The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-04-20

ment. From him / learned the little
details of the trip, il had, for ten
years. been his custom TO take each
autumn.
"If / were you" he said, "I'd go
straight to the farthest point and
work east, finishing at Joplin. Youll
find-it the easiest way-I do. Means
of transportation out in that country
are varied!" he went on-I thought
ironically-"nnd frequently you may
be bothered on arriving in a town TO
learn that IL is the railway terminus
and that the next cross roads must
be reached by way of rig. But you
can always find some chap who for a
small consideration will be willing to
drive you anywhere. The hotels are
bad where there are any and frequent
ly you will have TO go pot luck with
the proprietor of some general store
or other. But in any event IL will be
a change for you and ought TO do you
a world of good"
1--WE no doubt" I replied. "and II
surely promises TO be interesting"
EYES," Green drawled, 81 shouldn't
he surprised IL you found II little
too interesting at particularly
in the Missouri country-that's the
habitat Of the James gang, you know"
I smiled at the thought OF such
doughty villains as the James set
ting upon such weak specimen as
looked TO be after my long illness.
"And by the way" Green went on,
Frequently you'll have TO carry n
lot OF cash around with you before
you find bank where n draft can be
purchased. Carry your money CON
cealed in the simplest way. Under
no circumstances contradict anyone
out there, for the present day west
erner doesn't relish being called a
liar-and If you do find yourself load
ed up with money you have collected,
make II point 10 get rid of il just as
soon as ever you can. If you do all
these things | believe you'll have a
good time and be greatly benefited
by the change"
| thercupon left Green and began,
at once, 10 prepare for my trip. On
the 10th / saw my employer again in
his Office and received from HIM some
final instructions, the nature of which
| will not state, as they have no bear
ing upon this narrative.
j left Kansas City for Kerr on the
afternoon of November 4 and there
after for ten days lowered In the vi
cinity making" the villages and cross
roads on the way TO Joplin. My route
took me off the beaten line of travel
and from town to town after leaving
Kerr l made my way by stage, or
oftener blackboard, depending upon
wayfarers in several instances to give
me lift from point TO point. Dis
agreeable as this means OF procedure
was IL was augmented by the fact
that until ! reached Joplin ] would
be compelled TO carry the sum OF my
collections with me. / reached \
certain little hamlct-the date I fin1
in my diary which | found great
interest in keeping up during the
trip-November 18th. engaged n
room in the National hotel, which
belied its name, and experienced n
certain sense of relief in the thought
that the next day would find me in
Joplin at my journeys end and in
touch with bank which would fur
nish me with n draft in return fo-
the $640 securely wadded into black
leather pocketbook, at the moment
reposing over my heart in the inside
pocket of my waistcoat. | found my
business easy and speedy of transac-
ton in this little village and when
finished resolved TO proceed on my
way at once IL team and driver
were available TO take me to Joplin
which lay n few miles TO the east. ]
made inquiry of the proprietor of the
hotel-who also ofiiciated as clerk,
chambermaid and waitress-nnd was
informed by him that / might be
able TO get team at Hanks" The
establishment of blank" was pointed
out TO me and thither | went to learn
that a team and blackboard was TO Dc
had but no driver.
"Howsomecver," said Hank-a tall
raw-boned Mssourian in homespuu
and cowhide boots-"Tm loolSin' fer
Joe back b. swim o'clock-twon't take
more'n three hours & git thar, IL We
wanta git n move on" assured him
that / did and he said: "Wall. under
them circumstances ef Joe hain't here
b. seven I'll drive ye over myself" A
price for his services and those OF the
team wos set, which though high,
readily agreed 20. / returned 20 the
National and bidcd my time listening
10 the landlords stories of outlaws
who within the year had driven the
more peaceful element Of that part
OF the state almost TO desperation on
more than one occasion. In the
course of the conversation the James
gang was referred TO at which the
proprietor of the National told me q
series Of stories of those desperadoes
OF such blood-curdling a quality that
/ may Say | was in no condition "a
face the darkness of the Joplin road
when few minutes after seven q
negro, with n peculiarly repulsivc