The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1911-03-16
A Sudden
Transformation
By r. W. KEENAN,
Copyright BY American Press Assoc
citation 1911

1 went from America to South
Africa. leaving my wife and children
AZ home. / was run down IN health.
discouraged and felt that the only
way 10 pluck up courage and get on
my feet was 70 light out. leave all
cares behind me and strike a new
deld. Ny wife's father-an excellent
man. BY the way-agreed TO take care
Of my family TN could send Tor them
or return TO them restored IN health
and pluck.
left America sick and disheartened.
A man sick Is usually man dlsheart-
ened. and when be Is Obliged to go
away by himself TO recover his health
be feels as n the bottom has dropped
out Of his life. / never expected 70 see
0y family again. However, the sea
voyage helped me. and by the time
reached Africa 1 felt able 10 do some
thing for myself.
/ went to work IN the Kimberley dia-
mond mines. where ! learned 10 tell
diamond when / saw IL. no matter II
IL was IN the rough. One day IN walk
ing across a field ! saw one and recog-
nized Il AZ once. II was a. big as a
small English walnut and about the
same shape. / pouneec upon IL. look
ed II over and. sure / was right about
Il being a diamond. put Il IN my
pocket Even II OF a poor grade II
would make me rich.
! made up my mind TO return 20
America with my ind SO. procuring
a little channels skin bag. ! put the
diamond IN Il. first marking my name
on the bag In ink. Then ! took a trav-
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-
fioD One was a big. rough looking
man. who sat beside me. noticeable
Tor bis vlllainous appearance. The
other was q little man IN the garb or
cnrnfe Of the English church. he
was reading his prayer book most OF
the time. seeming 10 be only interested
IN holy matters. q typical British par
son Of the inferior grade. one Of those
miserable creatures who for some dirty
work done q lord gets a living. though
this one. being IN Africa. Il appeared
more likely that be was a missionary
clergyman.
hadn't been sitting long By the big,
rough man. whose accent marked him
Tor a Yorkshire man. when I thought
Of my diamond. which was ~ one OF /
my pockets next 10 him. I ciapped my /
hand on the place where Il should be.
and. 10. Il was gonel
I knew Il bad passed into The pos
session Of the Yorkshireman. But
what was I 70 dor / was unarmed.
and I could see the butt Of his pistol
extending from bis hip pocket look
"a over the passengers 20 see n there
was one could rely on to help me in
case ! should accuse the man and
claim my property. But two Of them
were womqp. and the men In the
coach. except the two ] have men
toned. were weakly chaps. who ap-
peared 70 have very little stun IN
them. There seemed nothing for me
to do but wait fiil we got to the end
OF the route. keep the man IN sight az
al hazards and take my chances for
an opportunity 10 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 Il. Suddenly the wagon
was stopped by a single man. who or
dered us al out and 10 line np. as
road agents do IN western America.
Only the curate refused. and be ap.
reared 10 do 20 from abject coward
Ice. Retrcatlng 70 a far corner, be
begged the robber not 20 kin him.
The robber threatened 10 do 50 II he
ildn't get out at once. but the clergy.
nan only whlmpered and covered his
face with his hands The robber.
his revolver 10 his left
hand. entered the wagon. seized the
title man by the collar with his right
land and was pulling him out when
sharp crack rang out and the robber
Ell hack out Of the wagon dead.
n there was any life left IN him Il
Vas knocked out by the curate, who
Jumped on him with both feet
lever saw a small man grow big 80
quickly IN my life The next thing he
lid was to plant his nst under the
aw OF the Yorkshireman. who. re.
covering from the surprise OF the cpl
ode. was putting his hand to his hip
or his revolver The big man did not
AVE time to get up before the carato
vas on him, hammering him in the
ace with n Derringer. Having stunned
i'm. he took a pair Of handouts out
+ his pocket and clappcd them on his
wrists.
"what can do for your" I asked :
I the parson.
sect things IN order TO 90 on. I'm
ack sharp Of Scotland Yard. This J
nan was the others pard. have been
him to take him to England. !
saw him rob you. and knew he was
ere to help the other
I did rs he directed. got the driver
ITO place. and. finding some rope un.
er scat. Jack sharp bound the