Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-27
HE WANTED RETRACTION.
But He Didn't Get 1t, Though He Was
Afterward Lynched.
from the New York Sun.


territory, was finally prevailed upon to offer
reward of $500 for the capture and conviction
OF the thieves. Bill Carnis had had q good
deal to do with prompting the governors &C
ton by publishing rafting story of the depre
dstions under the sensational title Of THE
Forty Thieves" and sending it to the genera
along with q very appreciative ive-column re-
view Of ben Hnr." Carnis was the newspaper
boss Of New Mexico.
Just As soon as the reward was offered jim
Goodspeed, the deputy sheriff of Lincoln
county, which adjoined the county in which
Carnis paper was published, turned up in the
editorial rooms.
TN for law and order, I am" he shouted
and I'm going in for that ere reward Wal
lace is q brick"
Good enough, replied the editor. go it. y
Strange to say, the depletion of the ranch
beeyes continued, and the horses grew scareer.
Carnis took a hand ID investigating the mys-
terry on his own hook, and got evidence that
thieves. He printed the news with big head
Lines. II made tremendous sensation among
the gamblers and toughs, and the respectable
citizens well.
Two days later the mail brought this mes
sage:
Take that back or I'll get square. JIM.
The paper came out next issue day with lot
more about the forty thieves, but no retractlon
of the story that the deputy sheriff was a cattle
thief Word came TO the Office that Goodspeed
had said ne would kill the man who wrote the
lie.
He sailed into the sanctum one day with a
tremendous flourish. he hadn't sent in any
card beforehand He had a big overcoat on.
and the way the pockets bulged showed that he
had shooting irons i'll both sides OF the coat.
His shooting irons were always loaded, too.
He went at Carnis like a cyclone sweeping the
prairie, when the latter got up and looked
around at him.
Say, you're the duck that wrote that"
'Ahr'
Huh" (clutching his revolver).
Don't an me. say you wrote that scrsed
in . the paper"
HUH! stepping forward threateningly).
''weH! Well, it's damned lie, that's well.
And came to lay you out if you don't say so in
your damned paper"
''Yes?"
whats that?'
al said Yes"
What in the b do you mean by guying
me2 III blow your head of for a copper"
Don't"
"W-w-w-whatr' with gasp of amazement.)
Carnis had gripped shooting IRON of his own
by this time. and a strange look came into his
eye. He strobe close up to Goodspeed.
Il said, Don't You heard me, too. 1 mean
it."
.'Git out"
mo, there isn't any git out to it, 1 see
you've brought your gun with you. If you
draw III try some of the drop business my
self"
Don't get excited now. (Goodspeed was
tonIug down fast in his bravado crescendo.)
Il may not get there first, but If don't, and
Mike hears of it there'H be funeral IN Lin
coin cOGLty, and jim GUodspeed will play
he in
Coffin"
Nike was the boss gambler in New Mexico
and he was known ali over tine territory as Car
LIS frienl. That meant he'd fight anybody
vino troubled the editor. As he was a dead
shot. his likes and dislkes were treated with a
wholesome Difference by the toughs. Good
speed backed water swiftly as the editor talked
business.
Say, there isn't any use Of Citing mad
because a fellow objects to being called a
thief"
Why. damn you: hide. you're thief, and
you know II"
The edi'o- pulled his revolver suddenly as he
said 10 and continued:
''Glt or I'll try some target practice on that
ugly face OF yours"
Goodspeed got. He fed to Lincoln county as
fast as his horse could carry him. The fever to
Clear out the saDctum had ali lett him. He
wasn't AFRAID OF Carnis. but he did have a
wholesome dread of Mike, the boss gambler
He had very narrowly escaped running into a
bullet from Mikes pocket Rnnihiiator IN a little
tiff with the boss gambler and he wasn't anxious
TO test the current report about Mikes proves
with firearms
Three weeks later marked copy of Lin
coin county exchange came into the sanctum
OF the editor who had the boss gambler for a
friend and protector II had a column OF
poorly printed matter with this striking head
ing:
Jim Goodspeed Lynchedi
HDns e sGd pT T sIs5s Sa6s, Stealing
And. what's more, the men who caught him
didn't apply for Gen. Lew Wallace's reward
Crickets in Philadelphia.
From the Ihiiadelphia Inquirer.
ragged, barefooted little girl. with mass
OF bright curls falling about her shoulders. and
tray, on which were pins, needles, shoe
strings and soap, hung by strap about her
neck. halted last night in front of the Girard
house. and. dropping Suddenly to her knees.
e!utehed small black object on the pavement.
Her tiny hand closed over the prize and she
sprang 10 her feet with a cry of delight
I've got II" she exclaimed, land now I'll
have luck"
What have you got?' demanded one of the
bystanders.
"a ericket-a real. live cricket" was the
answer. They always bring good luck
Her face was all aglow and she held her
hand tightly closed over the insect. 1t began
70 sing, and the crowd gathered about her,
and soon sympathetic purchasers nearly ex-
kausted her stock in trade.
Il knew it" she cried joyfully, jngling the
dimes and nickels in her pocket. a cricket
always brings luck"
Then this house should have phenomenally
lucky rua," observed Clerk Carmack, for
there are bushels of crickets about"
de was speaking the truth. The merry hum
OF the hearthstone mascot reverberated
through the hall. and in every direction over
the white tiled floor they hoped.
All over Philadelphia they are numerous,
and no house-step Is without its cricket The
little insects have made their appearance sud.
denly, and the superstitious augur from their
coming that season Of good luck is before US.
The Information Party.
From the Boston Traveller
The newest game takes the form Of an in
formation party and is begun by passing tc
each gentleman q card and to the ladies small
pieces Of paper, which should be numbered
Those who discover the same number on then
card and paper are partners for the game
Each couple must think of a question, sensi
BILE or ridiculous, historical or in regard to the
weather: TO be written on the cards. after
which the cards are to be gathered togethe,
and the leader reads each in turn, giving a few
moments for the partners to consider the sub-
ject and write the answer, which should be read
aloud in turn. This ia where the finn ~ tbs