The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1912-10-17

drag, saw them pack the money ana.
other valuables into sack, put out
the lights and leave. The stranger
kept the constables from making an
attack at that time by explaining that
he had three assistants waiting near
the spot where their wagon was walt,
ing. BY going there the force would
be large enough to bag the whole;
gang without trouble. u.
"When the thieves came out the
stranger did not follow them, but went
in another direction. He quieted the,
suspicion of the constables by telling
them the thieves were going the
wrong way just to see if any one
wo lid follow them. BY hurrying they,
would reach the wagon before the
thieves and could lie in ambush for
them. The police walked rapidly for
few moments and then sharp whist
tie was heard. The stranger cried out
for all hands to get under cover, as
the thieves were coming toward them.
Everybody jumped into the shadow.
In few moments when the constables
hunted for the stranger he could not
be found. All the supplemented rural
police could hear was the clatter of a
team of horses going up the road,
fully half a mile away. They got a
team as soon as they could, but the
1t proved to be useless to follow them.
Not one of them had recognized, I'M
the smooth-faced young man who had
duped them, the woman sewing MAJ
chine agent
II got good description Of all the
thieves. While I had general idea
who was in the gang, I was not certain
until I made little more investiga7
ton. I dropped the gang altogetheE
and did not try to find what had be-
come Of them. I knew that 1t would
only be waste of effort after giving
them twelve-hour start. The only
one / was interested in was the WON,
an. / made up my mind from her de-
scription that knew her. but had to
verify it. This task took me to a
farm owned by Samuel Hooper, about
ten miles out of Pittsburgh. The
woman I was after was his wife. 1t
was just as suspected. She was not
: at home and Hooper had not heard
! from her for long time.
1T Is necessary to make little ex-
PLANTATION at this point. Peg Foster,
very clever thief, was convicted of
robbing hotels in Philadelphia several
years before. The papers had been full
of her beauty and innocence. Hooper,
| who was very eccentric chap, read
all about 1t. After Peg had been sent
to Jail he visited her, offered to marry
her and worked for her release If she
would promise to lead an honest life.
| She led Hooper along for several
months and then married him in Jail.
Hooper worked night and day for a
| year, and finally induced the COVER
| nor to pardon his wife. Everybody
aided Hooper in his efforts When he
took Mrs Hooper home he was prais-
ed for his philanthropy.
Il met Hooper several times and
took such an interest in the case that
visited Peg Foster in the peniten-
tiary and also at her home after she
got out of jail. She seemed quite
happy as farmers wife, but after six
months trial she went away with all
! of Farmer Hooper's spare cash.
| 81 put up little scheme with Hoop.
ers' consent I had story published
IN the Pittsburgh papers about Hoop
er's infatuation for Mrs. Hooper. It
stated that he was very sick and had
made will in which he had left an
estate of 100000 to her upon condi-
| ton that she appeared to claim 1t
within one year after his death. If
she did not appear the money was to
be used to build home for ex-con-
victs. The story was copied every
where. In two weeks it bore fruit in
the shape Of letter from Mrs. Hooper
to the farmer, begging to be forgiven
and promising to return and live with
him to the end of his days if he would
let her. 1t was a beautiful letter, and
could not have been better worded If
1t had come from broken heart.
II fixed up the answer for Hooper.
1t was directed to an address in West
18th street, New York. 1 started at
once for New York and telegraphed
Hooper to mail the letter after had
put plant upon the house, which had
long been suspected as fence for
stolen diamonds and jewelry. The let
ter told of Hooper's love for the wom-
an who had deceived him, and prom
Used her everything if she would re-
| turn.
The letter was delivered all right,
but 1t was not until the next day that
there were any developments. Then
my old friend. Peg Foster, turned up,
looking as sweet as rose. She went
away with the letter in her hand,
which showed that she was living liz
some other locality.
Il Swallowed her, with two assist,
ants, to Madison Square. She went to
house next door to the one occupied
by Judge Reilly. There was no sign