Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 November 1889 — THE REWARD OF MERIT. [ARTICLE]

THE REWARD OF MERIT.

Robbed by a Highwayman In tha Mammoth Cave. When I stopped off at the Mammoth | Cave House last fall to have a look at she big underground exposition,“there were only a few guests in the house. Only one of them particularly attracted my attention, and he might not have done so had he not introduced himself, borrowed a cigar, offered me a sip of his cough medicine and otherwise exhibited his desire to be friendly- When he finally got seated for an interchange of views he claimed to be Col. Henry Blanchard, late of a Tennessee regiment. That is, he was about twenty-five years late, having coloneled the regiment during the last years of the war. 1 think he also told me which side he fought on, and that he was an awful fighter, but just at that time I was wondering about the :cave and I didn't put down the figurea I do remember, however, that the colonel told me that he was a millionaire, and I furthur remember that I managed to convey the impression that I had about three millions at my disposal. Experience has taught me that it is better to lie about those things—to out-lie the other party. When a stranger has in ormed you that he can draw his check for a coot million, and you h ,ve replied that you’d be glad if you could draw one for §25, the inevitable result is a coolness which soon drifts you to opposite sides of the pasture of life. 1 tbere-fox-e make it a rule to let the other man fix hi 9 figures to suit himself und then I double them. The colonel next informed me that he. had arrived, on too grounds with speculat.on in view. He bad heird that the cave was for sale at a. ridiculously low figure. The owner of it had got the idea that mammotff caves were going out of style find would soon be a drug in the market, and would therefore sell out for a trifle—something like $50,000. “Was I looking for au investment on which I could double ray money in thirty days ? I was. Would I take half of it? I would. If it had been a farm or a viney rd or a yoke of cattle I might h .ve hesitated, but one never runs any risk in buying a cavo. It is right there. It stands in any climate. It is always he .1 thy and productive. If it should fail as a cave, owing to some change of public sentiment, one can turn it into a eakb storage, a state prison or a pirate's lair and reap fair interest on the capital. It was agreed that we should walk over to the cave the next day, and it was further agreed that we keep the matter as still as death. There were other millionaires there and they might catch on. We were to set out at 8 a. m. so as to go slow and look for other caves orr the road. Before setting out I gave the landlord my watch and all my money but a dollar, and when ready to go I stepped off as light infantry. The colonel was awaiting me down stairs, and under his directiocs I slipped quickly away in one direction, while he took another aud soon joined me. “We’ve got to work this thing mighty easy," he explained. “Chances to t make a million dollars don’t grow on e very bush, and if the fact that this cave is for sale was known in Louisville a special train of millionaires would be out here to-night.” 1 agreed with him, and we took to the fields and made short cuts. We had gone two-thirds of the distance and were passing over a wooded ridge , and chatting : s friendly as two emper- ' ore, when I heard a click ! click ! behind me and the colonel sang out: “Halt! Throw up your hands! “What’s the matter, colonelsnakes ?’’ “If you don’t do exactly as I order I will blow your head off!” he replied. “But what’s the order ?” “Shell out! I want everything you’ve got!” “Is this a put-up job ?’’ “It is." “And you are not Col, Henry Blanchard, late colonel of a late Tennessee regiment in the late wai*?” “Not any ! Shell *” “Would you rob an orphan of his all ?” I asked, hoping to reduce his heart to a liquid state and then outrun him. “I would, and don’t you bother me too long!” Then I began to shelL 1 shelled out a silver dollar and laid it on arock. Then I shelled out a cigar c se, two quill toothpick*, am tch safe, a cigar, a pocket knife, and a phial of peppermint essence which I used for toothache. “Come down!” he yelled as I stood and looked at him. “I have.” “I want your money P “There it is. I’ve got $23 and a railroad ticket to Detroit at the hotel, but you’ll nave to wait until we return there.” “Where’s your watch ?’’ “At the hotel.” “You miserable, poverty-stricken wretch, but you lied to me about your millions!” he shouted. “But you lied first” “Turn your pockets wrong side out!” I complied and be saw their emptiness. “That’s a regular Yankee trick,” he growled as he tried to hide his chagrin. “If it wasn't for the trouble of hiding your carcass I’d shoot you! Now, then, do as I tell you I” * W ith pleasure. M ~- “Go straight toward those trees, and don’t you stop until you reach them. If you look back I’ll shoot you.” “I picked up everything but the dollar, wished him good day and setj out. and after reaching the trees I I made a circuit and finally brought tip I at the hotel. When I told the land- : lord what had happened he cxolaim- j ed: „ “Is it possible? Why he owes me j for a week’s board ! What will hap- ! pen next, I wonder !” A week later I met the colonel In Lexingtonr Kv. I met him face to face on the street, end his embarrassment! was so great that I feitsorry for him: ! In order to put him at his e se and I prove that l bad no h >rd feelings towards him, I held out my hand and { said. !

“Colonel, yon owe mo a dollar, bor rowed money,’* “Just looking for yon tort I might pay it," be replied, and he wont into his.vest pocket aad brought up mj 1872 dollar. Then we smiled and pasted on.