The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-20

his business, got him to tell me the
story of his life, from the time he had
left college.
He and his gang. of which he was
considered the had, never played fos
small stakes, $1,000 being the maxi
mum, and $4,000 the minimum. They
had three plans of putting up the
job" one Of which he explained In de-
tail. as beiEg very successful.
Their first step was to locate their
victim. and this required skillful work
on the part of the advance man."
When q substantial farmer, with plenty
of property and a good bank account.
had been selected, the High Mark as
the head mar was called, would visit
the locality. Calling upon the farmer,
or "Rummy'' as he was known to the
gang he would explain that he was
a business man from Massachusetts,
and was looking around with a posi-
BILE view to buying a small farm, upon
which to spend his remaining days.
They had turned their last trick IN
southern Ohio, working it as follows:
Charlie" as High Mark" called
Upon the farmer, who had been care
fully selected by the advance man.
After giving the above explanation to
account for his visit he inquired
whether there was any kind of good
hunting in that section. When in
formed that there was excellent squir-
rel hunting and that the season was
then open, he became enthusiastic and
asked the farmer if he ever hunted.
The reply was that he scarcely ever
did, principally for the reason that he
had a poor gun.
Nov, see here" said the CRATER,
Il have at my hotel several fine guns
and plenty of ammunition. and | want
to have a little fun. If you will give me
board for a week or two, I'll bring out
my guns and will pay you $40 or $25
a week with the understanding that
you are to give up your personal time
to go out with me. What do you say?"
To this the farmer agreed. The iol-
lowing day the CRATER returned, bag
and baggage.
The first day they went to the woods
to erect a blind under which to hide.
while waiting for squirrels. After the
blind was finished the CRATER limited
that he had a bottle of good stuff"
in his pocket, and producing a quar-,
bottle of choice wine and whisky
mixed, took a drink and passed it to
the farmer, who also took a social
smile. Then, to make the blind more
attractive, he hid the bottle under a
log, remarking that it would come in
good play hereafter.
Being an experienced sportsman the
grafter's success in bringing down a
fine mess of squirrels every morning
made things doubly interesting; be
sides a swig from the bottle created a
good appetite for breakfast.
After the High Mark" had estab-
lished himself in the good graces CT
the farmer and his family, one of his
pals appeared. This accomplice was a
full-blood Indian. who had been edu-
Gated by the United States govern
ment. He had joined the gang in the
west and had been with them for seT-
eral years. He was a Shrewd, foxy
fellow, quick to detect a weak point IN
the game, or to appreciate a strong
one.
On going to the blind one morning
the CRATER happened to notice, a short
distance away beyond the fence inclos-
ing the farmers property. a man who
seemed to be digging a hole in the
ground. He Immediately called the
farmers attention to the stranger and
both watched the outcome with much
curiosity.
When the mar had dug a hole. about
three feet deep, he placed a chunk OF
something in it and covered it up;
after which he scattered the surplus
dirt broadcast and then covered the
top with pieces of sod, very carefully
pressed down.
Of course during all this perform
ance Mr.. Crater" and Mr.. "Rummy"