Norfleet: the actual experiences of a Texas rancher's 30,000-mile transcontinental chase after five confidence men. Page: 136 of 369
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118
NORFLEET
For the present, the sea had washed out the trail
of Joe Furey.
The next day I went back to Miami and conferred
with Mayor Racken. While talking with him I bought
a paper and glanced at the headlines.
I saw an item stating the magnificent estate of
Colonel William Jennings Bryan would that afternoon
be thrown open to the public. It went on to tell what
rare shrubs and exotic blooms were in the gardens and
that once each year the Bryans kindly gave the world
an opportunity to feast its eyes upon their fenced-in
beauties.
"Thousands of persons usually thronged the winding
paths and wandered among the fragrant flower beds
on this day of days," the paper reported.
Crowds of this sort are ideal places to start casual
acquaintances that frequently ripen into "business deals."
Knowing this, I decided to go early, stay late and see
who was there.
At one end of the huge estate were heavy bronze
gates.
These were thrown open and I suppose were intended
to remain so, but in order to get a good look at
all who passed into the grounds I assumed the job of
"gate keeper" in the employ of the Bryan family.
It was one of the most interesting "jobs" I have ever
had.
The only person known to me out of the thousands
who filed in and out was Whitey Arlington's wife. She
had distinguished herself sometime before by leaping
unhurt from a window of the courthouse at Fort Worth,
Texas. At the time she made her "Steve Brody," she
had seventy thousand dollars "swindle money" on her.
Her other half known as "Whitey Arlington" was then
in jail on a swindle charge. He must have escaped or
had been released, for when Mrs. Arlington recognized
me at the gate, she instantly exchanged hat and coat
with a woman accompanying her and together they
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Norfleet, J. Frank, 1864-. Norfleet: the actual experiences of a Texas rancher's 30,000-mile transcontinental chase after five confidence men., book, 1924; Ft. Worth, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth5864/m1/136/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .