Norfleet: the actual experiences of a Texas rancher's 30,000-mile transcontinental chase after five confidence men. Page: 18 of 369

4

NORFLEET

Spencer asked: "What shall we do with it?"
I suggested we try to find the owner and return it
to him. We found Stetson was a guest at the hotel and
that he was in. \Ve went up and knocked at his door.
Some one opened it-a crack.
I asked if this was Mr. Stetson.
He replied it was.
I then asked him if he had lost anything and he
answered curtly "no," and shut the door in our faces.
Spencer and I turned to go back to the elevator
when the door was reopened and Stetson called excitedly:
"Gentlemen! Gentlemen! I have just discovered
that I have lost a very, very valuable pocketbook."
We went back to the door and were invited into
his room.
I asked him to describe the pocketbook which he
did, giving a very accurate description of all its contents.
He laid special stress on his Masonic card; the copy
of his contract with his company and the code key, without
which, he emphasized very forcibly, he would be
unable to carry on his Company's business. He was very
profuse in his thanks and stated that we had rendered
him a great service indeed, for which he would deem it
a favor if we would accept $100.00 reward each for
the return of the purse.
I refused, stating that I was only too glad to help
him recover it.
To my surprise Spencer accepted the $100.00.
Stetson then apologized for not having opened the
door to us at first.
"I thought you were newspaper reporters."
He went on to explain they had been very persistent
in trying to gain an interview with him and had used
numerous ruses to accomplish it. He remarked that he
had to be "very careful" and was doing his best to evade
them. He then took a letter from the purse and handed
it to me to read, remarking it was from his Company
warning him against talking too freely with reporters.