The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-02

nation that he himself had just arrived
from the old country, that he had been
with Jameson in his immortal raid. n
that his present intention was TO seek
service in the American army.
One glance sufficed to satisfy the cap
tain that he had to deal with an ordi-
nary crook, but having nothing to do he
determined, as he put ii. to see the
game through, and professed the live
Hest pleasure in meeting a man who,
like himself, had seen service in Africa.
In a few minutes the two were chatting
together Tx old comrades.
Before proceeding further IL occurred
10 the captain that il would be the part
Of prudence to leave i'm the hotel safe
about 5000, for the most part in Bank
of England notes. which he had about
Kim. but he decided to chance 1t, and
accept the strangers invitation to go
with him to a recruiting office, where
he said he had promised to meet an
American officer.
Being a total stranger in New York.
the stranger, who said that his name
was Dorsay, wasn't quite sure where
the place was, but thought he could find
IL, which he succeeded In doing with
cut apparent trouble after a walk of
five minutes. The place didn't look
much lii a recruiting office. and was.
in fact. a dingy saloon In "A cross street
near Sixth venue we'll known to the
police as a resort for crooks.
In the rear of this place sat a one
eyed. flashily dressed man, who was
introduced to the English captain as
Major Burke of the American army. de-
tailed on recruiting service. Drinks
were suggested. but the captain de-
clined on the ground Of being a strict
teetotaler. Pretty soon Major Burke
began fiddling with "A dice box. and
~playfully offered to throw for n dollar.
Captain Nettleson declined. but his
friend Dorsay threw and won. the bet
being made on the total number of
snots on the tops and the bottoms OF
the three dice.
ITS bound to he 81 all the time"
whispered the gentleman who had been
with Jameson to the CAPTAIN. Now
you just watch and you'll see me win
all that Yankees MONEY"
Sure enough. he won steadily, until.
after losing 500 or $50, the major offered
to bet $500 on the next throw, which he
won by slipping into the box a die with
ar irregular arrangement Of spots. The
trick was so clumsily performed and so
utterly old and stale hat the captain
could hardly repress q smile at the
simplicity Of the two crooks. Just then
something occurred for which the cap
tain was totally u~nprepared. and which
ne VIII never Dt dDle 10 SdllSidCtbii y
explain to his dying day. He was
chuckling over the absurdity of the
thing when the Jameson raider. who
appeared to be profoundly ~astonished
at the result of the last throw. turned
TO him eXclaiming: "By Jove. old man,
| can't afford to lose all that money.
although I've plenty more at the hotel.
You can sec hat I've a sure thing to
win II back on the mex throw! Let
me have five hundred"
As captain Nettleton said afterward
In telling his experience: II Just put
my hand in my pocket and handed him
20 Go Bank of England notes. Why !
did so / Tor know. ! seemed to be in
a condition of abstraction. and I gave
him the money mechanically, as /
might have given him a light for a
cigar. I saw him lose II on the next
throw. and 7 saw both the men get up
and go out, the rascal to whom | had
given the money turning back at the
door and saying something about it be-
ing all right and that he would call
around at the hotel at 3 o'clock and
pay me back. I sat there in a state of
CONTEMPLATION, for, | suppose, five
minutes or so. and then wen way con-
WINGED that / must have been temper
arily bereft of my senses. You may
call IT hvnotism: l can find no better
explanation
Luckily Tor the captain. VINO ndu
made up his mind to pocket his loss
and cable home for more funds, he was
accosted on his way pack To his hotel
by a detective. now retired. but once
one OF the stars Of Inspector Byrnes'
staff. whom he had met some years
previous in London.
Just leave il to me and delay your
departure for a few davs,'' said the
veteran. after hearing the story, and
the captain agreed.
Two days later the captain was in
vited by his friend the detective to
visit the scene Of his adventure. where
they were Joined by a handsome. styl-
ishly dressed young woman. who hand
ed the captain a neat little package,
which, on being opened. was found to
contain $500 in fresh treasury notes
and a polite note from Mr.. Dorsay"
To the effect that II gave him much
pleasure to return Cantain Nettleton's
loan. There was no further eXplana-
ton. and the young woman vanished
after being assured that everything
was all right.
ION of the queerest features of the
whole affair" said Captain Nettleton.
on the eve of his sailing on Saturday,
was that instead of losing $500 | ac-
tually made six or eight dollars on the
exchange of my English notes, which,
of course. We're not worth quite 81 to
the pound. How did the detective man.
age To get the money back? I'm sure
I haven't the least idea, unless it is
that he is a bit of a hynotist himself"