The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-06-06
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; THE MAN WETH TIE
ZEBRA tJAESTG0AT
[Original.7
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100000 to go to NJ. today, and l have
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 had SO large an amount with me
murder would not stand in his way to
possess it. But If wished promotion
In the bank it would never do for me
to finch at such an offer, which was
really an order So l accepted the
charge.
left the bank with thirty $1,000
bills in large pocketbook in the breast
pocket of my coat. OF course from the
start I had my eye on everybody in
sight, wondering If some one of them
was not intending to rob me. One per-
BON arrested my attention f:'onl tie pc
culiarity of his appearance, He was
standing on the bank step when
went out looking care!essly W the
street. He wore green spectacles,
very shabby dress suit and plug
hat.
The most remarkable feature of
his apparel was waistcoat with
stripes resembling those Of zebra
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 evil
dence that he was aware of my ex-
istence
Going to my room, took 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
I had turned corner. In this way l
made sure he had not seen me come
out of the house nor during my going
away from it. Proceeding to the sta
ton, l 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 l knew he had spotted me
for victim. But why this fantastic
attire? Then it all rushed upon me
suddenly. 1t was to attract my atten.
ton 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 it out for gain or unintention-
ally.
My heart sank within me. But we
are all natural gamblers, and at once
laid out game for my money and my
life. I picked up my suit case, which I
had deposited on the floor, and held it
on my lap. Then l went to the water
cooler for drink, carrying the suit
case with me. Next l changed my
seat, never for moment letting the
suit case out Of my hand. Finally
opened it, pretending to make sure as
did 50 that no eye was upon me, and,
thrusting my hand in between the
sion that what I sought was there.
Meanwhile an ugly looking man in a
wooden 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 finding the money where they ex-
pected it. they would force me to pro-
duce it concluded to get off the
train at the first stop. I did SO and
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 see if there
was any one on whom I 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 sparse1y set
tied country. While looking out Of the
window I saw 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. 1t
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, angr1ly
gave a signal to proceed.
Like a 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 it
was moving on with accelerated speed
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.
/ explained the matter to no one,
keeping my secret till had delivered
fho Al