Evening journal., 1898-07-13
FOUR-FTNGERED JACKS RE.
VENICE.

i44NAANs
Sometimes, when the weather is
pleasant and the roads good Thomas
Reardon. ex-county constable, takes a
walk out towards New Castle. He finds
that, ordinarily, he benefits by pedes-
trian exercise, but there are days when
he does not Just how many days ago
the following adventure befell him the
Wayfarer is unable to say. All Of the
parties concerned have been seen, but.
none OF them will talk for publication.
In fact, Mr.. Reardon, who is ordinar-
lily the soul Of good nature, threatens
all sorts of reprisals II publication is
made and any Of his friends attempt
TO jolly him about the incident. John
e. Campbell declares that he only
played his part in it because Mr.. Rear
don was concerned with State Detec-
tives Witsil and McVey in his unwar-
ranted incarceration in the City Hall
cells some months ago. lie wishes the
two state detectives 20 take warning,
for he still has his score to settle with
them. Herman Il. First declined to
talk when the Wayfarer called on him
at the Court House, but he had the air
of a guilty man. Lewis Dickey was no
where TO be found.
Now for the adventure. Mr.. Reardon
went out the New Castle causeway for
a walk. What his mission was is no.
body's business. Messrs. Campbell,
F'rist and Dickey took a bicycle ride to
Newport, stopped off at Snap" Stur-
geon's place and took a Rob Roy,
Robin Hood, Jack Turpin lunch. Then
they proceeded on their way. AT
Moore's Corner they came upon Mr..
Reardon.
Throw up your hands!" commanded
Campbell
Yes, up with your handsw echoed
First and Dickey, "for we are holy
terrors from the bloody Brazos."
The three dismounted. Mr. Reardor
did not know what to do or how fan
they were going to go with theii
horse play.
This is Rattlesnake Bob. the terror
Of the gulch," said Campbell, indicat
ing First.
Yes" responded First. "and this Il
Four-Fingered Jack, the bowling der
wish from the temple shadows of Bul
Hill, indicating, as he spoke, the an
gular parsonage usually known as Johi
T. Campbell.
And I'm Jesse James, Jr., the out
law kngl" said Dickey.
I'm pleased to meet you, gentle
men," said Mr.. Reardon.
"You may be now, but you won't b
after we're through with you" sal
Four-Fingered Jack, blowing two fec
of moustache clear of his nps. You
money or your lifel"
Here's a dollar; it's an have" sal
Mr. Reardon.
They took the dollAr. and then Foui
FINGERED Jack held Mr.. Reardon Will
kattlesnake Bob and Jesse James. j
went through ldm. They took ever,
thing he had. including a well-filIe
wallet, and, despite his pleading
mounted their iron steeds and made o
with their booty He pleaded with the
so earnestly that Four Fingered lack
luXuriant mOustache began to twi
round and round his conscience an
caused It to work harder than was /
won't. His conversion was quickly 70
lowed by that Of the others and tn,
rode back to the man whom they hi
despoiled, made him promise not to
so any more and then made restitutio
That is the plain, unvarnished sto
Of a most daring highway robbery
broad daylight and within mile of
Dopulous city. The Wayfarer prints
because il does not figure in the poll
annals, and, but for this publicatio
1t might be lost 10 posterity. Tie fec
sure that the parties directly interes
ed will, in their cooler nome nts, a
Dreciate the disinterestedness of
motives.