Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-09-29

tell" The passengers were button
holed the moment they stepped of
the train and hustled, willy-nilly. of
to the buggies. All was exciting, be.
wildering.
Jake Schmidt was laboriously de-
scending the steps OF the Pullman
with his heavy grip in one hand and
umbrella in the other, when a tall.
ferce-looklng man, with shaggy eye.
brows and bushy mustache, saiu to
his smaller and milder-looking com,
panion:
Here's our sucker, oim. Look out
the other fellows don't get him."
As the German stepped upon the
platform, the small man snatched his
umbrella and valise, while the tall
man clutched him firmly by t..e arm
and shoulder and rushed him toward
buggy. Instantly a great crowd
surged around them, yelling like de-
mons and pokng cards in the face Of
the frightened Gerlsln.
Hurry up, Jim. Here, quick, let's
land him. And before Jake could
collect his scattered senses. he was
grasped on either side by his arms
and legs and lifted bodily into the
buggy. The tall man jumped in and
dashed the horse, and they went tear
ing up the street like mad.
Jake thought of his money, of his
wife, and little Gretchen, and be-
moaned the day he ever left them. He
could not doubt that he had fallen
among robbers, and, as they emerged
from the city, he was sure he was
being taken to their den in the noun
tains that lowered menacingly near.
His heart stood still at the thought.
What would they do with him?
Meanwhile the real-estate man
talked necessarily, pointing out the
advantages Of Pasadena as place ot
residence, occasionally stopping to go
into raptures over certain lot which
he advised the German to purchase at
once, as it would double in value in
twenty-four hours But his eloquence
fell unheedcd upon mind oblivious
to all but its own heart-sick misery,
Every time the real-estate man knit
ted his shaggy eyebrows and turned
on him those piercing gray eyes, Jake
shuddered.
At last, weary of his Improbable
task, the tall man cast an angry
glance at the trembling German and
in silence drove him to hotel
Throwing his luggage after him, the
real-estate man drove away disheart,
ened, after informing Jake that an
other member of his Drm would cal
at four o'clock, hoping, no doubt that
some one else would have better luck
in inducing the German to purchase
a town lot
Now, Jake had no desire or inten.
ton of meeting another member Of
that firm, either at four O'Clock OF
any other time. and finding that III,
train left in fifteen minutes for IoY
Angeles, he made his way TO the de
pot in all possible haste.
If the scene at the depot in pasa
dena was bewildering, exciting
alarming, it was ten times more 40 a
Los Angeles. Schmidt sat as If rive
ted to his seat, and dared not yentur,
forth untl the porter notified hin
with great dignity that the train hat
reached its destination, intimatinl
quite pointedly that his absence wa
infinitely more desirable than hi
company. As Jake alighted from tn,
car, he perceived the door of a car
riage standing inyllingly open on tn
other side of the court and made 70
il on the run, the rabble after him
lie bolted head foremost into the We
hicle, and the hackman, being sufli
GENTLY up to the situation, sent hi
horses off at gallop and landed IN
safely at the hotel. Jacob Schmid
congratulated himself upon his mar
row escape, Nevertheless, when h
descended to dinner that evening, h
glanced furtively in all directions, bu
as the way appeared to be clear h
walked confidently along the CORR
dor. Just as he was entering the din
ing-room, he was suddenly confront
ed by two men who politely bowe,
and attempted to hand him SON
cards.
Half no time to talk said Jake
hastily, looking for an avenue Of es
cape.
How very Fortunate" said tn
spokesman. 1--WE are also very shor
Of time. But there is no place NOR
conducive 10 good business under
standing tran the dining-table." An
the three walked into the dining
room arm in arm. One of the me-
spread a map ont on the table, an
they took turns in explaining the ad
vantages of certain properties in Lo
Angeles tat we're advancing In vau
at an extraordinary pace. Jake fel
helpless, while the waiter tried fran
ticalIy to get their order.
ooh, bring us anything, and be a
long about It as you like" said on
OF the real estate men, throwing tn
waiter dollar.
After dinner the German was IN
formed that one OF the men wou
call for him at nine o'clock in tn
morning and take him out to see tn