The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-10-20
AN ADVENTUROUS LockEr

"usheu 10 Ass Owner.
had spent several weeks at home
AFTER graduating from college, when
my father, who vas exceedingly
fond OF travel, proposed our taking
few months trip through the
United States, Canada and MEXICO
We had already visited the many
points OF interest in the two former
countries and had crossed the Rio
Grandc to the city of El Paso, where
we met with the thrilling expe.
riences which l am about to relate
On arriving in Eel Faso we register.
ed at the - House, the largest
hotel in the town. though we i'll
tended rcinairiag here for only
three or four days, we were forced
to lcngthen oui' Stay owing 10 a
sudden WIN slcll, which forbade
our travelling farther south for {.
few days longer. Quite Il number of
Phlladelphians were stopping at the
hotel, and it is needless TO say we
soon madc their acquaintance. We
were six days in Ell Paso, when two
gentlemen wanted us to accompany
them to the swamp FIVE miles out
side the town, in which grew fa-
nous herb suppressed to have great
supernatural powers. Owing to our
monotonous surroundings, we well
coined the invitation, and Mt 2p. M.
the following day we started out on
horseback with our new friends. We
had gone two or three miles, and
were resting on the summit of a
hill, enjoying the far famed Mcxi-
can scenery. whc-- five men rushed
out from the brushwood near by and
suddenly called "lIaltr'
Our t.vo cOmpanions, seeing tho
danger and leirg III The advance,
spUrrcd tlcir horses and made Il dos
peratc rush down the hill. A shower
Of arrows followed them. but owing
to the awiftncss of their steeds they
escaped safely from the bandits.
The latter then crowded about us,
and in one voice ordered us to give
up the contents of our pockets. Be-
ing without arms, we made no re-
sistance whatever, and the robbers
were soon searching through our
pockets for booty. Fortunately, our
lives were not in peril, though our
molesters occasionally handled us
pretty roughly. They spoke fre-
ouently to US, but my father, being
overcome by nervous exhaustion,
mado no reply. At last, when an at
tempt was made to remove a locket
from his neck, he looked imploring-
ly at the robber and said, ''Take all
but this, friend; it's picture of my
dead wife, The robber scanned
the delicate features in the picture
and hesitated, but feeling the eyes
of his companions conferred upon
him he cut the chain quickly and
took possession of the jeweled lock-
ct. Was it Imagination that made
my father think that the robber
softly pressed his hand on leaving
hima After taking possession Of
everything valuable about our per-
sons, the chief &C The bandits blew
3 shrill whistle and in an instant
his followers were lost in the for
ests Of Ell Paso. With some difficulty
we succeeded in finding the road to
the town and had only proceeded
hale milo when we met a rescuing
party coming to QUE assistance. On
seeing us both safe and sound the
party gave three loud cheers, and
we were carried back in triumph to
the hotel, where the guests crowded
about US to hear our thrilling exne-
My father soon recovered
from the effects Of the shock, and in
1 few days we proceeded on our
journey through the south.
Six months later we were seated
me morning in our Office on Walnut
street when $ distinguished looking
nan, whose face seemed familiar,
asked to see my father privately.
He was ushered into the inner Office.
As soon as the door was closed be-
lind him he pulled a parcel from his
,ocket and said: "Mr. this
'arcel belongs to you. You will
ind a note Of explanation within"
Without further conversation he
eft the Office and walked into the
treet. Having heard what had |
ranspired, I mastered to open the |
,ackage. and to my astonishment
ound the valuablv locket, with my
nother's picture. which had been
vrung from my fathers neck. Ac-
ompanying it was the following
ote:
r. -
DEAR sIR-lrclosed And the looket so vnlu-
PIC 70 you. Your long, white hair and pitiful
yes so touched robbers heart that he came
I'M the forests of Ell Paso to return the min
ture Of your believed wife. Most sincerely
orru. r. g..
S. Philadeiphia Times,