The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-09

see how L was careless enough TO leave
my gun at home these times" he said,
with tears in his eyes.
STILL" I suggested, "as l understand
1t, he had the drop on you before YOU
saw him. Perhaps it is just as we'll
you did not have your gun. He might
have killed you"
Possibly" said the deacon: but !
would have fired as long as 1 could
have crooked finger. Now l shall be
laughing stock as long as / live. The
boys will think it rich--simply rich
DO you think you would know the
fellow should you see him asain?"
| asked.
Il should know him anywhere. He
Is short and wiry, dark hair, mustache,
no beard, black eyes. And there is a
great red, flaming scar across his face
knife wound, 1 reckon"
I'm tell you what We'll DOT said.
| Let us so to Boomopolis and md
him. He will soon see that there is
no pursuit and will certainly go there.
Perhaps we can arrest him vet"
| The deacon grasped my hand in both
of his and wrung it until it ached.
How can l thank you" he exclaim-
ed. "We'll go tonight and if we catch
1
of your life"
1 prepared myself or the expedition
by donning an old suit of clothes and
leaving my valuables at home. / had a
| perpetual-winding Waterbury watch
which 1 used when on hunting expedi-
tions. and took it with me- also $40
in silver and small, plain, but SER
viceable revolver. We procured horses
at the hotel stables and rode into the
town in the early evening.
Boomopolis at that time was only an
infant among the cities OF Southern
California. There We're huge gaps
among it's business houses, now filed
with stately edifices. There were no
pavements, and where hundred globes
of electric fire now glare at night upon
the passerby, there was then. oily the
dim and ftful CLEAN of lamps from the
| windows of the scattered stores.
After an elaborate supper at the
Transcontinental, prepared by French
| chef from Dublin and served by re-
tired cowboys from Arizona, we sailed
| forth to visit the saloons and gambling
| places in search of our robber. We
| made three or four circuits of the town
without success and finally found our.
selves in the Magnolia club rooms"
1 The establishment was really only a
single room on the ground floor back
of a cigar store, arranged for faro and
| other games of chance. 1t was lighted
by solitary mammoth lamp, which
was suspended from the ceiling over a
| long, green-covered table, upon which
| were scattered cards and gold coins.
Around it were perhaps a dozen men
of various sorts and conditions, all in
tent upon "the game" AS many more,
! including ourselves, were interested
| onlookers. The room was blue with
tobacco smoke, and the door at the
further end. which afforded commune
cation with an adjoining bar, was per-
petually on the swing.
l was enjoying the character of anna
teur detective hugely. So far there was
pleasant tnge of eXcitement-or
rather an expectation of excitement
and very little danger. But as we
scanned the faces of the company
without seeing our man, the deacon s
brow grew black with disappointment.
1t was now after midnight. The cigar
store was closed, but the bar was kept
open all night. Disappointed in our
search, we became absorbed in watch
ing the game. There is something OF
the gambler in every man, and as ]
looked upon the tense, excited faces OF
the players the contagion Of their ex.
ample seized me, and / felt in my
pocket for a coin. Finding nothing but
silver, which l did not like to stake, as
there was none on the table, 1 was or
the point of borrowing a double eagle
from the deacon when heard a quiet
: but distinct voice at the end of the
room say:
"Hands up, gentlemen, if you please"
Glancing around L saw man stand
ing at the door leading TO the bar, a
revolver in each hand pointed at us. II,
was a short, slight man, with dark
hair and flaming scar across his face
There was no confusion. One of the
loungers quietly placed his back
against the door leading to the cigar
store and drew two revolvers, which
he pointed along the table. Two 9TH
ers, evidently confederates also, stood
at ease waiting the next order. The
rest Of us lifted our hands simultan.
eously, Any one could see that it was
the only thing to do. The deacon's
face was white as snow. and his Jaws
were set like a steel trap
THE gents that are seated will kind
: ly rise" said the voice near the door.
The gamblers arose as one man
Now, then; everybody right about
and face the wall" was the next com.
mand.
We faced about.
March," said the cool emphatic
voice. Two feet from the wall stop.
We advanced in two rows TO the Oh,
posite sides Of the room and stood
as directed, ranged against the walls
Then the two cOnfederates stepped leis
l urely to the table and scooped the
gold into couple Of little sacks which
they produced from their pockets.
Keep your hands up, everybody ;
came a quick and sharp warning from
J the door, as some one inadvertently
lowered his arms a trihe. "We're no
= through with you yet" the voice added
Having secured the money on tn
y table, the brigands proceeded to rol
n our persons. With great show o
$ politeness they requested US to give III
n our watches, money and weapons.
[ was one of the first to comply, TIL
G fellow tossed my revolver and my few
e silver dollars into a sack and grabbe,
j. at my watch.
e Curse the thing" he said, and threy
d ii on the floor.
Just then there was a crashing. ex
g plosive sound, denfening in the narroy
S confines of the room-then another
70 snother-and another. Then came dark
h ness, quick rush of feet, tumult o
e shouts and groaps.
d II was the deacon. of course. kney
|, 1t before the welcome, hurried arriva
= OF men from outside with lanterns. II
I had turned looSen "A the leader Tho,