, 1860-02-24
The Bandit Client.

ne Volu Ue Tue IOHoWinS SeOiy '-NVS Wahy y.e'S
ago, he began, I was practicing criminal law
in the city Of Mexico. My success in this voca-
ton had earned for me a fair reputation. One
day, while sitting idly in my office, heard Of the
arrest Of q man who was supposed to be mem
Der OF gaL- Of robbers who infested the adjacent
mountains. Immediately after ! had received
che intollieonoo and while was yet specnating
upon It, my office door was opened bya Mexican,
who, having delivered net, to me, departed.
II contained letter from the prisoner, request
ing me to call Immediately upon him. obeyed
the summons, and, having arrived at the door Of
the jail, was admitted u the presence Of the cul-
prit. He was tall, stout man, dressed in the
usual sloveniy manner Of the Mexican his face
was swarthy and dark, and an yiI'oOking eye
cleaned forth from beneath shaggy pair Of
brows. After we had exchanged salutations, he
babe me to be seated; and then informed me that
he had been arrested as q robber, but dtned the
charge. Having then stated the facts which he
expected to prove, he promised me large fee IL
would undertake his defence. As business was
at that time dull, determined to accept the
offer. Accordingly, when the day Of trial ar
rived, was present rs his attorney. He plead
ed not guilty to the charge. The evidence
against him was weak and wholly circumstantial
No one had ever seen him rob-none could say
they had ever seen him among the mountain
band; the Govt, therefore, imposed small fine,
which, having paid. he was dichargtd from GUS
tody. When we arrived at my oilic' he raid me
my fee, and then drawing peculiar cooking ring
from his hosOm. he gave il TO me saying:
"Should you ever travel among our m1untains,
and be assa'lad by any pillaging hand, you need
only show them this, and you will bc unInOlestOd."
Before could reply, be was gone.
On examining the ring, discovered upon It
the name " Marquee" The name whom had
saved from imprisonment, the owner Of that ring,
was bandit chief
Six months after this, my business called me to
an adjacent town, to reach which It would be
necessary for me to travel through portion OF
the Sierra Madre Mountains Having been in
formed that the robbers no longer infested the To-
cality, I started on my journey, dSming my
self perfectly safc. had been travelling aiongin
this manner nearly all day, and when night came
on found myself in the very midst Of the mouH.
tains, with my journey only half finished. |
determined, however, to push forward, and ondea-
vor to reach my destination before the next
morning. Fortunately, il was moonlight, and
was thus enabled 10 keep the path.
About midnight, l came to disinal-looking
place, surrounded by huge rocks. While urg-
Ing my mule along il, | heard noise, as Of the
tramping of men, and the next moment band
Of rutiians sprang forth from behind the adjacent
rocks. Having no weapon, It would have been
useless for me to oppose them. To make my
escape was my only hope. Accordingly, made
the attempt, but ere had gone rod heard
the stern command:
"Stand, or firc!"
Looking up, discovered tall, feree-looking
fellow Ia the Iath aheah Of me, with his pistol
leveled at my brvast Deeming II dangerous to
advance any farther, halted and delivered my
self up. The villains plnndered me Of my watch,
jewels and money. While they were engaged
In this, had time to scan their features. They
were all Misunderstanding fellows, and in their
hands, began to think my life was in critical
position.
In the midst Of these edifying cogitations, was
bound and escorted over rugged path. A few
minutes walk brought us before high rock, the
base Of which was covered with brush. These
they parted, disclosing the mouth or openining Of
cave Entering Il, ! saw number Of their
comrades lying drunk upon the floor. There
was q small lamp suspended from peg, by the
light Of which rcconnotred the premises. l
now became firmly convinced that had fallen
into the hands Of cut-throats; IN fact, twelve
uglier- looking men never saw. Their conduct
and manner were such as to convince me that
they intended dispatching me. My suspicious
seemed to prove correct for q few minutes after,
one Of them--the same who had threatened TO
kill me while on the rock-approached and asked
mo Il understood Span sh. On my answering
atirmativey, he said, in that language, that they
intended to Kill me when their captain arrived.
Before had tine to form reply, heard q
noise at the opening Of the cave, and q moment
after man entered and approached the spot
where was lying. He was a stout man.
endcavored to scan his features, but could see
nothing owing to the dimness Of the light One
fact, however, was apparent-that the new conner
was the captain. Having inquired, in the Mcxi-
can language, who was the man related the
circumstance and the mode Of my capture.
Having heard this, he turned to depart, simply
reInarking: "Dlad men tell no talcs-you can kill
him." These words were uttered in toies that
seemed familiar tome. Almost instantly my u en-
ory REQUIRED to the brigand whom l had saved
from punishment, and Of the ring, which lortun-
ateIy still wore upon my finger Meanwhile,
villain had approached, and was about placing
revolver at my head when cried: "Holdi-look
at this ring upon my finger pat the same time
endeavoring to direct his attention 10 the hand
upon which wore the jewel The captain no
sooner heard me speak, than, hastily seizing tue
anterr, he a. lpToached the spot where was lying,
and held it over my face. You may judge Of my
astonishment when discovered in the captain Of
the band my bandit client The recognition was
mutual, and moment after was unbound.
The captain received me very Hospitality, and
gave me the best lodgings the cave afforded.
The next morning every article that had been
stolen from me was returned. After having par
TAKEN Of rude breakfast prepared to depart.
Tue captain accom- anied me to the entrance Of
the cave, and then said:
"Sir, you once saved me from imprisonment,
and to reward you promised you protection
should you ever be seized by the banditti
have kept my word, and we are now quits But
do not, if you value your life, ever again venture
in this vic nty, for will not thgn be answerable
for your safety. A DIP IIaliOn Of the band will
project you from fuI ther molestation. You may
keep the ring, as token Of remembrance Of
Marquee the bandit" Thea politely bidding me
r1d In. IL. 81. mai,