The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-06-26

trousers, though we did not have TO
prove it, as he made a full confession. It
was simply my good luck. It was simply
the Ill luck of two Cleveland detectives
who reached Oberlin two hours too late.
About fifteen years ago, while con-
nected with the force in Chicago, a
Jewelry house on State street was robbed
OF $4,000 worth of jewelry. Aside
from this there was package of Govern
ment bonds amounting to over S17, 900,
which had been deposited in the safe for
security. The robbery was committed
by professional cracksmen, who left their
tools behind but no clue. / was at this
time at Bowling Green, Kentucky, after
counterfeiter, and read an account of
the robbery in a Louisville paper. 1t
wasn't my job, and l didn't give it anv
particular thought. l had traced a no
torious counterfeiter down into Ken
lucky and located him at Bowling Green.
At least, | traced him to that town. but
there lost the trail for few DAYS. I
got. false clue, which led me down to
FFhklin, and when | started to return |
took an accommodation train. It was at
night, and there was but one coach on
the train, and that contained only five
passengers besides myself. Three of these
were natives, sure enough, while the
other two talked about coal mine in
Tennessee, and seemed to own land in
that State. / gave them little attention,
being three seats in the rear, and was
talking with the conductor on general
matters, when the two men suddenly be-
came interested in something one of them
held in his hand. Their heads were to-
gether, and they were evidently deeply
interested, when the report of a pistol
was heard, followed by a cry of agony
and yell of alarm. The object of their
curiosity was a derringer, and it had ac-
J cidentally been discharged, the bullet
entering the leg of one of the men lust
above the knee. In his pain and fright
the wounded man sprang up, and turned |
fiercely on the other, with the exclama-
ton:
"Curse you, but you did that on pur-
posel You wanted all the swag to your
self"
The conductor and were beside them |
in a minute. The wounded man fell |
back on the seat, and he evidently re-
GREETED the break he had made few Sec |
onds before, for he said, as we came up:
"T0m, old fellow, l had my own finger |
on the trigger, and pulled it off. You are
not bit to blame"
"But what about the 'swag2' | de-
manded, as | stood over them.
"He meant our coal mine,n replied the
one called Tom.
eyes; we are partners in a coal mine"
added the wounded man.
"Oh that's it9 Well, let's see what
can be done for you"
1t was a bad wound-so bad that I
knew his leg would have to come off, as
the big bullet had shattered the bone,
and suggested to the conductor that he
make as fast time as he dared to Bowling
Green, where medical attendance could
be had. To my surprise the men asked
to be put off at some highway crossing,
near farm house, saying that a country
doctor could manage the case well
enough, and that the quietness of the
country would be the best for the patient.
This satisfied me that they were suspic-
lous characters, and assumed the author
lty to remove the one and handcuff him
to seat at the rear of the coach, and to
search both. The one had a revolver and
the other the derringer, and before was
through searching l brought to light all
the stolen bonds and jewelry. 1t was
sheer luck again. Four of our men were 5
out on their trail, but on false scents.
They were supposed to have gone East, $
while picked them up in the South.
The fellow who was shot not only lost his I
leg but his life. The other was returned I
to Chicago, and he received a long SEN t
tence for his crime. There was a great
deal OF newspaper talk about my shrewd- '
ness, but | didn't deserve word of v
praise. The case simply came to me- Il
The ripe fruit dropped into my hands. n
Things fall that way to lucky man, no
natter what business he is engaged in.
One of the bits of luck which fell to
ne several years ago,and which was much f
alked about at the time, came about in Ii
very singular way. ! had been sent Il
lown to Augusta, Arkansas, to identify a a
nan who had been arrested there and was 81
imposed to be a robber wanted in Chi A
s. ~ NA't hOt pIONt 10 DC Iile man ID
We hoped he was, and was making ready h
o return when a resident of the town. G.
7ho was an old acquaintance of mine, nut c,
onward speculation. He had lust pur d
hased saw mill few miles down White re
liver, and he believed there was big al
honey to be made in buying a large tract
1 timber contiguous to the mill. This IL
ract was for sale at a very low figure, but b
~ friend could not raise the cash. The W
esult of our talk was that we took boat la
ext morning and were left at the mill b,
lnding. While he was overseeing some III
hange of machinery l started out to get us
'me idea of the value of the timber. The en-
rst thing l knew l was lost in the forest, 81
nd l did just what all other people do w
nder the cumstances-headed the pl
rong way. Instead of going toward the of
yer, l went away from it. 1t was in co
lly, and although the mosquitoes nearly
evoured me, there was no danger of suf- DIR
ring from the inclemency of the weather 70
1t was about 10 o'clock in the morning ST
hen started out, and by mid-afternoon ha
had walked at least ten miles, and knew en-
at | was entirely bewildered. | couldn't toI
'ep staight course for the creeks and or
ramps, and the day was so cloudy and in