HELD UP 



Times in the Golden City were just about as bad 

 as they could well be, for a dead slump had fallen among 

 the Rand, and day by day fresh stories of crime and 

 outrage were rehearsed in police court, club, and drinking 

 saloon. 



Among the most eagerly sought after of all " quarry '' 

 by " gentlemen of the road " were the treasurers or pay- 

 masters of gold mines and other persons holding similar 

 positions of trust in outlying districts. The veld-bandit's 

 mode of procedure was as follows : Having ascertained 

 the date upon which the wages of a certain gold mine 

 or factory were paid, he, accompanied by an accessory — 

 or, perchance, half-a-dozen — would follow on the heels 

 of the victim as he drove into the Golden City by Cape cart 

 or buggy to draw from the bank the monthly wages for 

 the employees of his mine or factory, as the case might be. 

 The unfortunate man would, of course, be "shadowed" 

 during his visit to the town, and as he drove along some 

 quiet spot on the veld on his return journey he would 

 suddenly be " held up," relieved of not only the specie 

 in his charge, but also of every " tickey " (3^.) and 

 article of value he happened to carry on his person. He 

 would then be gagged, bound hand and foot, and left on 

 the open veld, or in some eucalyptus or mimosa plantation, 

 prospecting pit, or any other convenient dumping-place 



86 



