The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-11-16
DONKEY
he strayed Away in Mexico With $4,000
on His Back.

He strayed Away in Mexico with SSi'ooo
on His Back.
Afamiliar figure about the New York OK
phange nowadays is that of Prof. Hermann,
the neoromancer. He is not a spectator but
. re-.iar plunper, and bears his losses and
gains with equal equanimity. For a man
who can coax unlimited coin from an
empty hat the eaRerness no displays IN
..puts'' and "~calls'' ia tho subject OF much
A few days ago he was cau9ht
..short.' and over a bottle of wine shortly
after he told the following story OF one
black Friday in his existenee; -.
..It's a cold world, after all" he said;
.ssometimes we're up and sometimes down.
The downest time ! ever had was paek III
the 7o's in Mexico. The Peruvian war WAS
in proaress and gold was out of sight or
only seen at a big premium. My manla for
speculntion took possession OF me, siliu win
the remnant of II fortune OF S2l,ouo l IN
yested in English and American gold. YVES
in Mexico at tho time and intended rsachlhs
South America with my treasure by tine way
of Panama, Travel through Mexico TO the
frontier on burros, a distance of some nun
dreds of miles with 81, 900, 10 neither SAFE
nor pleasant. Every bush in Mexico CON
taius not an officer for conscience 10 rear,
Int a robber / was intimately acquainted
with President Diaz at the time, ana on my
augmentation TO him of my enterprise and
nv fears for the safety of my cash, he pro-
y;ded me with an escort of twenty-one SOL
diers ana an officer. They supposed the
panniers strapped to one little DONKEY con
tanned nothing more than my watu,ope.
mime. Hermann was in special charge
~ tbs donkey with the valuable baggage,
and her instructions were to watch 1t as she
would her chances for heaven. We campea
each night and journeyed by { ay, making
one or two daily rests Tor rerfeshments'
NV hopes of untold wealth during the Jour
nav we're as high as the Rocky mountains,
nna 7 conld scarcely contain my spirits.
Everything went on well until we haa
nearlv reached Central America, when
one dny the animal with the
treasury was missed. Mime. Hermann
forgot him during our al iresoo
lunch. and he had scamperea on WIN .ne
forehend vet when I recall that day. My
heart stood still. As for Nine.
abe inst fainted-nothing more. l haa TO
tell NV secret to the guard, and everyone
alta ted out into the wilds OF Mexico IN
search of the lost donkey. Hours passed
s snnobt' How / thought of Joshua
and wished, like him, l could
have prolonged the day. Then game the
harassine doubts-may be one of the Mexl-
can soldiers would find the donkey ana ior-
get to come back with him and his ourden.
At last, toward Qark, beu niSS
donkey was found grazing away with $2l,.-
900 on his back. Fancy the picture. his
return was a kind of a 'prodiGal. son-home-
w%ard-bound affair."" and the professor III
a fresh cigarette. n.
well, how did you come out! Dld you
win or drop?" queried a Herald reporter
well. / multiplied the original figures
by two i'll a week afterward." answered
Hermann with a quiet chuckle, "and
brought the donkey back to the United
States and peusioned him during ms lie.
High living and idieness killed him"
The health to the memory OF the aeaa
donkey at Herrmann's request was drunk
d New York Hernld.