Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-12-13

| .llIH W COulc u ~.
"Look here" l said, "what do yor
want with me:;"
He was all out of breath with the
chase after me.
"You ale a pretty fellow" he said,
running away so fast, when I've go,
a big piece of business to offer you.
Is your name John Wilmer"
| "Yea."
| ''Do you want to make $50 in a hall
an hour John Winners"
l had exactly 81 in my pockctbook
and my weeks rent due.
Eyes, l do" l said, "but what's
up? What have Igot to do?"
''Ncver mind about that here. Just
come with me-"
We went on several squares, then
turned into Baxter street. The man
seemed 4 mum sort of fellow and
didn't say anything. From Baxter
right to a street totally unfamiliar to
me. There didn't seem to be any
hurry and as we walked along
smoked cigar which my mysterious
employer handed me-
At a little bakers shop we turned
of into a narrow alley dimly
lighted. suppose it was swarm
ing with people because l
could hear them bustling around
and talking. When we came to a
house that looked empty the man
unlocked the door, carefully locked
it again and went up flight of stairs
into back room, l following.
All this time we had been CROPPING
around in the dark, but the man
struck match and lit a candle.
Then l saw the room was perfectly
bare except for common wooden
chair and table on which stood the
candle and leather valise.
Now" said the man, ''sit down
there" He took some papers out Of
the valise and handed me "a fountain
pen. "What l want you to do is
very simple and won't take you a
moment 1t is just to write your
name"
He began searching in the valise
for something and l had time to
notice him-a we'll dressed gentle
manly man who looked as If he
might be swell fallen on hard
times
''Here," he said, care some papers.
There is man in this city named
John Wilson. You have heard of
him; has big wholesale liquor house.
Well. it is curious thing. You
both write obscurely. but you couldn't
tell your signatures apart See!"
He held out letter to me with
what | could have sworn was my own
name written on it. The ''John
Viii" was plain enough and the three
last letters ended off in an illegible
dash as mine did.
Now" said the man, this paper
is a transfer of property by John
Wilson to some parties who have
law suit against him. If you will
sign your name to it. it will pass as
his-and here are your $780,"
lie opened his pocketbook and
showed he roll of bills
why" l gasped, as the meaning
OF the affair burst upon me. This is
forgery"
what if it ISL" He was cycling
me coolly.
II won't do it,"
Before knew 1t l was sitting in
the chair and he was standing before
me with a pistol aimed at my head.
Eyes, you WILL" he said. .Ill
give you three minutes to decide, or
you die"
1 was helpless, without weapon,
staring into the mans cool. deter.
mined face, knowing that at the
slightest movement he would un.
doubleday shoot me. The worst of
1t was that my strength seemed to
be gone. felt sudden drowsiness
and could only stare into that mans
eyes l remember that he had cast
in one of them, and thinking that he
would be quite good looking if his
beard was trimmed in a point. All
this time the man was raging and
swearing and threatening my life.
Suddenly there was a sound down
stairs as If something had been
thrown against the front door. My
adversary turned. AS he did so l
uuNC luICh lllONculcIlU anu DlulOneQ
him, He was powerful fellow, but
l got him underneath. In the strug-
gle the pistol went off, the bullet
striking the ceiling. ! knocked the
man down, gave him q blow on the
head, enough to have settled an OK,
then picking up his key l rushed
down stairs unlocked the door but
forgot the key and left it in the lock.
The street was full of people but l
did not dare to ask for assistance
from any of them. My hat was gone.
my clothes torn in the struggle, out
l went on several squares looking for
a policeman. Not one came in sight
until l found myself in the Bowery.
''COme.with me-" said to the first
one met
"Where to-" he inquired.
Come. come" said breathlessly.
He looked at my wild condition and
evidently thought that l was either
crazy or drunk, but he came, while l |
told him as best could, about my
he seeming very skeptical.
After making several turns found
myself hopelesslv lost. l couldn't
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