Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-11

ginning to put on a semicivilized garb
similar change OF necessity came
over the outlaws we had to deal with.
The horse stealing industry was not
as profitable as 1t had been aud was
better taken care of by those who had
horses to lose. Wholesale robbery had
become less lucrative. since more bust
ness was done by means of checks on
banks and less with gold dust The
grub desperate was being transformed
into the butterfly confidence man,
But before he ceased 70 be desper
ado he began TO devote himself TO con-
fidence games. In other words. he was
both. We had one man in our region
who was the most dreaded of the
many who had terrorized us and was
at the same time the most artful swim
dler. His real name was not known,
though many OF the names he used
were on record with the sheriff. There
fore he acquired the sobriquet Of The
Eel. He had an especial fancy for as
Stunning different characters He once
made a fine haul by personating
capitalist out from the east looking
over the ground with a view to estab-
fishing a bank. On another occasion
he represented himself as an agent Of
the poStoffice department. In this he
was not so successful. for he was
caught before realizing any plumber.
But he did not hesitate to Kill the man
who caught him, and nothing was
gained in the affair by law and order.
One day a man rode into town who
said that The Eel was mHsquerading
in the region through which he had
passed as Methodist minister. When
asked how he knew the fellow was
The Eel he said he had met the minis
ter and at once knew him for The Eel,
whom he had seen.
| had done some work as deputy
sheriff for which had been commend
ed and was asked II I would under
take the Job OF going out to try and
bring in The Eel, dead or alive.
think the preference was for dead,
since alive meant trial and a posi-
bility of the prisoners escape either
by lack OF evidence or an artful dodge.
l sIgnified my assent, determining that
] would fight fire with fire. In other
words. | would play a part. just as
The Eel was playing part
donned a black broadcloth suit and
white cravat intending to pass myself
off for a missionary collecting funds
for the board of foreign missions. We
had had such n man among us recent
". and succeeded in getting some
printed documents he had left behind
him. These I read carefully in order
to be able to talk intelligently on the
subject of foreign missions. Mounted
on the meekest looking horse | could
find. my saddlebags filed with the
printed matter. DerrinGer pistol sluhg
in each coat sleeve by an elastic cord.
| started ont to find The Eel.
was obliged TO travel fifty miles be-
fore found him. but was not dis
pleased to get so far from home that I
would not very likely he recognized.
Though usually wore beard. was
now clean shaved tracked The Eel
to a town that was quite civilized for
that region and found him at work
raising funds for the ostersible pur-
pose of building n church. He had
( been invited to stop with one of the
most respectable citizens and was evil
IDENTITY on the way to make an excellent
| scoop.
| inquired as to those citizens who
| We're most interested in The EeGs
church building scheme and. selecting
one. Abuer Smith. called upon him. in
troduced myself as James Ridgeway,
misSionar; in India. and. telling him
that | had come among the people OF
the town 20 raise funds for foreign mis-
siGnS. asked his assistance He re-
piled that had arrived at an inoppOr-
tame time. since an effort had been
started by the Rev. Mr. SwartOut. who
/ had also recently come TO town to build
| n church | suggested that Mr.. Swarts
out and might possibly work toGeth-
err since we were both in the same
service. and would like Mr.. Smith to
I bring us together. He consented and
! with the usual western hospitality in
vited me to be his guest during my
stay I'm the town.
! That same afternoon | was intro
duced to the Rev. Mr.. SwartOut. whom
/ at once recognized As The Eel by a
/ description Of him | had secured be-
( fore leaving home. He was a rather
/ tall. sharp faced man, with black hair.
which he wore quite long His eve
was a steel gray. and on meeting one
/ of his own pretended calling he looked
/ through it with suspicion which
| though not noticed by others present
was not lost on me. But !, at once set
/ about convincing the reverend gentle
/ man that he had nothing to fear frOTa
me. especially in his church building
( enterprise. by Offering to work with
/ him in his own scheme.
! let us first lay the foundation" /
! said earnestly. ''by building church
| for these good people. After the church
+ is finished there will be ample time 70
/ do something in missionary work. Fer
my part. shall not attempt TO raise
any funds here. but will gladly re.
main for a few days and give you al
the assistance in my power
] could see his thought in his ere.
/ At first he was disposed to get rid Of
me. fea ring he might not he able IN
make a dupe 0T me. linen IL occurred
| 10 him that he might thrnvr rnon my