Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1911-03-17
A Sudden !.
transformation /.
By r. w. KEENAN,
Copyright by American Press Asso-
ciatiOn 1911
By r, w. KEENAN,

| went from America to South
Africa. leaving my wife and children
at h-oe. | was run down in health.
discouraged and felt that the only
way to pluck up courage and get on
my feet was to light out. leave all
cares behind me and strike new
field. My wife's father-an excellent
man, by the way-agreed to take care
Of my family till could send for them
or return to them restored in health
and pluck.
left America sick and disheartened.
A man sick is usually man disheart-
ened. and when he is obliged to go
away by himself to recover his health
he feels as if the bottom has dropped
out of his life | never expected to see
my family again. However, the sea
voyage helped me. and by the time
reached Africa | felt able to do some
thing for myself.
went to work in the Kimberley dia
mond mines, where l learned to tell a
diamond when l saw it, no matter if
it was in the rough. One day in walk
ing across d field saw one and recog-
nized it at once. 1t was as big as
small English walnut and about the
| same shape. / bounced upon it, look
| ed it over and, sure was right about
! pocket Even if Of poor grade it
! would make me rich.
| | made up my mind to return to
! America with my find. 50, procuring
a little channels skin bag, | put the
diamond in it, first marking my name
| on the bag in ink. Then took tray-
! cling wagon for the coast.
There were half a dozen of us trav-
| cling together, but only two Of my
| fellow passengers attracted my atten-
| ton One was big, rough looking
man, who sat beside me. noticeable
| for his vilIainous appearance. The
| other was a little man in the garb Of
a curate of the English church. He
was reading his prayer book most Of
the time, seeming to be only interested
in holy matters. a typical British par
son Of the inferior grade, one of those
! miserable creatures who for some dirty
work done a lord gets a living. though
this one, being in Africa, it appeared
more likely that he was a missionary
clergyman.
hadn't been sitting long by the big,
rough man. whose accent marked him
| for a Yorkshire man. when | thought
of my diamond, which was in one Of
my pockets next to him. clapped my
hand Oh the place where it should be,
and, 10, it was gone!
[ knew it had passed into the pos
session of the Yorkshireman. But
what was to do? | was unarmed.
and could see the butt Of his pistol
extending from his hip pocket. / look
ed over the passengers to see if there
was one l could rely on to help me in
case | should accuse the man and
claim my property. But two of them
were women, and the men in the
coach, except the two have men
toned, were weakly chaps. who ap-
peared to have very little stuff in
them. There seemed nothing for me
to do but wait till we got to the end
Of the route, keep the man In sight at
all hazards and take my chances for
an opportunity to recover my diamond.
This decided on and did not show by
word or act that had been robbed.
The opportunity came sooner than
looked for it. Suddenly the wagon
was stopped by single man, who or
dered US all out and to line up, as
road agents do in western America
Only the curate refused. and he ap-
peared to do so from abject coward
ice Retreating to a. far corner. ne
begged the robber not to kill him.
The robber threatened to do so If he
didn't get out at once, but the clergy
man only whimpered and covered his
face with his hands. The robber
transferring his revolver to his left
hand, entered the wagon. seized the
little man by the collar with his right
hand and was pulling him out when
sharp crack rang out and the robbeI
fell back out of the wagon dead.
If there was any life left in him il
was knocked out by the curate, who
Jumped on him with both feet.
never saw small man grow big &c
quickly in my life. The next thing he
did was to plant his tist under the
jaw Of the Yorkshireman. who. re-
| covering from the surprise of the cpl
sode, was putting his hand to his hip
for his revolver. The big man did not
have time to get up before the curate
was on him. 1ammering him in the
face with Derringer. Having stunned
him, he took pair Of handouts out
Of his pocket and clapped them on his
wrists.
what can do for you?' ! asked
Of the parson.
Get thingn in order to 60 on. It I'm
Jack Sharp of Scotland Yard. This
man was the others pard. have been
following him to take him to England
saw him rob you. and knew he was
here to help the other"