Bridgeton pioneer., 1915-08-26
Twice
Married
But the Second Wedding Was Very
Different From the First.
By WILLARD BLAKEMAN

1t had been given him to denote that
he was extremely slippery. He had
been cornered a number of times, but
on each and every occasion he had
slipped through the fingers Of those
who were attempting to hire him. He
had victimized both men and women.
especially winning the latter without
half trying. He had married a number
of them. got possession of what money
they possessed and then lit out He
was a good fighter, and when he could
not get out of a sheriff's clutches by
chicanery he would put up a defense
that had thus far saved him from con-
viction-
was sheriff of Union county when
one morning one of the women he had
married came into town, having ridden
twenty miles to bring the information
that The Eel was working among the
settlers about Hobson, where she had
seen him. though. she having been one
of his first wives and he having mar
ried so many since. he did not recog-
nize her. Instead of making herself
known to him. she had brought US the
news of his presence in Hobson that
an effort might be made to capture
him.
1t occurred to me that as one Of his
victims and therefore impervious to
his fascinations she might aid in his
capture. But 1t was probable that If
he came into close contact with her he
would remember her. therefore pro-
posed that she should give herself
darker complexion and wear wig Of
different hair than her own. The COM
plexion she could manage, but wigs
were scarce In that country, and some
other means Of changing her hair must
be found.
She entered into my scheme heart
the town at which she purchased
complexion and hair dye, and from
blond converted herself into a pro-
nounced brunette She was a young
woman, not too old to pass for my
daughter. made up as farmer look
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I provided myself with arms, but /
concealed them under my clothes.
also took with me several packages of
paper cut to the size and shape Of a
blank bill and on the top OF each pack
age placed a real bank bill / planned
that The Eel should endeavor to get
these packages through my supposed
daughter, and l might lay a trap to
take him while he was doing so.
Belle Ashurst-that was the girls
name-and / started on horseback for
Hobson one morning and reached 1t
In the middle Of the afternoon. We
rode up to the tavern and my atten-
ton was attracted to a man about thir-
ty-five years Of age sitting on the porch
In a chair tilted against the house,
smoking long cigar. There was moth
ing noticeable about him to one not
used to dealing with dishonest char
acters, but there was something In his
eye that told me at once he was our
quarry. .--~.
Belle and dismounted and went into
the house, where / registered as Peter
Hunker of Independence, Mo. Till sup
per time l contented myself with ask
ing the landlord for information about
the surrounding country, the charac-
ter OF the soil and if there was any
property for sale. While we were talk
ing The Eel came in and told the land
lord In his presence that / had So 900
In currency with me to put into land.
The Eel, who was posing as Mr.. Jeffer-
son Mccormick, Joined In the conyer-
sat1on and said he knew a man who
mad farm that was about to be sold
out under foreclosure of mortgage
and could be bought dirt cheap. | told
him that would be greatly obliged to
him for the information.
While we We're talking the supper
bell rang, and down came Belle AS
hurst. introduced Mr.. Mccormick ia
her, and she received him very cordial.
~. l asked him to join US at supper.
He accepted the invitation, and 1 gave
him seat on one side of Belle, while I
sat on the other side of her. I watch
ed him when she first spoke to him.
fearing that her voice would give her
away. saw him look up at her quick
ly, but she was so well disguised that
doubted If she had betrayed herself.
After supper we went into the Iouns.
ing room, where left Belle and Mr..
Mccormick, while l sauntered about
the town. When l went back to the
tavern / saw Mccormack and Belle
sitting together, and they had evident
ly got pretty thick. When Belle saw
me she excused herself to him and.
coming out. Joined me. She had re-
strained herself very well, but she told
me that her desire to lash the villain
for his perfdy was so great that she
was glad of an excuse to get away
from him. He had used the same
establishments with which he had won
her several ,ears before.
told her that on her preserving her
lequanimity and playing her part wesl
depended our securing his capture and
her revenge She promised to control
herself. She had succeeded in pre-
tending to be much pleased with Mr.