The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-03-11

pleaded and threatened, but to no
purpose. A crowd of street arabs were
following at our heels, and people pass
ing by stopped to 10, :: and smile.
II have been fool" / protested,
frantically, but no more than that"
ut was rather lame in you," said my
shabby captor, ''but the smartest of
you slip once or twice In lifetime"
l was finally allowed to order
double carriage, so that all three of us
might ride to the central police station.
In this manner avoiding the publicity of
being dragged along the sidewalk. At
the station l was searched. 1t can
readily be understood that on a we'd
ding trip had carried no business
letters or other papers of identified
ton. The only name in my pockets was
on that card which Evans had given
me. In this card my two captors and
the several other detectives present ap-
peared particularly interested.
1.-The same to T." said my shabby
acquaintance. 'Get the telegram and
let's see."
The telegram was from the chief of
police of Phiiadelphia:
ARREST Link Murphy, alias Stoop
Meadows, confidence man, forger, safe
expert and murderer. One thousand
dollars reward. He is twenty-eight
years old. brown, curly hair and stoops
slightly. He was in Chattanooga
three days ago, hut believed to have
left there for Cincinnati to-day. just
before he left here Monday night called
at job printing Office for cards ordered
that morning. There was only one,
which had been taken as proof for
him to correct He took this with him.
1t was in old English type on beve!-
edged white card, also gilt-edged.
When he left here wore light over
coat, dark felt hat and gray trousers"
listened to this as to my doom. i
was bewildered and desperately dis
heartened What would my bride do
when tomorrow came and no lover?
THAT card" said one of the detect
ives, lis the only one outside of that
print shop in Philadelphia. It's worth
saving"
81 got that from man to-day on the
train" l said, earnestly. "A man that
looked like me and was dressed like
me. haven't been in Philadelphia in
twoyears"
They only laughed at me.
You've lost all your nerve" said
one. "A thousand-dollar man ought to
have some grit in him. Don't get rat
tied, sister. Brace up"
They began arranging then to carry
me to Philadelphia. They agreed that
this should be done on the first train
in the morning. They decided that no
papers" would be needed, and that
the sooner was out of the way of the
lawyers the better.
But let me telegraph. them" /
pleaded II tell you l am the wrong
man, and I can prove it in time"
Then what are you shalxin' so for?"
demanded one of my audience.
because / am to be married to-mor-
row. The arrangements are all made
Think what humiliation and disgrace
it will be to the poor girl if fail to
come and there is no explanation. Let
me telegraph her."
Beware of women" said the shabby
man. dryly. They're worse than law
yers."
$50 her father, them" / insisted.
Hes banker and prominent citi-
zen. There can be no harm done through
him."
Don't know him. We're busy talkin'
about you. Linky, anyhow, and you
mustn't interrupt the conversation.
'Tain't polite"
"Linky!" 1 repeated, angrily. "Don't
call me Linky."
well, Stoopy, then. Now shut up
up or I'll put you in the dungeon"
What could / do? The thought of
the suffering would cause tomorrow
was terrible. But what could l do?
While thought over the matter, pay
ing little attention to the conversation
of the detectives. caught the words
''said" and deserved it." I wondered
what connection they could have with
my case.
EYES," my shabby friend was saying,
Every clever fellow, seems to be. Used
to be on the force in Philadelphia him
self. Shrewd fellow. He put us on to
it. Come in askin' if Link Murphy
wasn't wanted-said he believed he'd
seen him. He showed up all right, and
we let him look at the telegram. He
said it was the man and named one
hundred. We put it up downstairs,
and he waited there till we got back
with our man. 1t was a plain case. and
ne took the money"
HAS he gone yet?" asked another de-
tective.
His train left at $780, said the
looking at his watch. 'Iguess
he sifted pretty soon after we came
and turned over the money to him.
Anyhow, he's gone now. for it's exactly
one o'clock"
/ had listened in absolute amaze
ment.
"Do you mean" asked, shat some