The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-07-10
quire the reputation OF being the most
hospitable people in the country.
THEY CAME AT LAST.

qulre the reputation or Delng tne most
hospitable people in the country.
THEY CAME AT LAST.
"The very ones whose acquaintances
we sought were slow In calling, but iat
last they came. We recognized them
all. iShang Brooks came first, but he
was followed a few days later by the
Styles brothers. They put very
searching questions to US, but our man
ners and answers satisfied them i
posed as a green rustic, who knew
nothing but cattle and sheep, and my
bogus father and mother carried out
their part 10 perfection.
The counterfeiters were very sus-
picious at first, but our apparent rus
ticity soon reassured them. They con-
descended to partake OF our hospitali-
ty, and occasionally took dinner with
us. On Sundays they came down and
played cards, but at the first sign OF
the coming OF another guest they
would suddenly remember that they
must be returning home. and they
would mount their horses and ride off
across the valley.
I'VE soon saw that we had some very
foxy customers to deal with. To our
careless inquiries as TO what they were
doing. they replied that they were pros
pectors. They told US with a rather
vicious CLINT I'm their eyes that they
preferred us TO keep that quiet, as they
had discovered good diggings' and did
not want to be bothered with a horde
of fortune hunters We listened In
open-mouthed wonder to their tales.
and our simplicity. coupled with the
fact that we were always pleasant to-
ward them. induced them TO regard
US as harmless.
NET THE GANG OFTEN.
THUS matters went on for six
months. My companion and i were al
most out of communication with the
department, but slyly posted letter
occasionally informed them that we
were doing all that was possible. and
that we were making progress. Brooks
or the Styles Brothers came to see us
every few days, but we could never
get the three together. The reason was
very apparent.
The gang wanted one OF their num-
ber to keep guard over their place of
refuge and prevent anyone from finding
out their hiding place. Had they
known how closely they were watched
/ hardly think that they would have
gone about with as much complacency
as they did There was scarcely an
hour In the day when our powerful spy
glass was not leveled on the mountain
.H "hooc ieNesseS t"es Haue tneir
home.
"One day the old man saw them all
leave, riding along the foothills
to the southwest. / saw my opportuni-
~ and set out on a hunting expedition.
/ crossed the valley of the Playas and
struck off into the jungle of underbrusb
l spent all day tramping about the
mountains. but accustomed as 1 was to
following the most minute trail, could
taA An ataxr trnn 90 haf To-
on that occasion.
THE trio returned in two days. and
shortly afterward they paid a visit to
our ranch.
Been browsn' around on our range.
haven't ye, sonny?" said Shang Brooks
with such assurance that I was almost
startled out of my wits
FANDANGO IDEA CAUGHT THEM.
:" NO, 1 replied. L haven't been off
the ranch for three weeks The candor
and innocence with which i made the
denial shook Brooks. and after remark
ing that be had seen traces OF some un-
welcome Visitor who had evidently beee
trying to locate their claim he began
TO talk about something else.
l"All this time we had been growing
more and more friendly. They became
accustomed to seeing cowboys around
OuT DldCt, anu liffdliy Dc6uit w a'SCNioet
more or less with them. Many a game
OF cards for such stakes as the cowboys
could afford was played on our kitchen
table. and the counterfeiters joined m
the sport. Strange to say, not once did
they attempt to pass In spurious coin
for the chips. and they always settled
their accounts in the lawful money OF
the commonwealth.
"At last the old man and / thought
A. ,t N
on n certain Saturday night we would
hold grand fandango, TO which the
whole neighborhood would be inyited.
We laid our plans for a social event
such as had never been seen In the
Playas valley, but not one OF the guests
knew of the sequel to the dance. The
affair was well advertised, and the
bellies of the country from even down
I'm Sonora signified their intention OF
being present The old house was fur
nished up, and stock of refreshments
was laid in. such as would make any
cowboys mouth water.
'"The gang OF counterfeiters caught
the fever. II had been so long since
they had mingled in any sort of socie-
~. that they could not resist the temp
tation so aiIuringly set before them.
They promised TO grace the occasion
by their presence I'm a body. and in
nocently told them that no one would
jump their claim In the night time.
THE HOUSE WAS PACKED.
when the eventful Saturday night
came the house was packed with about
30 men and "A score Of women. We had
the best fiddlers thar the section pro-
duced and several large Jugs ~ whis-
KY promised that the occasion would
lack nothing Of jolliiy. The super
abundant supply cf liquor furnished
the old man with a text FOR speech.
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