The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-06-03
QUICK WITH HIS GUN
Diamond Salesman Made an Important
Capture Which Ended in MANY Sales.

L reached my room in the San
francisco hotel at which I was stop
ping along toward midnight one night
last month" said a travelling dianS~>>J
salesman who dropped off in Wa1linA-
ton on his return to New York. Be
fore entering the room was surprised
to see through the transom that here
was light in my room, but I sup
posed that the chambermaid had turn
ed on the electric light in distributing
towels and had forgotten to turn the
light off. I didn't entertain that idea
very long. When I entered the room
had inadvertently left the key in the
door in starting for the theater nat
evening" saw a tall man standing ~
my bureau. He had his back to me
when pushed open the door, but he
quickly wheeled and regarded me with
sort Of stunned expression. On &C.
count of the gems which 1 occasionally
have on my person have to pack a
gun around with me, and it didn't take
me long to put this intruder under the
gum"
You might as well put your hands
up I said to him, entering the room
and closing the door after me.
1t looks that way the man re-
piled. pointing upward with both
hands.
Il was tired, so I sat down in a
rocking chair near the door, keeping
the gun pointing at the interloper all
the time
Been here lohg?' I asked the man.
"'Only few minutes, he replied,
coolly.
"Find anything worth while yetR
I asked him.
Haven't had time to search yet
said the chap, and a smile fiickered
around the corners of his. mouth. I
You take things pretty easy, don't
you?' I said to him-I was a bit net
tied over the fellows imperturbability.
"'So-so,' he replied. Say, can't
let my arms down and rest 'em?
haven't got any shooting iron on me-
well you stand right by that win
dow overlooking the court, with your
arms close to your Sides said to him,
but If you make move I'm going
to put a ball through you
30. X said this cool customer, and
he lowered his arms, stepped over to
the window I indicated and pressed
his arms to his sides. He was a good
looking and exceedingly dressed
man. I had heard of the GOODNESS of
frst-rate professional crooks, when cor
raled, but the benign way this fellow
smiled upon me was both puzzling and
irritating.
Been In the business long? I asked
him.
"'Quite WHILE he answered, looking
me straight in the eye, and the smile
playing around his lips.
=, ~ 7
oh, he replied, chuckling in his
mysterious fashion, I've served several
terms
Been mugged frequently. sup
poser said 1.
tive had quite few pictures TAX
en- said the man. Say, how about my
sitting down in this chair here-d'ye
mind?'
"'Not If you behave said I, still
keeping the gun on him. But you'll
have plenty of time to sit down-on q
long bench-where I'm going to send
you
"Wer, you might give a fellow
show for his white alley said the man,
depositing himself in an easy chair
and placing his hands behind his head
I haven't swiped anything What's the
use Of railroading me?'
ct have citizens duty to perform
toward society, my friend I said to
him solemnly. and blamed if he didn't
laugh in my face.
You'll be laughing on the other
side of your mouth presently said 1,
severely at that, but he went right on
haw- having in the most hearty and
good natured fashion imaginable.
Say, look here he said, when he
could control his laughter. what is the
number of this room, any way?'
This is 1885, replied. Why do
you ask?
"'Oh, just wanted to know. mag
ined something of the sort when you
came in the man replied and then
he exploded into another fit of laugh
ter.
Il got up from my chair. still point
ing the gun at him in case he might
make some quick move and get the