The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1903-04-21
A BLUFF THAT WON
HOW Mr.. PERKINS ILLUSTRATED
AN ARGUMENT.
Showed How Easily Bandits Can In.
tinidate a Trainioad Of Passengers
Object Lesson Not Enjoyed by
Fellow.Travelers.

ing of a summer day on a western
bound train passing through thickly
wooded country. A compartment at
the end of the train had stood empty
all day.
A slight, fair, quiet looking man
who had boarded the train during the
afternoon threw down his paper and
yawned. Then he looked around the
car. His nearest nelghbor was a man
from Omaha, stout, pompous, with a
very large diamond on his left hand
and a most imposing chain and seal
on his waistcoat. Mr.. Perkins sug-
gested the possibility Of a quiet game
Of cards. Three other men willingly
Joined them, and they took possession
of the compartment, playing quietly
for small stakes.
Reynolds, a man from Chicago. won
steadily. AS he pulled a handful Of
chips toward his steadily increasing
pile, Mr.. Perkins laughed little.
IF we were playing for larger
stakes, I'm afraid you'd find yourself
growing unpopular" he said.
I'm not exactly growing rich," an
swered Reynolds. even at this rate.
I'm afraid this pile wouldn't mean
much to a professional gambler"
"Or train robber," suggested Mr..
Perkins.
That's thing l never could un.
derstand," said the man from Omaha.
How five or six men can actually
hold up train with from one to two
hundred people on 1t and have them
absolutely at their mercy is simply in.
comprehensive to me-"
1T is partly" said Mr.. Perkins, "a
matter OF pure nerve. and partly the
advantage of the man with the gun.
Now what could any Of us do, for in
stance, IL we should be attacked by
train robbers?"
1T doesn't happen very often in
these days" said one of them.
Mr.. Perkins looked at him a minute.
mo" he said; mot so often as It
used to. Still, we read of something
of the sort every once in a while. Now,
this is Just the place for it," He
laughed as though the fancy pleased
him. Now | venture to say that
man who knew his business could
pretty nearly go through this car and
take what he wanted. What would
you do, Mr.. Reynolds. If a man held
a revolver at your head and asked for
your watch?"
Reynolds laughed. WELL" he said,
II couldn't do much else but hand 1t
over"
DO you carry arms when you
travel?" asked Perkins of the man
from Omaha.
why, no." said the man from Oma.
ha. II never carry a gun, anyway"
"And you'll" said Mr.. Perkins, turn.
ing to the other two men and smiling
as he felt he had convinced them.
Neither of them did.
Mr.. Perkins laughed, rose and shook
the ashes from his cigar out OF the
window. Then he turned and DELHI
erately closed and locked the door OF
the compartment. He very quickly
and quietly drew from his pocket re-
volver and stood facing the com.
pany.
Gentlemen he said. 81 believe l
have the advantage. will trouble
you. please, for your wallets and your
watches"
II was a curious scene, as the four
men stood facing him. A man holding
a loaded revolver and too far away
20 hn hxy ~.
Perkins suggested, the advantage In
the situation.
III you will place your watches on
this chair" said Mr. Perkins very
pleasantly. II will take care of them.
No, would not advise you to lift
that chair, Mr.. Reynolds. There are
six balls In my pistol. and l shan't
miss one Of them. though you may
not care for It. All. now gentlemen,
your purses. And your ring. please"
to the man from Omaha. Now,
gentlemen. If you please. hands
up"
He put the watches and several
rolls Of bills into his pockets and
moved around to the outer door, hold.
ing his pistol steadily and ready for
firing. He opened the door behind
and stood facing them.
IL am about to leave you," he said;
the country around here Is more or
less familiar to me, and | have inter
ests near. Gentlemen. good even
ing"
He closed the door and was out OF
the vestibule in an instant. He swung
by the railing and jumped. almost
falling. He caught himself and stood
erect.
The train went on. and as the man
from Omaha leaned out OF the win
dow with many wrathful and some
profane sentences, Mr., Perkins raised
his hat politely and disappeared in the
forest-New York Times,
In Sulu.