Ashley. That gentle
mans weak ewes made it necessary for
him to wear his broad hat well aown
over his forehead. When the three
Young men went away the merese
shadow of smile played about tne
mouth of the Western man. from tne
table at which they sat the three young
fellows went straight to the telegraph
Office, where they sent the following
dispatch:
Postmaster Abilene, Kan: 49,. ...,..
Do you know Benjamin Ashley cattie-
ra1serf Telegraph full particulars my e4-
p'"R r. DICKSON, Brewer House. New York.
The reply was evidently IN all To-
spects satisfactory, and WITHIN Two
DAYS Mr.. Ashley received IN MS rooms
at the hotel visit from the three conn.,
dence operators and lawyer, VINO Is
more or less celebrated IN this CITY;
The head porter of the hotel was caiie9
mn into the room after the visitors had
J been there an hour or longer, and was
requested to append his signature to q
certain document in the capacity OF
witness to the signing thereof. This
done, and the papers signed by Mr.;
Ashley. a large sum of money was paid
: over Nv the gentleman with the thin
Inns and the porter retired with i've
, dollar bill out of the pile. The visit
: ors slowly withdrew from the hotel and
1 Mr.. Ashley deposited that night the
, sum of $4,000 cold cash in the Once
s of the hotel. Two days afterward ne
: took passage on Guion steamer Tor
Liverpool, having explained to the no.
e tel clerk that he had sold half-interest
n in his Kansas cattle ranch to his
r friends, and that Hungry Joe' as ne
e was called, had expressed . wish to re-
d tire from city life. Mr.. Ashley was
b s.seen off, by his enthusiastic New
IS York acuuaintances after the most ap
l. proved stvle of the art. They toasted
e him right royalty id yellow label,
n presented him with big basket o
le bowers with the word Farewell il
n large blue letters across the center, ant
n otherwise marked his departure with ev
is licences of tender regard.
e Mr.. Ashley had been gone from tn
* fashionable Broadway hotel precisei
n eleven DAYS, when tall man came i
ne from a carriage that was loaded wit
a. trunks and steamer chairs and other ar
ne pliauces of ocean travel. He signed him
IT, self on the register, Benjamin Ashley
K London The clerk looked up hui
y. riedly as if to apologize for not recof
IT. nizinr his guest, then looked surprises
to muttered a hasty word or two, and a.
ne signed the stranger q room, all IN
"a confused and preoccupied way. Tn
he was apparently another Benjamin Asl
n lev. He was tall and slender, and we
in dressed. and pale. But he spoke vii
de a SLIGHTLY Americanized English accen
not unlike that of the other Beniam
gh Ashley. The clerk was pretty well pu
OF zled, and that night he took good ca
Wn to have the strangers full name al
I'd address inserted in the list of arriva
1T published daily in periodical devot.
be TO that purpose and carefully read
rly the confidence fraternity. The Gle
yes went on duty early the next day, and
OF he had fully expected, one of the fiji
On, callers was the thin-lipped young ma
Inc who asked to have his name sent up
Inc Mr.. Ashley's room. Word came GA
ION that Mr.. Ashley would see the gent
ON man in the drawing-room, and thltn
In the clerk followed after momel
ne. Hungry Joe was sitting in large ar
ay' chair when the tall man from Lond
the came into the apartment The N
ned Yorker merely bestowed passi
glance on Mr.. Ashley and looked avn
you The Englishman, however, seeing
the one else excepting the clerk, advanc
, courteously and said:
~ nss "Did you wish to see meP am
was Ashley" =,
..E6Y' queried Hungry Joe, with
JUST startled look you're not Mr.. Ben
:. min AshleyP"
." Precisely"
~ mot of Kansasp"
ms -. Eyes, of Abilene, Kan. How ca
-.n serve you?''
.an The thin lips of the confidence n
W were rather white by this time,
they were more firmly compressed Il
' s; ever. He regarded the tall Engli
." men in dazed fashion for few
sal %. ments. Then he asked:
mi M s'Do you own large cattle ra
thirty-five miles south Of Albilene?''
r.st. 'Ibelieve 1 do. Why do You asl
ton been to Europe to have your G
doctored?"
That ssYes, have been abroad
lips months. Du'' ny younEa pIss.e =
for quesuons arc ,a'nol oAu' A''o
mo, ..Oddr' echoed the Broadway n
sled "Well, should think they were.