The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-08-29
Copyright By y. L. Nelson

which he had sent out and borrowed
from time TO time. Then he became
bit reckless-he was pretty drunk,
too-and lost $4,000 on one hand. He
quit the game. and said he'd give a
check for the $4,000. He dashed off a
check in hurry, like an angry, drunk.
en- man, and said that no would give
us another battle the next day.
Then Chris made a big mistake
He raised the $4,000 check to $50 900
by putting In letter and cipher
He presented It to the bank and asked
to have It certified, but the cashier
refused to certify It 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.
THE foxy colonel did not make the
defense Chris expected but set up
instead that the check was u forg.
cry. We bluffed It out and the case
came to trial Chris went on tho
stand, told the story OF tho game, and
claimed that tho $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. substantlated
Chris story. but also had to go
through the same searching cross-ex-
animation. After Wentworth mad told
his story to the jury about giving an
IS, 200 check. which no was willing to
pay. they brought In a verdict against
Chris.
Chris left the courtroom IN white
heat. He didn't say anything to me
till We got TO the hotel. Then he flew
at me like n tiger and knocked me
down with the butt OF his revolver.
He accused mo OF giving tho informa-
ton about our trip to Wentworth's
lawyer. | denied It, and said 1t must
have been done by Seymour, who had
disappeared; but Chris had It 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: THE next time we meet,
Sinclair, I'll kill you!'
"'Ali right said /, I'll DO looking
for you
'He went his way and l went mine.
II was five years before I 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
met him one night about nine O'Clock
face to face at Fifth street and the
Bowery. l watched him like q cat.
He had an ugly look, and drew gun
like a flash. was close to him and he
flashed It in my face. Before no could
pull the trigger again drove knife
into his heart
"As he staggered back no cried: Tt
Isn't loaded, jack Then he fell
dead.
Il picked up the gun as It fell from
his nerveless fingers. Sure enough.
there was no load In II. knew too
late that Chris was only blufilng
looked around The streets were
crowded and the Bowery, at that cor
ner fairly we'll liphtad put We Wpra
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: II has all passed SO
quietly and so quickly.
Half crazed by what had done,
walked hurriedly away. In less than
half IN hour was on board q train
speeding for the west.