The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-12-31
"A Fool
Countryman
By EUNlcE BLAKE

1--WE got to send $4,000 to San Miguel
right of, and l want you to take II
there. You'd better make an armed
fortress of yourself. for I'm positive
there Is some n connected with this
bank who Is giving information to
criminals whenever any sum Of money
leaves the bank. Hemstreet was rob.
bed Of $500 a week ago when he left
without a possibility of any one out.
side the bank knowing that he had any
money with him."
l assented to what MI. Whitcomb
said. but I made up my mind to. try to
pull through in my own way. knew
that a trap had been laid for Hem
street and he had fallen into 1t. If
there was any trap laying In my case
proposed to have a hand in 1t myself.
I slung a short bulldog" up my right
sleeve by an elastic strap in case of an
emergency. but l did not expect to use
it. l got myself up as q ~"hayseed," not
that l expected to fool those who might
be laying for me. but because ! might
wish to fool some II else. In my
hand l carried an old fashioned carpet.
bag made of real carpet.
l carried the money home with me
and the next day took a train that
passed through the town at 4 o'clock
in the morning. CHANGING through a
window while dressing, l saw the face
Of a nan at a window on the opposite
side of the street. His face was very
white in contrast with q very black
beard. He was looking straight at my
window. and as o as he saw me
looking at him he disappeared.
On my way to the station ! neither
saw nor heard any n in the street.
the stiffness being marked, but once !
heard faint footballs behind me. !
turned, but saw no one. However.
while walking back and forth in the
station who should come In but the
pale faced man with the black beard.
He wcnt to the ticket Office and from
there to the train. On taking my seat
l did not look to see If he was in the
car with me. but I presumed he was.
After the train had started I went to
the cooler to get a drink of water, TAX
ing my bag with me. and then l saw
my watcher, as I supposed him to be,
sitting not far distant from the seat l
vas using.
Returning to 1t, 1 began to talk to a
mar sitting beside me. l asked him
how far it was to San Miguel and what
hour the banks closed there. He asked
me If ! was going there. and l told him
I was. asked him If he was going
there, too, and he admitted that he was.
%whereupon l whispered to him that I
had a large sum Of money In my bag
and offered him $25 If he would go
with me from the station to the bank.
He said that he would so with me
c%heerfully, but didn't care to take any
pay for doing SO.
became quite chummy with my new
found friend. who seemed to be a gen.
tleman and was evidently a bit amused
at my country simplicity. Indeed. he
told me that l should not have divulged
to him my secret. IL I trusted. him 1
was likely to trust others and to lose
my money. ! pretended to be regretful
Of my indiscretion. but declared that
since l had trusted him ut all ! would
trust him throughout. He seemed
grateful ut my confidence and agreed
to do anything in his power to aid me
For this I. pretended heartfelt graft
tude.
When we were approaching the next
station to San Miguel l proposed a plan
by which my new acquaintance might
get the funds safely through for me.
He carried no baggage. having a trunk,
which was checked. l asked him It he
would get off the train with my carpet
bag at the station we We're approach
ing and proceed by other conveyance to
San Miguel and deliver the bag to me-
at the bank as soon as lie should arrive.
F1e asked me If the amount ] carried
was very large. and I told him 1t was
owe $500. which was no lie.
He now piled me with questions to
test my sincerity. to all OF which I gave
replies that seemed to satisfy him. He
also asked ME II | Thought any one was
on my track to rob me. told him that
I suspected q man. sitting back Of us
WIFI IL willie lICS. stuU II UlnCk uCNtN.
MY ncighbOr finally consented to carry
my bag for me when we left the train
ut San Miguel. This was the best !
could do with him.
, AS we approached the station ] got
up. leaving my bag with my friend.
and went again to the cooler. which
was at the forward end Of the car.
The train was slowing up at the time.
and passengers were rising from their
seats. Before the train stopped ] jump.
ed or and disappeared.
Well. I saw no more Of my friend
until shortly after l bad reached the
bank. Then he came in puf1ng. his
cravat awry. his hat caved In. met
him at the door.
Great Scott. man. what did you
leave me for with your bag Just as the
train pulled up to the station? They've
got your money"
Don't you worry. my friend" / re-
piled: there was no money In that
bag. 1t was distributed over my per-
son. 1t is now In bank. I'm no granger.
I'm cashier Of the First National bank