The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-03-14
S-THR0UGH QUICKSAND
FOR D0BBIN.

IN human form, has lost much of its
significance through over use in de-
scrloing people whom Fate has seen fit
to afflict with abnormal capacities for
rage. Yet il serves very aptly as a
Word-picture of Wild Dobbin, when
that irritable individual gave way to
the tempests of passion which so fire.
quently engulfed him. He won the
nickname by flying into fits of rage and
chasing those near him helter-skelter,
while he pursued with club or gun or
whatsoever he laid his hands upon.
Dobbin was about so years old, five
Feet nine inches tall, with a sandy
beard. Despite his age he possessed
unusual strength and activity, and was
an ugly antagonist for many a man of
half his years to try conclusions with.
What made him particularly dangerous
was his utter disregard of consequences
when in search Of revenge upon anyone
who might have incurred his enmity. A
famous writer has placed himself on
record by stating that. in a hand-to-
hand encounter, man who doesn't care
whether he is killed or not has a de-
cided advantage over an opponent who
has slight prejudice in favor of liv-
ing; and consequently the reputation
for fanatical fury which Dobbin pos
sessed went far toward causing him to
who came in contact with him. In ad-
dition 20 these agreeable qualities, DOH
bin was thoroughly INSCRIPTIONS and
would stop at nothing where his own
interests were involved. He was al
ways on the lookout for a chance to
outwit somebody, and being a master
of trickery very often succeeded in
turning things 20 his own financial ad-
vantage.
IL was the cunning execution of one
OF these carefully planned tricks that
led to his sudden departure from the
district of Muskoka. There had come
from the old country one John Brock
enridge, a ScOtchman. who had some
money and fancied that the agrikuI-
turaI business was just the thing to
suit him. As a general rule the Scotch
are canny, careful creatures who want
TO know exactly what the prospects are
before they take any chances on the
investment of money. But Brecken-
rdge seems TO have been of an easy
going disposition, which is not q desira-
BILE quality, or weakness, in an adven-
turer seeking his fortune in strange
country.
In the first place, he knew nothing of
farming, and man who thinks that he
can become a tilier of the ground and
reap a rich harvest therefrom without
having had any previous experience is
pretty sure TO run I'D against a snag
during the early stages of his venture
IN the second place, if Breckenridge had
maze caret'1 inquiries concerning Wild
Doobin, he would probably have learned
enough about that odd gentleman 10
nave kept him from getting into a most
undesirable tangle. There were plenty
OF folks in the neighbOrhood who would
nave been only too willing to discuss
the shortcomings of the said Dobbin
with the newly arrived innocent from
the land Of cakes. and given the latter
a few useful pointers regarding the
character OF the schemer with whom he
proposed to deal.
But if any counsel was offered RrecLx-
enrldge by outsiders il is certain that he
tailed to profit by il. For coming to
the district of Muskoka the worthy
scot made up his mind to settle near
BfaceDTldge- He looked upon the land
and saw that il was good and also
saw himself In anticipation q farmer of
Wondrous skill, winning heavy fnan-
clai rewards through the coming crons
when sold easily in generous market.
10 WIG Dobbin, watching with spider
IKE care for easy marks. came tho
welcome tidings that there ras 49,
arrival in the vicinity who was desiro,,s
OF purchasing a farm, and pobbin was
not the kind of a man who ajIovrs graes
10 grow under his feet for lack of ac-
ton.
wherefore, it followed that Brecken-
TIuSer musfng over the golden possibiIi-
ties that farm-life in Canada held for
hlifl' received visit from Wild Doh
Olh' VINO came with very satisfactory
PioPosats. The Scotchman wanted a
Iarm, and Dobbin had q farm to coll
n. 2nnpZ rad a.
Tor the new arrivals money TTba3
could nave been more fortunate under
me circumstances? For Dobbin was NOT
disposed TO exact hard terms. such as
money all down Immediately on n,,r-
chase No, the terms would he n,ado =
SUIT Mr.. breckenridge convenience. .II
Doooln wanted him to do right avav
was TO come and see the farm RrecIr-
1iuse went viewed the land and was
oS.isileo. he paid Dobbin part cash
ana gave him note for the balance
pending the arrival of a remittaros
from the old country.
60 lar, all was smooth sailing The
farm suited Breckenridge ana Dobbio
iao proved most accommodating E,,t
When the note for the balance o., 80
purchase came due, Dobbin infor,,sa,S
brecKenTidge that he had lost the no.
ana made affidavit to that effect
tii5 honest ScOfcbDau
promptly paid his creditor the amo,I,,t
OF the note. Then DobbiD ,-sris,.lls
from his accustomed haunfs ana -
seen no more in the vicinity Of r.
bridge. After he disappeared il tr.,,e
plred That instead Of losing tho mote h.
hao sod IL TO man who gave IL To m
other man to collect, and The Istto,
sued Breckenridge for the value ~ ~
note and got judgment. PAVING = AZ.
twice over is not form of recro.tt-,s
winch appeals favorably to MANY Too
pie, and IT did not suit the taste 80 a..
indignant Scotchman. He saw tbst ~
mac oeen swindled by the artfuI nj,
DIN. and applied to the government e.
redress The authorities reenor,,ios
promptly by sending John Wilson M
ray 10 the scene; having instructeI
that astute detective to follow Dobt;,,
ana bring him back to Justice no n,,t
ter what the cost might be.
Murray first interviewed Rreoa-.
ridge, and heard HIS tale of Voc rTba, |
he paid visit TO Dobbin's old homo =,
Braceoridge, but found no trace Of bir,
Neltner did anyone i'm the vicinity ar.
pear TO know just when he had 80.
away or whether he was IikeIv 70 =,
turn This general lack of informatio,,
among the neighbors was not slIrnris-
ing, Tor Dobbin was never remark ~.
Iof social qualities, and possessed -,
friend In whom he would have baer 90