The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-01-25

at MEANS THAT You ARE UNDER ARREST
that the jig was up, and that l might as well
confess, for they had very good case against
me.
Presently two well-dressed men were ushered
into the room. Bill accompanied them.
This is the man." said the Sheriff. "He
acknowledges it-at least the name"
HE is not the man." said one of the new
comers emphstically.
HE isnt!" exclaimed the Sheriff; and
Bill made basty reference to the Internal
regions,
the fellow had blonde mustache blue eyes,
was thick-set, and wore his hair parted nearly
in the middle"
"Yelverton J" / exclaimed. springing up
THAT'S one of his names" said the Sheriff.
He went here under the name of Elliot Bon
worthy, and he had an armful of letters Of
Introduction with which he worked the town.
What do know about him?"
He stole those letters from me at Denver"
said
"Oh, then you are the simon-pure Elliot
Bonworthy?" said one Of the gentlemen.
al can prove it readily enough if necessary"
/ said
"The Sheriff and Bill began to make profuse
apologies to which / paid little attention, as
was anxious to learn Of Yelyerton and his per-
formances.
He arrived here nearly aimonth ago." said
one of the gentlemen, land began Immediately
TO make acquaintance by means of these let
ters-your letters, it appears. They were to
many of the finest people in the city. So we
took the man right in, for he talked and acted
like a perfect gentleman. Well, sir. don't
suppose any man that ever came to this city got
more elegant treatment than that fellow. Do
your" he asked. turning to his companion,
who signified his entire agreement.
Go on" said, with an inward groau.
The best private houses and the clubs were
all open to him and he received every possible
attention. Several men l know gave him wine
suppers. There wasn't social event of i'm
portance to which he failed to have an invita-
tion. He gave il out that he was sizing things
up for syndicate of Cleveland capitalists that
thought of investing largely in mines. Well,
sir, calculate that in the three weeks that he
put in in this city he had probably ono of the
largest times that any man ever enjoyed And
he wound the thing up by getting the names
of three or four good business men on spurious
drafts and then suddenly disappeared from
view"
THAT was when / telegraphed him that /
was coming" / said.
"Well," observed the speaker in conclusion.
If you have any more letters of introduction
bearing that same name would not ad wise
you to present them, for yon are liable to get
arrested every time you try one on"
/ explained that Yelverton had captured the
entire pack. The complaining witnesses then
shook hands with me and departed. l imagine
their experience with Yelverton. discouraged
them from any rash tenders of hospitality for
they did not suggest any improvement of our
acquaintance. Indeed it was a cool stand-off
on both sides. for did not fancy their sarcastic
filings Oh the subject of the letters.
1.-The next day the newspapers contained
the whole story-the theft Of the letters, Yell
verton's performances and my arrest The ac.
count given of the brief but glorious career of
my proxy-the spurious Mr.. Elliot Bonworthy
convinced me that the gentlemen had met
at the Sherifs office were quite right in saying
he had enjoyed a Large time" As / read of
suppers, dinners, fetes, balls. excursions, hon
ors. attentions, ETC., my senses fairly reeed
with anguish. Ali this good time really be-
longed to me: had been cheated out of it,
partly through my own stupid misgivings and
partly through the shrewdness and industry of
this earlier bird.
Now, then, gentlemen" concluded the pas
seneer, who had been asked to tell what he
knew of the hospitality of the Californians
you understand what / mean by saving that
] received my welcome on the coast by proxy
The Arg0aGH.