Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1897-02-18
AN ADVENTUROUS LocKET.
Stolen by Bandit, It Was Aftsrward TIE.
turned to Its Owner.


Stolen by Bandit, It Was Aftsrward Re-
turned to Its Owner.
I had spent several weeks at home
after graduating from college, whor
my father, who was 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
Grande to the city Of Ell Paso, where
we met with the thrilling expe.
nences which am about to relate.
On arriving In Ell Paso we register.
ed at the House, the largest
hotel in the town. Though we in.
tended remaining here for only
three or four days, we were forced
to lengthen our stay owing to a
sudden warm spell, which forbade
our travelling farther south for a
few days longer. Quite a number Of
Philadelphians were stopping at the
hotel, and 1t is needless to say we
soon made 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 IA
nous herb supposed to have great
supernatural powers. Owing to our
monotonous surroundings, we wei.
coined the invitation, and at 2 p. 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 Mexi-
can scenery, when five men rushed
out from the brushwood near by and
suddenly called "Haltl"
Our two companions, seeing the
danger and being in the advance,
spurred their horses and made des-
perate rush down the hill. A shower
of arrows followed them, but owing
to the swiftness 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 fire.
quently to us, but my father, being
overcome by nervous exhaustion,
made no reply. At last, when an at
tempt was made to remove 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 centered 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
him9 After taking possession Of
everything valuable about our per-
sons, the chief of the bandits blew
a 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
half mile when we met rescuing
party coming to our 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 expe-
rience. My father soon recovered
from the effects of the shock, and in
a few days we proceeded on our
Journey through the south.
Six months later we were seated
one morning In our Office on Walnut
street when a distinguished looking
man, 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-
hind him he pulled a parcel from his
pocket and said: "Mr. -, this
parcel belongs to you. You will
find note of explanation within. "
Without further conversation he
left the Office and walked into the
street. Having heard what had
transpired, I hastened to open the
package, and to my astonishment
found the valuable locket, with my
mothers picture, which had been
wrung from my fathers neck. Ac-
companying it was the following
note:
Mr.
DEAR s1R-Inclosed dnd tho looket % valu.
able to you. Your long, white hair and pitiful
eyes 90 touched q robbers heart that he came
from the forests of Ell Psso to return tho mia.
yours, r. 8.
-Philadelphia Times.
Tho National Hall OF statuary.
At Washington there is national
hall of statuary. to which every