Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-01-16
A WASTED LIFE.

/ - lOll
which defied liniments and plasters
sent me to the Hot Springs, seven mile
north of Boonopolis, southern Califor
MIA.
To reach the Hot Springs the travele
crosses five miles of desert country
where the cactus fiourishes like the
green bay tree, and the coyote shrill
at night his peculiar lay. Then b,
climbs 1.-THE grade" a rise of 900 fee
in two miles. This part of the way il
over mountain road which skirts pre-
cipices and winds in and out among
canyons in a way that makes timid peo
pie dizzy.
One beautiful winter afternoon Dea.
con Hardwicke started for the hotel.
That morning he had procured at Boon.
opolis a livery team and u driver, and
had been taken to different points about
the valley, looking at lands which were
offered for sale. Having completed his
inspection, he was driven to the foot of
the grade, and there he dismissed the
team.
He had in his hands a little black
leather wallet containing deeds, and,
as he walked along in his slow and dig.
niied fashion, his eyes bent on the
ground, he looked like gentleman of
leisure, perhaps wealthy eastern tour
ist out for an airing.
At the foot of the grade is little
ranch house, and just beyond the road
makes a turn almost at right angles
and skirts the edge of canyon, where
the traveller is hidden from view in
either direction.
In this angle of the way man was
waiting for the afternoon stage, which
was about due. 1t carried the mail for
the hotel and sometimes considerable
express matter, to say nothing of the
passengers.
But the deacon happened to come
first, and as he turned the corner, plod-
ding slowly along, he heard smooth,
clear, firm, but not impatient voice say !:
"Wait moment, sir. And kindly
hand over that gripsack and your mon
ey."
Glancing up, the deacon beheld big
revolver pointed at his head.
Deacon Hardwicke was surprised and
grieved. He was not coward. He had
lived in many lawless community,
had seen men lynched, had himself been
a target for bullets more than once. If
he had been armed, he would have
fought-as he afterward assured me.
But the appalling fact flashed over
him that he had no "gun," and that
the gentlemanIy stranger had the
drop" ON him.
Come" said the highwayman in a
more threatening tone, ~ mean busi-
ness. Drop your wallet. Give me your
money, or Ill let daylight through you. "
The deacon halted and shook his fist
at the man. What he said is not mate
rial to this recital. Then he turned and
ran down the grade.
The highwayman fired twice, and the
deacon afterward stated that the balls
whistled by in close proximity to his
head. The shots fustered him. He
stumbled, tripped and fell. He bruised
his shins and tore the skin from his
wrists. The wallet flew from his hand,
and ho lay in the road. bowling with
rage and pain.
The marauder advanced leisurely and
picked up the wallet Just then the
stage, which was trife late, as usual,
rolled slowly around the turn in the
road.
The deacon s assailant leaped down
the steep bank of the canyon and rolled
headlong among the chaparral.
The remarks of the passengers on the
stage, which picked him up and brought
him to the hotel, did not tend to make
him better natured.
"Guess it was all fake. y IT didn't
hear any shots. - more scared than
hurt" Those were some of the whis-
pered comments that came to the dea'
cons ears.
"If / had only had gun" he said
to me, "that fellow would never have
got out of there alive. It's the disgrace
that hurts. don't see how I was care
less enough to leave my gun at home
these tirles," he said, with tears in his
eyes.
do you think you would know the
fellow should you see him again" !
asked.
II should know him anywhere. He
is short and wiry, dark hair, mustache.
no beard, black eyes. And there is q
great, red, flaming scar across his cheek
knife wound, reckon. "
"Tll tell you what veil do" said.
''Let us 90 to Boonopolis and find him.
He will sool see that there is no par
suit, and will certainly go there. Per.
haps we can arrest him yet. "
Boomopolis at that time was only al
infant among the cities Of southern Cal
ifornia. There were huge gaps among
its business houses, now filled with
stately edifices. There were no pave
ments, aud where 100 globes of electric
FIRE now glare at night upon the passer
by thore was then only the dim and fit
full gleam of lamps from the windows
| Of the scattered stores.
| After an elaborate supper at the Trans
continental, served by retired cowboys
from Arizona, we sailed forth to visi
the saloons and gambling places il
| search Of our robber. We made three o
four circuits of the town without sue
cess, and finally fouad ourselves IN tn
Magnolia club rooms.
| was enjoying the character OF anna
teur detective hugely. So far there wa
pleasant tinge of excitement--or rathe
an expectation of excitement--and yer
4 little danger But as we scanned th
faces Of the company without seein
our man the deacon's brow grew blac
| with disappointment.
/ n xy.1s now after midnight. The ciga