The National tribune., 1910-11-10
The REIGN OF THE VIGILANCE COMMITTEE
By ROBERT NORRIS PECK, Alias Number 27."
Copyright, 1907, by Robert Morris Peck)

When Higginbotham began making
this announcement jeff Davis had start
ed for the door; but on hearing it he
stopped, and as an excuse for delaying
to hear what was said, began asking
Of the clerk the prices of some things
| on the shelves behind the counter.
keenly alive to every suspicious move
l noticed his maneuvers, and watched
him closely to see what effect Higgin-
botham's imprudent speech would have
on him; and i saw that he was more
deeply interested in my answer than
he was in the prices Of things he was
asking.
Higginbotham was totally innocent OF
any suspicious of any one. and had no
idea that he was embarrassing me; but
his stating publicly, in the hearing OF
such miscellaneous assembly of rough
men that 1 was TO start up North
shortly, carrying money for him, would
have been imprudent in the extreme al
any time: and was doubly so under eX-
isting circumstances in this lawless COM
munity.
1 felt vexed at him, and answered
somewhat roughly:
Pm not going up North at all, Hig-
ginbotham. I'm going to stay right
here. I've made arrangements to send
while / stay and finish up my house.
You'll have to send your money by some
one else"
He seemed very much surprised and
disappointed at my reply, and returned:
That's pretty way to serve a fell
| low. l was fully depending on your
promise to take that money up for me
and get me some more goods and II you
amt going, now, it will set me back ter
ribly. i may not get another chance
to send money for some time"
Cant help it," / replied, doggedly,
I'm not going to leave here at all.
You'll have to get some one else to take
your money"
UnsuspiciOus HigginbOtham.
Not till had rendered this as my
| final decision did jeff Davis cease ask
ing prices of things behind the counter
that / knew he had no interest in-for
he really seemed more alive TO what |
was saying than anything else-and go
out, followed by his brother-in-law,
Armstrong
After he was gone several of the other
loafers sauntered out; and when the
store was comparatively empty Higgin-
botham came at me again Tor an eX-
planation of my sudden change of plan.
See here. Peck" he said anxiousy,
what does this mean? You have said
all along that you were going to Law
renee in a few days, and would take
that money up, and go on to Leaven-
worth and order some more goods for
me. What has happened to change
your plans SO suddenly"
Reckoning him off to the farther end
of the room, l answered him:
.'Higginbotham, is, ii possible that
you have not become aware that there
is gang OF robbers and murderers OPP
Grating in our community, and that
you have not suspected that JEFF Davis
and Doc Armstrong. are connected
with these crimes?"
Il have heard of the crimes COM
mitted in our neighborhood," he re-
piled in astonishment but surely you
are not in earnest about suspecting
these men. Why, they are two Of my
best customers. They buy literally
and always come around and settle
up. / consider them perfectly honest
and reliable. True" he added reflect
lively, they do not always seem to have
the ready cash; but now and then,
when they are flush, they come in and
pay up. Their credit is good with me
for anything they want"
Yes l replied, they, have plenty of
money, now and then, and spend it
freely. There's the rub. Where do you
suppose they get their money that
seems to come occasionally? They have
no properly or cattle TO sell; no visible
source from which TO derive an income;
do not gamble; how could they acquire
that money?"