The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1889-08-03

l was at this time at Bowling Green.
Kentucky, after counterfeiter. l got
a false clue. which led me down to
Franklin, and when started to return
took an accommodation train. 1t
was at night, and there was but one
coach on the train, and that contained
only five passengers beside myself.
Three Of these were natives, sure
enough, while the other two talked
about q coal mine in Tennessee, and
seemed to own land in that State. I
gave them little attention, being three
seats in the rear, and was talking with
the conductor on general matters,
when the two men suddenly became in
terested in something one of them held
in his hand. Their heads were tn
gether, and they were evidently deeply
interested, when the report of pistol
was heard, followed by cry of agony
and yell of alarm. The object of
their curiosity was derringer, and it
had accidentally beeL discharged, the
bullet entering the leg of one Of the
men just above the knee. In his pain
and fright the wounded man sprang
up. and turned fiercely on the other
with the exclamation:
Curse you, but you did that on
purpose! You wanted all the swag to
yourself"
The conductor and Il were beside
them in minute. The wounded man
fell back on the seat, and he evidently
regretted the break he had made a
few seconds before, for he said, as we
came up:
tom. old fellow. I had my own
finger on the trigger, and pulled it off.
You are not bit to blame"
''But what about the 'swagr / de-
manded. as l stood over them.
He meant our coal mine." replied
the one called Tom.
Eyes; we are partners in coal
mine." added the wounded man.
20, that's it. Well let's see what
can be done for youP"
1t was bad wound-so bad that l
knew his leg would have to come off.
as the big bullet had shattered the
bone, and l suggested to the conductor
that he make as fast time as he dared
to Bowling Green, where medical at
tendance could be had. To my sur
prise the men asked to be put of at
some highway crossing, near a farm
house, saying that a country doctor
could manage the case we'll enough,
and that the quietness of the country
would be best for the patient. This
satisfied me that they were suspicious
characters, and l assumed the author
ity to remove the one and handcuff
him to a seat at the rear of the coach,
and to search both. The one had re-
volver and the other the derringer,
and before l was through searching /
brought to light all the stolen bonds
and jewelry. 1t was sheer luck again.
Four of our men were out on their
trail. but on false scents. They were
supposed to have gone East, while l
picked them up in the South. The
fellow who was shot not only lost his
leg but his life. The other was returned
to Chicago, and he received a long SEN
tence for his crime. There was great
deal of newspaper talk about my
but l didn't deserve
word of praise. The case simply came
to me. The ripe fruit dropped into my
hands. Things fall that way to lucky
man, no matter what business he is en-
gagged in.
One of the bits of luck which fell to
me several years ago. and which was
much talked about at the time, came
about in very singular way. l had
been sent down to Augusta. Ark, to
identify man who had been arrested
there, and was supposed to be a robber
wanted in Chicago. He did not prove
to be the man we hoped he was. and
was making ready to return when
resident Of the town, who was an old
of mine, put forward
a speculation. He had just purchased
a saw mill few miles down White
river, and he believed there was big
money to be made in buying large
tract of timber contiguous to the mill.
This tract was for sale at low figure,
but my friend could not raise the cash.
The result of our talk was that we took
a boat next morning and were left at
the mill landing. While he was over
seeing some change OF machinery
| started out to get some idea of the
value of the timber. The first thing l
knew was lost in the forest, aud l did
just what all other people do under the
Observation-Disclosures the wrong way.
Instead of going toward tbe river. 1
went away from it. 1t was in July, and
although the mosquitoes nearly de-
voured me, there was no danger of suf-
fering from the inclemency of the