The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1909-07-08
w
|gGaaI

away out IN
Manitoba, 20 miles beyond Winni-
peg. The familiar phrase, q iend in
human form. has lost much Of its sig
nfhcance through over use in describ-
Ing people whom Fate has seen at to
nf1ict with abnormal capacities for
rage. Yet il serves very aptly as a
Eord-picture Of Wild Dobbin. when
nhat irritable individual gave way TO
The tempests Of passion which 20 fire.
aquently engulfed him. He won the
nickname by flying into fits Of rage
and chasing those near him heller
SHELTER. while he pursued with club OF
gun OF whatsoever he laid his hands
upon.
II was the cunning execution of n
of these carefully planned tricks that
led 20 his sudden departure from the
district Of Muskoka. There had come
from the old country one John Brock
enridge. a scotehman. who had some
money and fancied that the agricul
tural business was just the thing to
suit him. AS a general rule the
Scotch are canny, careful creatures
Who wan TO know exactly what the
prospects are before they take any
chances on the investment Of money.
But Breckenridge seems to nave been,
of an ~easy-going disposition. which is
not a desirable quality. or weakness.
In an %adventurer seeking his fortune
in a strange country.
But II any counsel was offered
Breckenridge by outsiders it is certain
that he failed to profit by it. For com
Eng TO the district Of Muskoka the
worthy Scot made up his mind to set
tle near B~racebridge. He looked upon
the land. and saw that II was good"
and also saw himself in anticipation
farmer Of wOndrous skill. winning
heavy financial rewards through the
coming of crops which sold easily in a
generous market To Wild Dobbin,
watching with spider-Iike care for
easy marks. came the welcome tidings
that there was a new arrival in the
vicinity who vas DESTROYS Of purchas-
ing a farm and Dobbin was not the
kind OF man who allows grass to grow
under his feet for lack of action.
SO far. all was smooth sailing. The
farm suited Breckenridge and Dobbin
had proved most accommodating. But
when the note for the balance on the
purchase came due, Dobbin informed
Breckenridge that he had lost the note.
and made affidavit 10 that effect
ThereupOn the honest Scotehman
promptly paid his creditor the amount
of the note. Then Dobbin vanished
from his accustomed haunts and was
seen no more in the vicinity Of Brace
bridge. After he disappeared It tran.
,Bpired that instead Of losing the note
he had sold II to a man who gave Il
TO another man to collect, and the
Astter sued Breckenridge for the value
of the note and got judgment Paying
a debt twice over is not a form OF re-
creation which appeals favOrably to
many people. and it did not suit the
taste Of the indignant Scotchman. He
saw thai he had been swindled by the
Artful Dobbin. and applied to the gov
ernment for redress. The authorities
responded promptly by sending John
Wilson Murray % the scene: having
Instructed that astute detective to fol-
low Dobbin and bring him back 10
Justice, no matter what the cost might
be.
Murray first interviewed Brecken.
ridge. and heard his tale Of woe Then
he paid a visit to Dobhin's old home AZ
B~racebridge. but found no trace OF
him, Neither did anyone in the vi.
entity appear 10 know just when be
had gone away or whether he was
likely 20 return. This general lack
of information among the neighbOrA
was not surprising. for Dobbin was
never remarkable for social qualities,
and possessed no friend IN whom he
would have been apt TO eonhde. Muir
ray did not lose patience. however, and
continued making inquiries here and
there until at last he learned that
Dobbin's sister had gone away some
time before and had bought a ticket
10 Winnipeg. Through a friend OF the
sister in Winnipeg he as~certained that
she had gone to Morris, az that time
the end OF that branch OF the Ca
madam Pacific railroad. M at Norris
she had disappeared
The tran left by this womsn seemed
40 the detective 10 be the one most
likely 10 lead 70 her brother, and he
determined 10 follow II. Having pro-
cured a warrant. he started for Morris.
and arrived there on a sliding hot
day In July, 1883. A careful search
fcr some trace OF John Dobbin In ne
town OF Morris proved IL vain. aud
Murray dscs1e6 % try the open oun
tFy beyOa6 no Hsd river. Alone he
began his pilgrimage afoot walking
Cor three miles down the river banks
and asking AZ every house be came %
whether any OF the occupants knew