The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-02-12

OH tho board And You need not take my word
either For l should not be sitting here now lf had
not proceeded deliberately and with eyes wide open"
Telling the Tale.
Laxton content to hold his peace as the master
paused and presently the level uninected voice began
again.
Ernst Won Null was one of the most formidable
members In the profession long before YOU were a
member, LaXton. He was, often thought a reyeT-
sion to the type of his ancestors six centuries
aso-hard drinking, brutal black avsed barons of
Wanchia, who swept from their buzzards nest Of 4
castle and took toll of gold and death where they
might Won Null came here with his title his Heidc
berg diploma and fat letter of credit his grip He
used them all, bought house In n side street of
Madison avenue and settled comfortably into really
good society.
"lIe became n member of two first class clubs aud
circulated lie pleased for there was no question
that he all he pretended to be- lie did not
go back to Europe What held him here what pres
sure had forced him 10 take the value of his estate
and cXpatriate himself. matter he never re-
veaed For the rest of his outward seeming he was
a handsome. bearded chap OF military carriage some
thing undcrsized, 0uent talkcr and sportsman of
note His game shooting trips into the Hudson Bay
territory supplied material for many yarn. and his
accuracy with rifle and revolver was well known.
He was also famed as an amateur athlete,
Twice in the course of my little adventures the
Baron had fallen under my eye In way that aroused
my suspicion When the BurGcon diamond robbery
occurred had him nailed This offspring of ancient
blue blood this quiet popular, keen eyed sportsman,
was crook, skilled and dangerous one. He at
tractcd me tremendously. There was something
sharply stimulating to the Imagination in the anou,-
ally he presented. l began to study him closely. He
took great deal of studying, and wnen | had hin,
unearthcd he stood before me, rs / have said per
feet example of reycrsion
1T was very thin that the centuries had
spread upon the OF Waachian borons The
was essentially a savage, turning to plllagc as his
nature prompted. If he could not Swoop down upon
the highways with rapacious at arms behind
him to levy contribution, he could have a hand In
many modern equivalent exploits. And meanwhile
he was happicst In the company Of thugs,
The most distinctive trait Of this pure predacean
was his craving for the society OF who possessed
appettes and passions like his He the only
SIX stocking crook knew who did not hold back
his skirts from the association OF others who preyed
upon society. Won Null revclled in 1t, waowcd In il
IF ever man lived double life it was the Baron,
JekylI and Hydc fashion. Only the Baron Grim
ina in both ncarnationS In one he robbed the houses
to which he had free admItnnce; In The other hs
sandbaSged drunks for quarter. All grist thnt
came to his mill. L traced two murders TO him and
suspect him OF several lie without
donbt the strangest figure In contemporary criminal
history, and In his way among the most successful.
lie never was found either end OF the string,
ana suppose | am the only person alive who
knew tho truth, Baron Won Null Is sull remembered
among the clubs. and Dutch Ernc is a name still
known in the obscure circles where he passed for
strong arm.
= From what have said you must have gathered
that Won Null had u method OF switching himself
h'io the depths at Will When Fifth avenue becnnc
rSsome or the business Of robblng people who trust
cd hllD was dull he took turn at mDg!inG with tue