The Nevada County picayune., 1909-06-10


 our company, although it was largely a matter of luck that brought about my success in that instance. l am firm believer in luck, for 1t plays an important part in every mans life, and It has figured to large extent in my own affairs. I am free to confess.
 "A daring express robbery had been committed In the western part of the state, near the Utah line, by three men. The messenger had been mur- dered and the passengers throughout the train robbed of all their money. The hold-up men secured something more than $15,000 from the express company's safe and fully $5,00O from the passengers. They took nothing but money, however, leaving valuable jewelry, diamonds and watches with their owners, and ignoring the parcels in the express car This circumstance showed that the gang was composed of experienced thieves, for money is the hardest thing in the world to trace
 ''I was notified of the robbery on the afternoon of the second day after it oc- cured, and although I hastened to the spot with all dispatch and made my arrangement by wire, it was Loon ot the third day before l alighted at the nearest station. Here 1 had arranged for two horses and a prospectors out fit, deeming it best to follow the ban dits in the disguise of miner, as the robbery had been made at point near the mining region of southwest ern Colorado, and 1 expected to find the criminals at some of the numer ous mining camps.
 T have never been a believer in disguises except as to clothing. All efforts 10 change the face with grease paints and wigs and the like only tend to attract attention and direct suspi- sion to the man thus logged out. The casual observer might not notice the deception, but the criminal, and espe- cially the hunted criminal, is no cas- ual observer. He has formed the habit of noticing everything, and he will detect the least false point in a mans appearance and shun him as if he were afflicted with the plague
 "A change of dress will work won ders in a mans appearance If a man can wear other clothes than those he is accustomed to, and wear them easily and naturally, he can more ef- fectually disguise himself by this means than he can with all the wigs and paints and whiskers in exist ence.
 Coming across the continental di- vide, l had suffered a slight attack of indigestion. l sent the porter after a flask of whisky, asking for a certain brand. He returned in a few minutes with one of the diminutive little bot ties customarily sold on sleeping cars at a quarter a bottle. It was not the kind I had ordered, but the porter eX- plained that this was the only brand of liquor the company sold, and I had to be ,content with it. The label of the bottle stated that it was put up expressly for the company.
 On reaching my destination, l i'm mediately assumed he character of miner and set about my inquiry. There was little information to be gathered beyond what was contained in the express company's report of the rob. bery, of which l had a carbon-copy. Satisfied that time spent here would be wasted, l set out for the scene of the robbery, riding a wiry little pony and leading another on which was packed my outfit of grub and cooking implements and miners tools.
 The place was d desOlate spot The road ran through broad alkali val ley which had not, at that time been brought under cultivation by irriga- tion It was easy to pick up the trail of bandits and follow it across the val ley in a southwesterly direction 10 the foothills of the Rockies, where the trail disappeared. the rocky ground leaving no trace of hoof-prints.
 From this point on it was to be a matter of luck and guesswork l be lieved my men had made for Telluride, Ouray, Silverton or some other mining camp, but was not rash enough to venture a guess as to which il might be at that stage of the game These camps, with their rough shifting pop ulation. offered capital retreats for criminals, and from past experiences knew that my three rogues would, in all probability, remain in one of these camps until the excitement from the robbery had subsided, and then make for civilization to spend their money.
 For three days l drifted at random through the mountains, following trails and paths, for there were no roads endeavoring to pick up some clew ol find the place where my party had spent the first night after the robbery The hold-up had occurred about noon and. by hard riding, the three high waymen could penetrate some ten ol