Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-05-06

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There was a small hole through his
vest and hastily barring his breast, four
traveller discovered that he had been shot
through the heart, and had probably died
almost instantly. But who had done the
deed ? and for what purpose? He felt
in his pockets, which were empty, and
reasoned that the man had been murder
ed for his money. Such murders were
too common in Texas at that day to ex-
cite any great surprise our hero had
been accustomed to just such scenes
through his whole eventful career but
he felt highly indignant at what he con-
sidered the barbarity of numbering and
rebbing a man, and leaving him to de-
compose above ground, in a place where
it was not unlikely he would prove an
annoyance to respectable travellers. In
connection with this murder, he thought
of his W narrow escape Of the preced-
ing day, and argued that his Stepping
place might be the temporary quarters Of
a gang Of desperadoes in which case
prudence would seem to advise him to be
upon the road as quick as possible.
Accordingly, he turned away from the
murdered stranger, after pushing the
straw somewhat over the body, and made
a step toward his horse but Just as he
did so, his eye. glancing through a fssure
in the old ruin, full upon two men coming
up the road, whose appearance gave no
token that they would prove any very
agreeable companions. Both carried
rifles, and it was reasonable to suppose
they were otherwise armed, and the first
thought of our hero was to mount his
horse and dash away. Bat he was no
coward; he had been through many a des-
perate struggle, with heavy odds against
him, and there was a kind Of bittea salts
faction in thinking that one Of these men
might be his amiable friend Of tssss am
bush. With the rapid decision forfAhich
he was remarkable, he acknowledgement
and conceal himself behind a portion Of
the wall, from whence he could have a
view of whatever might occur within,
should the rufians, as he believed them to
bo, see proper to enter. To locate him
self in the desired position was but the
work OF a moment, and from there he
found he could both see the road and the
interior of the building, and yet not him
self be exposed to a casual glance.
As his horse continued at intervals to
whinny, he knew he must seon be heard
by the approaching party, and he was
anxious to see what effect this would pro-
duce upon them. He had not long to wait
for the men were advancing with rapid
strides, and a louder whinny than usual
seemed to reach their ears, when, stop
ping suddenly, and looking hastily around
them, one of the two, after an apparently
brief consultation with the other, pointed
his finger toward the building. With this
they turned at once from the Tesdaad
gliding among some bushes, approached
the place at a quick, s~tealthy pace. From
the change in their position, the stranger
was now in some danger Of being discov-
cred but as it was 0 yet light enough
to distinguish objects at any considerable
distance, he tire himself fat upon the
ground to await the result, and this rath
er as a man inclined to act boldly, than
as one actuated by any feeling Of fear.
1t was perhaps a couple of minutes from
this time, ere the two men, issuing from a
near cluster of bushes, glided up to the
main entrance and looked cautiously in.
Il say, Bill" whispered one, but loud
enough for the listener to hear, knows
all about it, now ; that thar's the boss Of
the Teller as | TUX a shot at yesterday. +;
and eff he's got any rocks, they're our'R."
Hush, Joe u returned the second, in
the same cautious whisper !" he's sleep
thar, and theirs no use O. waking for
nothing. Let's GO in and do FOR him,
and talk after we get the pile.a
Halves you know" said the ether.
"Of course-honor bright-you know
that's me Joe; but I don't see no use O.
our calling in the rest to share"
Nary once, Bill-this here's my game.
| had the first shot, and I've a right to it;
and eft the other hounds wants airy per.
simmons, let 'em find the tree and climb
for EN-.
1t was apparent to our hero, from their
remarks, that these r~ufians had nothing
to do individually with the killing Of the
man within; but as it was evidently their
intention to murder him, he felt none the
less hostile to them on that account
With the last remark of the one ad
dressed as Joe, the two men leaned theil
rifles against the wall, and drawing theil
knives, glided up to what they supposed
to be the sleeper. Owing to the light be
ing yet dim, and the body mostly conceal
ed In the straw, they were unable to dis
Germ that the a was dead; and determ
lining to make their work sure, and theil
share equal, they sprung upon him stimuli
t taneously, and both plunged their knives
, up to their hits in his body.
Why, hello, Joe," cried Bill with a
! oath, this here's a dead manln
Why, SO it is II exclaimed the other
adding a tremendous oath, which we vii
not repeat. This must be the Teller a
Tom shotgun know he was Dragging a
q he had done for one on 'em-but | didn'
e think as how the ugly hound had left hir
s here to trap US with. But whar's til
man as owns the hoss u
"Herel" said the traveller, in a ton