Connecticut western news., 1906-12-20
THE MAN WITH THE
 ZEBRA WAISTG0AT
IOriginal.l

of the bank, who had sent for me to
 come to his private office, we have | S30,OO0 to go to NJ. today, and I have
 a mind to send it by you. Would you care to undertake the delivery?' didn't like the job, for we were in the far west, where desperadoes
 abounded, and if one of them suspect
 ed I had so large an amount with me
 murder would not stand i'll his way to possess it. But if I wished promotion l in the bank 1t would never do for me to finch at such an offer, which was
 really an order So I accepted the clarge.
 1 I left the bank with thirty $1,000 l L,lls in large pocketbook in the breast
 A.ocket of my coat Of course from the start I had my eye on everybody in sight, wondering if some one of them 1 was not intending to rob me. One per
 son arrested my attention from the pc l culiarity of his appearance. He was standing on the bank steps when I went out looking carelessly up the | street. He wore green spectacles, a very shabby dress suit and a plug hat.
 The most remarkable feature of | his apparel was a waistcoat with stripes resembling those of zebra. 1 He was evidently down on his luck and
 had picked up his clothes piecemeal, where he could find them cast off from their original owners. He paid no at- tention to me. Indeed, had no evi- dence that he was aware of my ex- istence.
 Going to my room, took a suit case full of clothes and on emerging noticed the man with the zebra waistcoat on the opposite side of the street looking in at shop window. His back was to me, and kept my eye on him till had turned a corner. In this way
 made sure he had not seen me come out of the house nor during my going away from it. Proceeding to the sta ton, I boarded the train, and as it
 rolled out the car door opened, and who should step in but the man with the zebra waistcoat.
 He gave me a glance as he took his seat, and I knew he had spotted me for a victim. But why this fantastic attire? Then it all rushed upon me suddenly. It was to attract my atten- tion from some confederate who was keeping me in sight and who doubt less had informed him of my proceed ing. --
 They could only have received the information of my bearing the money from some one in the bank who had let 1t out for gain or unintention- ally.
 My heart sank within me. But we are all natural gamblers, and I at once laid out a game for my money and my life. picked up my slit case, which had deposited on the floor, and held it on my lap. Then went to the water
 cooler for a drink, carrying the suit case with me. Next I changed my seat, never for a moment letting the
 suit case out of my hand. Finally l opened 1t, pretending to make sure as did so that no eye was upon me, and, thrusting my hand in between the clothing, gave evidence by my expres- sion that what I sought was there. ! Meanwhile an ugly looking man in ! woolen shirt and sombrero went and
 sat down by the man with the zebra
 waistcoat, and the latter gave him some piece of information which I
 was sure referred to the money being | in the suit case. Not feeling that my
 effort to throw the men off the scent
 would avail-for when they robbed me-
 not findinr tho money where they ex- 1 pected it, they would force me to pro- l duce it-I concluded to get of the | train at the first stop. I did so and 1 saw the two men standing on the plat ! form as well. As the train moved on
 I stepped aboard. and my followers
 re-entered at the other end of the car.
 I looked about me to scc If there
 was any one on whom could rely for
 help. There were not half a dozen
 persons, and they would all be fright
 ened out of their wits the moment the
 attack was made. l saw my enc
 mics consulting earnestly and felt sure
 the blow was about to fall. The train
 was running through a sparsely set ! tied country. While looking out of the
 window I saw a short distance ahead
 man standing in field holding three
 horses. Suddenly the man with the
 zebra waistcoat sprang up, seized the
 bell cord and pulled it vigorously. It
 happened that at the same time the
 conductor came into the car for tick
 cts. The brakes were put on, and the
 train slowed up. The conductor, see
 ing no reason for stopping, angrily
 gave Il signal to proceed.
 Like whirlwind the two men dash
 ed past me and as they did so seized
 my suit case. Carrying it with them,
 they jumped off the train just as 1t
 was moving on with accelerated speed.
 I saw them run for the horses. All
 mounted, and as they dashed away
 the man with the zebra waistcoat held
 the suit case aloft triumphantly and
 waved his plug hat.
 I explained the matter to no one,
 keeping my secret till I had delivered
 the money and returned, when 1 told