Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-06-13
My Lecture
on India
1t Achieved a Result Be-
yond What Was
Intended
By DONALD cHAr1BERLIN

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
When we of the wild west were be-
ginning to put on semicivilized garb
similar change of necessity came
over the outlaws we had to deal with.
The horse stealing industry was not
as profitable rs It had been and 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 to be desper-
ado he began to devote himself to con-
Hdence 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 tho same time the most artful SWIM
dler His reni 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 fine haul by personating a
capitalist out from the east looking
over the ground with view to estab
fishing bank On another occasion
he represented himself as an agent Of
the postofTice department In this he
hn a
caught before realizing any plumber.
But he did not hesitate to kill the man
who caught him, and nothing was
gained I'm the affair by law and order
One day man rode into town who
snid that The Eel was masquerading
In the region through which he had
passed as a 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 would under
take the job Of going out to try and
bring in The EEL dead or alive. l
think the preference was for dead,
since alive meant trial and q posi-
bility OF the prisoners escape either
by lack OF evidence or an artful dodge.
| signlfled my assent, determining that
| would fight fire with fire. In other
words, would play part, just as
The Eel was playing part.
donned n black broadcloth suit and
white cravat. intending to pass myself
of for missionary collecting funds
for the board of foreign missions. We
had had such n man among us recent
ly, and succeeded in getting some
printed documents he had left behind
him These | read carefully In order
to be able to talk lntelligently on the
subject of foreign missions. Mounted
on the meekest looking horse could
flnd my saddlebags filed with the
printed matter. Derringer pistol slung
In each coat sleeve by an elastic cord.
started out 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
would not very likely be recognized.
Though usually wore beard, l was
now clean shaved. tracked Tho Bel
to a town that was quite civilized for
that region and found him at work
raising funds for the ostensible pur-
pose OF building a church. He had
been invited TO stop with one Of the
most respectable citizens and was evil
IDENTIFY on the way to make an excellent
scoop.
inquired as to those citizens who
were most interested In The EePs
church building scheme and, selecting
one, Abner Smith. called upon him. in
trodnced myself as james Ridgeway,
missionary In India. and, telling him
that | had CONS among the people or
the town to raise funds for foreign mis-
sions. asked his assistance. He re-
piled that had arrived at an inoppor-
tune time. since an effort had been
started by the Rev. Mr.. Swartout, who
had also recently come to town to build
a church. | suggested that Mr.. Swart-
out and might possibly work togeth-
er, since we were both in the same
service, and I would like Mr.. Smith TO
bring US together. He consented and
with the usual western hospitality In
vited me 10 be his guest during my
stay in the town.
That same afternoon was intro
duced to the Rev. Mr.. Swartout, whom
I at once recognized as The Bel by a
description of him had secured be-
fore leaving homo. He was rather
tall, sharp faced man, with black hair.
which he wore quite long. His eye
was a steel gray, and on meeting one
Of his own pretended calling no looked
through II with a suspicion which.
though not noticed by others present,
was not lost on me. But / Mt once set
Ibout convincing the reverend gentle
man that he had nothing TO fear from
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 a church
for these good people. After the church
IL finished there will be ample time to
10 something in missionary work. For
ny part, shall not attempt TO raise
my funds here. but will gladly re.
main for few days and give you all
he assistance In my power"
! could see his thought in his eye.
AZ first he was disposed TO get rid Of
ne fearing he might not he abla N