The Van Buren press., 1898-10-15
Why His Reason Tottered
WITHOUT any reason whatever.
w my strange companion grasped
An Adventure with Man Hunters,

WITHouT any reason whatever,
w my strange companion grasped
my arm with clutch like wise, and,
with abiect terror depicted upon every
feature of his countenance, exclaimed:
.Save me. Save me! They are after
me again!"
"Who are after you?" asked, vain
ly trying to disengage his painful hold
on my arm.
"Those real estate men. They'll
shoot me. See." And he pointed out
of the car window to two peacea BILE
looking gentlemen who were approach
ing the train with fowling- pieces
slupg over their shoulders.
At this moment a small man, with
alert, nervous eyes, who had been in
almost constant attendance upon the
German. entered the smoking COM
partment of the Pullman and said:
"Never mind, Jake. It's all right. ]
have got them in the next car where
they can't harm you. See, I've got my
guns with me, and no one can hurt
you while | am around
"Vas it loaded?"
Eyes. I think you had better go to
bed now, while l sit up and protect
YOU"
"Yes, that would be peter" said the
German, greatly assured.
/ felt sure that these two men were
as crazy as bedbugs, and l lit fresh
cigar to think.
/ was travelling from San Francisco
10 London. and up to this moment had
seen nothing eccentric about the Ger
man except his rather grotesque ap-
pearance He and his companion were
intensely interesting characters, but
they seemed harmless. II they were
interesting before, they were doubly
so now. After awhile the little man re-
upon the cushioned seat opposite me,
eaid;
"Now that I have got my trouble
some friend to bed, I'll take a rest.
He'll not stir, can tell you. so long as
he thinks there are Los Angeles real
estate men on the train"
whats the matter with him?
said.
"Off here" And he tapped his fore
head significantly. There's boom en-
at Los Angeles, you know, and the real
estate men scared him out of his wits. y
you don't say so?"
"Yes. About six weeks ago our de-
tective agency in San Francisco re-
ceived instructions from New York
attorney TO locate the whereabouts OF
Jacob Schmidt, who had not been
heard from for some time, and | was
assigned the task. \ fine time | had OF
1t, | can tell YOU" And the detective
meditatively puffed great rings OF
smoke from his pipe Get him to tel
you about his adventures in southern
California. You will find it amusing
He's taken a great fancy to you-says
you saved his life just now. He is sure
you couldn't be so dishonorable as tC
have anything TO do with real estate.
1t was a strange story heard from
Mr.. Jacob Schmidt by piecemeal dur
ing the next few days. a story of ad
venture which might have sent many q
better man than he off his head; tai,
10 one would credit who had not gone
through that Los Angeles boom; one
that | could not have credited had no
the sad havoc wrought in the other
wise sane mind Of Jacob Schmid-
been daily apparent as we travelled to
ward the Atlandtic seaboard.
About 20 years previous to this tim'
Jacob and Frau Schmidt crossed th'
Atlantic, and, following the Teutoni,
instinct, they opened a corner grocer,
In the suburbs of Brooklyn. In 1ss
reports were rife of the great specu
lative fever that had seized southern
California, and of the fortunes tha
were made in day; and as a buye
presented himself at that time, Jacol
Schmidt decided to sell for a snug ittl
sum and seek his fortune in the fa
west. All in good time the honest an
simple e-hearted Teuton arrived at Pas
adena, where he had been advised T.
pause and look around. To the con
servative tourist from the effete cas-
the scene Of fpandemonium at the depo
must have been appalling. Carriages
omnibuses and innumerable buggie
lined the curb. The carriage-me
were shouting. hotel-runners yelling
but above all the din and jostling of tn
crowd were heard the sonorous an
sturdy voices of the real estate run
ners, shouting: Free ride all over tn
city! Landed safely at you hotel!
The passengers were hutton-holed tn
moment ;hey stepped off the train an
hustled, willy-nilIy. off TO the buggie.
All was exciting, bewiideriny.
Jake Schmidt was iaboriOusly de
scending the steps of the Pullman wit
his heavy grip in one hand and an um
brella in the other, when a tall, fierce
looking man. with shaggy eyebrow
and bushy mustache. said 10 his small
er and milder-looking companion:
Heres our sucker. Jim. Look on
the other fellows don't get him.
A. the German stepped upon III