Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-08-20
Twice !
Married !
But the Second Wedding Was Very
Different Prom the First.
By WILLARD BRAKEMAN

He had various names, but none Of
them was so widely used Us The Eel.
It had been given him to denote that
he was extremely slippery. He had
been cornered number of times, but
on each and every occasion no 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 n number
Of them, got possession of what money
they possessed and then lit out. Ho
was good fighter. and when he could
not get out of sheriff's clutches by
chicanery he would put up defense
that had thus fur saved him from con-
viction.
was sheriff of Union county when
one morning one of tho women he had
married cnme 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, sho having been one
Of his first wives and he having mar
ried 10 many since, no did not recog-
nlze her. Instead of making herself
known to him, she had brought us the
news Of his presence In Hobson that
an effort might be mado to capture
him.
II occurred to mo that as one OF his
victims and therefore impervious to
his destinations sho might aid In his
capture. But 1t was probable that II
no came into close contact with her he
would remember her. therefore pro-
posed that she should give herself a
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
and soul There was drug store In
the town at which she purchased q
complexion, and hair dye, and from q
blond converted herself into pro-
nounced brunette. She was a young
woman, not too old to pass for my
daughter. made up as farmer look
ing for a place to settle and buy land.
l provided myself with arms, but I
concealed them under my clothes.
also took with mo several packages Of
paper cut to tho size and shape of
blank bill and on the top Of each pack
age placed a real bank bill planned
that The Eel should endcavor to get
these packages through my supposed
daughter, and l might lay a trap 10
take him while no was doing 80.
Belle Ashurst-that was tho girls
name-and started on horseback for
Hobson one morning and reached It
in tho middle OF tho afternoon. We
rode up to tho tavern and my atten-
ton was attracted to man about thir-
ty-1ve 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 ono not
used to dealing with dishonest char
acters, but there was something in his
eye that told mo at once he was our
quarry.
Belle and dismounted and went into
the house, where registered as Peter
bunker of Independence, Mo. TIL sup
per time ! contented myself with ask
ing the landlord for information about
the surrounding country, tho charac-
ter OF the soil and II there was any
property for sale. While we were talk
ing The Eel came in and told tho land.
lord In his presence that had 5000
in currency with mo to put into land.
The Eel, who was posing as Mr.. Jeffer-
son Mccormick, Joined In tho CONVEX
sation and said no knew a man who
had a farm that was about to DO 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 to
her. and she received him very cordial.
ly. asked him to join US at supper.
He accepted the invitation, and gave
him seat on one sido of Belle, while
sat on the other side of her. watch
cd 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 30 well disguised that
l doubted II she had betrayed herself.
After supper wo went into the loung-
ing room, where left Belle and Mr..
Mccormick, while sauntered about
the town. When went back 10 tho
tavern I 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 mo. She had TO
strained herself very well, but she told
mo that her desire to lash tho villain
for his per1dy was 80 great that she
was glad Of an excuse to get away
from him. lie had used tho same
Establishments with which he hnd won
her several years before
told her that on her preserving her
eQuanimity and playing her part well
depended our securing his capture and
her revenge. She promised 10 control
herself She had succeeded In pro
tending to be much pleased with Mr..
Mccormick. He had asked her 30 20
for n ride with him the next morning,
ami she had told him she would do 30