The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-10-19

what little had, as should do II my
brother failed to advance the rest OK
the money to complete the trade. Inn
patient at my caution, Bill got angry
and threatened to leave me out and
take in one of his friends. l saw the
chance was longing for, and told him
holly that he might do SO as quick as
he pleased: that / didn't believe we
should agree anyway. Dropping his
tools with an oath, he strobe down the
hill to Pete's-
Scowls greeted me on all sides when
came in to dinner. l was afraid !
was in for fuss, after all; and tnink'
ing might as we'll have it first a.
last, came down with my carpet-bag,
packed in time for the afternoon train
east. laid greenback OH the bar,
asked Pete to take my bill out OF IT
and hand me my wallet out OF ms
safe.
Coin to leave, be your he grunted.
swell, l guess nobody's sorry"
He took up the bill, turned it over
and held it up to the light scrutiniz-
ingly. / never saw more hate and re-
venye concentrated in look than in
the one he turned on me.
$50 that's your game, is it, young
fellow?' he sneered- well, you'll
find it won't work on me. Here,
Brown he call to a man in the
farther end of the room, and whom
knew to be Pay Dirt's constable
.here's just the man you're looking
for. Some ones been shown the
queer all over these parts lately, and
if this isn't the chap, I'm nightly mis-
taken. Look at that bill"
Brown did so.
"Did you pass this?" he asked me.
.Of course l did, said !, "but 1
didn't know it was bad"
Likely enoughw sneered Pete.
ssHere," he continued, taking my wal
let out of his safe. ''he's got roll in
there; better take a look at EN-"
| Brown opened the wallet. 1t looked
as it did when I gave it to Pete, and
the exact amount was there, but, alas!
every one of the bills was spurious.
could see it myself. l was speechless
with dismay at the villainy of the
trick and my own helplessress-
could not say word in defense, and
felt it would be useless if did.
Pete leered like fiend and the crowd
grinned, while the officer pocketed the
money and hustled ne back to my
room, locking me in. There was nc
| Jail within forty miles, and Pete saio
I'd be safe there until Brown could
send word to the United States mar
shall at Denver to come and get me-.
threw myself on the bed and suffered
a world of agony and chagrin during
that afternoon. The constable brought
my supper at nightfall, but could mo-
eat morsel.
Say, young fellow" said he. sittinf
down on the bed beside me, you're IL
a mighty bad fix and I'm sorry for you
hanged if amt. With all that STUFF
and what Pete and his crowd'n swea
against you. you'll go to state prison
sure as fate. For my part. l don
more'n half believe you're guilty, ant
if You'll agree not to squcal on me, TO
five hundred dollars I'll get you out o
this
wanted to fly at the rascal ant
throttle him. l had suspected it be
fore, now l knew that, though al
officer of the law. he was bu. anothe
confederate of Pete's. But 1 caugh
suddenly at an idea his proposition
suggested, and quickly accepted il
telling him / would telegraph HON
for the money at once If he would tax
me to the station. The agent was bus
| when we came in. and, taking Il table
of blanks, began penciling the di:
patch. Though really a swift penmar
feigned awlSwardness, and after muc
! fumbling of the paper and many era:
! sures. wrote this on the top sheet:
DEAR BROTHER: am in a bad Ak, and vi
5 less you send me i've hundred dollars. will
/ | sent to prison Am innocent but can't prov
, it, Telegraph money to Denver bank to
expressed to me here
While on the sheet underneath ha
. swiftly scratched, when my captor wa
!. off his guard:
u. S. MARSHAL. DENVER: Send men enout
here by next train to arrest the biggest gal
l Of crooks out OF jail Find them ct Silv
= Pete's"
e How'll that do?" asked, holdir
Q up the tablet.
"All rightw answered Brown, as
d read the words in sight.
t tore off the two sheets togethe
G crumpling the top one in my hand as
y did SO, and handed the other to Il
e agent. He started, and gave me
o sharp, swift glance as he read it.
a tossed him the dollar the message COS
IS He tipped it mechanically on the des
.. 1t was bad; i knew by his face; but
IT caught my imploring look, and sa
It nothing. The rascals had piled me
e thoroughly with their counterfcits tn
d l hadn't enough honest money in
r, pocket to pay for a meal of victuals-
Brown took me back and locked I
" up for the night / was so excited
II could hardly hold myself until hea
h the whistle of the midnight train, a
lc could scarcely believe my eyes when
4. saw. from my window. file of m