The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-01-26
A CLEVER SWINDLER.
The Cunning Schemes Of a Most
Accomplished ScoundreL

Thirty years in the livery business
gives man a varied experience and :
knowledge of men as well as horses.
/ was standing in the door of ny
stable one afternoon just at the close o
the civil war, when n medium-sized
hunch-backed man walked up and in
CURED if he could be accommodated
with first class rig for a few days
saying that he wished to investigate ar
extensive tract of mineral land in thai
and the adjoining county in the Interest
of large syndicate in the East.
exercised the usual precaution of ask.
ing his name, where he was from, and
If he could give me references. He
readily answered my two first queries,
but stated that he was stranger in the
place, but had letters, and produced a
half dozen Introductory epistles from
as many gentlemen of national reputa-
ton. One was from our Congressman,
whose handwriting l knew, and an
other was from the Governor of our
State. 1t struck me that his credentials
were strongly worded, but my desire TO
please so good a customer, and one
associating with the elite of the land,
induced my willing acceptance, and
ordered out the finest double team we
had. In fact, it was the only pair in
the stable that pleased him, and, as he
seemed to have plenty of money and
proposed paying an exorbitant price, /
saw no reason why Mr.. Albaugh should
not have the pleasure o. riding behind
my eight hundred dollar bays. As he
took the lines preparatory to starting
he turned, with the air of a man who
has forgotten something, and inquired
if l wished deposit, stating that he
might not return before the third day.
1replied in the negative, wished him a
prosperous trip and babe him good dav.
1 watched them disappear with a
feeling of pride-proud to be the pos
SCISSOR of an outfit pleasing a man of
such fastidious tastes, and proud to
know that my name was so well known
with those occupying seats so high in
public life.
The third day came, and the fourth,
and still no return of my team. Leav-
ing my business in the care of an en-
ploye. l started in pursuit. At the
railroad station l received a dispatch
from party inquiring if 1 had lost
pair OF horses; if so, to await further
particulars. l wired that l had, and
demanded information about them.
The next train brought the author of
the message, who was the exact image
of the man who had hired nv team.
excepting the hunch- back; the man who
drove my team away was in this par
ucular very much deformed, while this
one was straight of build and differ
emily dressed. This similarity was cas-
lily accounted for. The man who hired
my horses was his twin brother, and an
accident in childhood had occasioned
the deformity and affected his mind.
At times he imagined himself the
posseSsor OF property; and, during
these periods ofmental alteration would
occasion his friends much trouble and
anxiety. One of these spells had seized
him after leaving my stable, and he
concluded to drive to his homo in Gin
cinnati. While en- route to that point
the horses had taken fright at moving
train and ran away. The buggy was
dashed to pieces. Albaugh was badly
injured and death ensued, as the under
takers certificate testified. One of the
horses was killed and the other so
crippled that it had to be killed. This
was all told in such an earnest, plausi-
BILE manner that it carried conviction.
and when he begged to know how much
money would settle the unfortunate
affair, l was more than ever persuaded
of the genuineness of the mans story.
/ answered that one thousand dol
lars would not have tempted me to part
with them.
Under the circumstance" said he.
will You take that? l am sorry for Won.
but could you know what life that
brother has led me. and the money his
kieptomania has cost me, you heart
would pity me 1 know"
And to tell the truth. did pity him.
He had turned from the burial of his
brother to pay sor his brothers folly. |
and his crushed spirits showed the an
guish of his feelings.
So took the fellows hand after Ia
ceiving the $1,000. and thanked him for
the gentlemanly manner in which he |
had tried to right his brothers wrong,
and we parted.
4 few years later. Twas attending the !
fair at Louisville, and admiring the |
beauty and speed of the fine horses ex-
hlbited on the track, when my atten-
tion was directed to a splendid pair Of |
bays driven by a colored groom; they
looked so like the pair 1 had lost that |
took advantage of the first opportunity
10 critically examine them, and from
certain peculiar marks soon satisfied |
myself they were the identical pair of
horses the oily hunch-back had three
years before driven from nv stable.
Finding the owner, inquired of him
how he came to find such beautiful
matches. and so like q familiar pair
that / once owned.
IL bought them in Cincinnati" said
be. '.from al importer of blooded stock.
This was picked pair from his impor.