The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-12-24
HIeHwAYMAN WAS HONEST.
Pressing Need 81 Money Compelled
Good Citizen 20 Negotiate
Forced Loan.


Z knew man once who did the high
wayman act by robblng a citizen OF his
money at the point Of big six-shooter.
and yet the robber was an honest man,
and Is so considered to-day" said Col
Charles a. Edwards. Of Texas. Sc. Louis
and Washington. to a crowd Of friends,
who listened to his entertaining stories
OF experiences In the Lone Star state.
relates the Washington Post.
You needn't laugh al my calling him
honest after having performed such
Dick Turpln stunt Attend to my story.
and you'll see how peculiar conditions
VIII now and then make man play
role foreign 10 hi real character. lie
was young Fgrehman, and had fallen
In love With a wlasome girl-a belle IN
one Of the counties adjacent to San An
tonic. The girl was going TO school
In that ancient town, and right after the
spring roundup her lover. with a couple
of hundred dollars IN his pockets. pro-
cteded TO 'Santone' to meet the idol of
his soul, whom he had not seen in many
moons. lie needed the cash to buy
the frcst suit Of store clothes TO be e'had.
as he wanted 10 look his best. and stlll
there would be money enough left to
buy all the candy and ice cream one
maiden would want.
He arrived too late in the day 10
make hls purchases. and that night
some sleek hotel thief got into HIS room
and absiracted his entire roll. Here
was a situation at once desperate and
pathetic-a raw, unsophisticated youth
from the ranch, still dressed In cow
boy costume. despoiled Of his last cent.
crazy 10 see his sweetheart and without
friend nearer than 100 miles The
people who could help him couldn't be
reached by wire: there was no time for
a letter. ard he was too shy 70 ask aid
OF strangers Then Il was that he med
itated plan which would only have en-
tered bis head under such dIreful con-
ditions,
"The sneak thief had considerably left
the pair Of biz Colts revolvers that
every cowman used to carry In the
southwest. With their aid II was pos
'ihle 10 get funds. and the victim OF rob
berry would himself become robber. So |
when night came on he waited in a
dark street the coming |
Of prosperous looking man. Finally |
one did come along who looked like
ready money and this citizen. ere he
knew II, was looking Into the muzzle OF
one OF the AIS I don't mean to steal
'our money, but you've got to let mo
have $50, or I'll take It If have TO kin
you. was the stern order and with saga
ious promptitude Mr.. Man forked over
III his wealth, which was considerably
more than the sum specified.
Taking just $50. the cowboy gave
'aek the surplus. and asked the name
md address of the other In the politest
ort Of way, telling him he would re-
urn his money IN less than week. The
nan was glad TO get OF with his life.
md ambled OF 10 hunt the police. who
ave vain chase.
Just four days later there was one
cry much surprised man in San An
'nio when an express package con
aiming $50 wag handed him. Being a
ood-natured sort OF citizen. he took a
nient viex of the affair. and didn't try
put detectives on the track OF tho
ariy who had made the forced loan
hats all Of II. except that not very
'ng afterward there was a wedding in
an Patrieio county. and the youngster
mo engineered the holdup. aud the
retty girl on whose account he did II q
ere the principals" h