The Grit-advocate., 1905-03-24

n tue way Ill WHICH he WIS
>o~ held up" by desperate
in Arizona. At that time the banker
owned a small copper mine in Arizona.
and had gone down there to show it
to an Eastern man who wished to buy.
He liked the mine, and took it, and
to the astOnishment of the former
owner. he paid for it in United States
bills of large denomination.
l asked him how he dared to travel
away from the line of the railroad
with so much money. but he laughed,
says the banker, and replied that he
didn't know any one in the region who
would cash his check, and that no
one knew he had the money. anyhow.
Then parted company with him. He
rode back to PheniX, while / started
with fresh pony toward the main
line of the railway. twenty miles
away.
didn't feel very nervous, for l was
riding across the desert, which was
entirely fiat except for the scattered
blue mesas that stood like loaves OF
bread upon its surface. 1t was not
until 1 saw another horseman coming
toward me that l scented trouble. You
see this happened not very long ago.
and the old habit Of carrying weapons
mad already begun to fall of. so was
completely unarmed.
Hello, strangern said the new
conner, who looked extremely hard
up I've lost my way. Which way
are you going?'
l made the best of it and chatted
pleasantly with him. Finally, when
he had looked me all over, he said,
stranger. I've got gun and you
haven't, l reckon, SO I'll ask You to
hand over your watch and money. and
then I'll say gOod-by."
He had taken out revolver, and it
seemed advisable to follow his direc-
lions. / gave him my watch and loose
change but he did not seem satisfied.
and made me get off my horse, and
after he had prodded me he discovered
the fat wallet of bills in my shirt.
Then he looked at me critically and
smiled
you're dressed pretty well, strans-
er," he said, land you're about my
size. l amt dressed very well. Take
off those Clothes and do it quick.
want to catch train and get out of
this country, but l like the way your
clothes look, and l want to wear them
myself''
You aren't going to leave me here
without clothes| l asked, angrily.
He laughed then and said. "Oh, no.
I'll give you my outfit, and won't
charge you cent for it. Come now.
I'm in a hurry"
took off my clothes, and then, ac-
cording to his command. turned my
back while he cautiously took off his
and put mine on. Then he jumped
on his horse. looked at my watch. and
said. "Good-by, stranger! Don't try
to follow me- 1t amt healthy
There was nothing for me to do but
put on his old clothes and take another
direction on my pony. I was feeling
pretty miserable about the loss of my
money-a little over seven thousand
dolars-and my watch, and l did not
feel any better by the time l reached
the sailrOad and jumped off my horse
at the station. l told my story, and
they telegraphed a description of the
man up and down the line, while l sat
in the waiting-room. 1 had made up
my mind that 1 should never see my
money again, but suddenly, under my
arm, resting at my side, left some
thing that seemed stitfer than the
cloth in the coat put my hand in.
and there was the wallet! He had put
it in his own clothes when he took
1t away from Inc. and in his hurry
had forgotten to change it back again
when he put on my suit.