Rocky Ford enterprise., 1912-08-30
Copyright By F. l. Nelson

which he had sent out and borrowed
a bit reckless-he was pretty drunk,
too-and lost $4,000 on one hand. He
quit the game. and said he'd give
check for the $4,000. He dashed off a
check in hurry, like an angry, drunk
en- man, and said that he would give
us another battle the next day.
"Then Chris made big mistake.
He raised the $4,000 check to $4,000
by putting in a letter and cipher.
He presented 1t to the bank and asked
to have 1t certified, but the cashier
refused to certify 1t without first see
ing Colonel Wentworth. The colonel
denied that he had given any such
check. This started up Chris temper.
and he began suit against Colonel
Wentworth in the courts of st. Louis
to recover the amount of the check.
1.-THE foxy colonel did not make the
defense Chris expected, but set up
instead that the check was a forg-
cry. We bluffed 1t out and the case
came to trial Chris went on the
stand, told the story of the game. and
claimed that the $4,000 was given for
money which he had loaned to Went
worth during the play. He told a
pretty story, but on the cross-examin-
alton the colonels lawyer went for
him bare-handed. The lawyer had
got some knowledge Of our swindling
trip, and asked questions concerning
the most intimate relations between
Chris and myself. 1 substantiated
Chris story, but also had to go
through the same searching cross-ex-
animation. After Wentworth had told
his story to the Jury about giving an
$4,000 check. which he was willing to
pay, they brought in a verdict against
Chris.
Chris left the courtroom in a white
heat He didn't say anything to me
till we got to the hotel. Then he flew
at me like a tiger and knocked me
down with the butt OF his revolver.
He accused me of giving the informa-
tion about our trip to Wentworth's
lawyer. / denied 1t. and said 1t must
have been done by Seymour. who had
disappeared; but Chris had 1t in for
me for some reason. and would have
shot me II he had not been interfered
with. As he was dragged away from
me, he said: 1.-THE next time We meet.
Sinclair. I'll kill you!'
"'AIl right said /, I'll be looking
for you
HE went his way and went mine.
It was I'VE years before landed back
in New York. knew Chris was in
the city, and II we ever met he'd keep
his word.
About a month after I arrived 1
met him one night about nine o'clock
face to face at Fifth street and the
Bowery. l watched him like a cat.
He had an ugly look. and drew gun
like a flash. was close to him and he
flashed 1t in my face. Before he could
pull the trigger again / drove a knife
into his heart.
"As he staggered back he cried: 1T
isn't loaded. Jack!' Then he fell
dead.
81 picked up the gun as 1t fell from
his nerveless fingers. Sure enough.
there was no load in 1t. / knew too
late that Chris was only bluffing. l
looked around. The streets were
crowded and the Bowery. at that cor
ner, fairly well lighted. But we were
away from the gas lamp. and no one
was very near US. Strange as 1t seems.
not a person In the crowd had seen
the alteration; 1t has all passed SO
quietly and SO quickly.
"Half crazed by what I had done, 1
walked hurriedly away. In less than
half an hour was on board a train
speeding for the west.